amazon-cognito-vs-azure-active-directory

Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Active Directory are both cloud-based identity and access management software that help users login securely and assist businesses in protecting their applications.

These two systems are similar in many ways and the key differentiator will likely be which cloud platform your business uses, whether that be Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. Both software can be used by small organizations due to their generous free offerings, but both can also scale to meet the needs of enterprise-level clients.

Features

TrustRadius users report that Amazon Cognito has a less cluttered interface than its competition and has a more focused set of options which can make it slightly easier to set up. Cognito can also be integrated into application frameworks so users can blend logos and branding touches into their applications’ user interface. Another main feature of Cognito is that you only pay for what you use. If a user does not sign-in or take any actions during a month then they do not count towards the user limit for that pricing tier.

Microsoft Active Directory has the advantage of being one of the first software in this category and offers a greater number of pre-integrated SaaS applications that support for single sign-on. It also benefits from the fact that Microsoft Azure has more security certifications than any other cloud platform so businesses can trust that their data is safe. Active Directory also offers access to the Azure AD B2B collaboration tool which allows you to securely share your company’s applications and services with guest users from any other organization while maintaining control over your own corporate data, even if their organization doesn’t use Azure.

Limitations

Amazon Cognito does not offer a built-in capability to backup or restore user profiles if something goes wrong so customers will have to utilize other applications to add this functionality. TrustRadius users report that error messages provided by Cognito can be unclear and that error messages are sometimes not specific enough for them to know how to fix an issue. Many users also mention that documentation and learning materials could be improved.

Microsoft Active Directory’s main downside is that depending on which pricing tier your business chooses, you may be restricted in which tools are available. More specifically, TrustRadius users mention that reporting tools are limited in some of the lower tiers of service. Users also complain about a cluttered UI and somewhat confusing screen layout with limited customization options.

Pricing

Amazon Cognito is unique in that it offers pricing based on monthly active users (MAUs) so businesses only pay for users who sign-in or interact with the system during each month. A free tier of the software is offered for up to 50,000 MAUs. From there pricing varies by the number of users needed and can also change based on the method of sign-in. Prospective buyers will want to consult the vendor’s pricing page for complete pricing details.

Microsoft Active Directory’s free tier is based on object limits and is free up to a limit of 500,000. Active Directory’s pricing structure for its other offerings can be complex so if potential buyers need more than the free tier offers they will want to consult the vendor’s pricing page.