Why consider switching
- Post-acquisition roadmap uncertainty
- On-prem PingFederate operational burden — many want SaaS
- Broader integration ecosystem in Okta + Entra
- Simpler operational model
Why staying may be right
- Deep federation + standards expertise
- Strong fit for highly-regulated environments (banking, government)
- PingAccess for legacy on-prem app modernization
- On-prem deployment option when cloud isn't acceptable
Top Ping Identity alternatives, side by side.
- 1.
Okta
SaaS-first workforce IdPBroader integration catalog; SaaS-first delivery; aggressive product cadence.
→ Read our Okta deep diveBest for
Mid-large enterprises wanting SaaS-native workforce IdP.
Trade-off
Less on-prem story; pricing escalates at large scale.
- 2.
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft-bundled workforce IdPBundled with M365 E3/E5. Strong Conditional Access engine.
→ Read our Microsoft Entra ID deep diveBest for
Microsoft-heavy enterprises already on M365.
Trade-off
Federation depth somewhat below Ping for unusual edge cases.
- 3.
Auth0 (Okta CIC)
CIAM (different category than Ping workforce)For customer identity, Auth0 / Okta CIC is the more common modern choice.
→ Read our Auth0 (Okta CIC) deep diveBest for
CIAM workloads (customer + B2B). Not a workforce-Ping replacement.
Trade-off
Wrong category for workforce; right category for customer identity.
- 4.
ForgeRock (now Ping)
Same vendor as Ping post-mergerUnder same ownership now. Combined platform announced.
→ Read our ForgeRock (now Ping) deep diveBest for
If you're considering Ping, ForgeRock is the same conversation.
Trade-off
Same vendor risk applies.
- 5.
IBM Security Verify
Enterprise IdP with strong on-prem heritageStrong for IBM-stack enterprises; deep federation capabilities.
→ Read our IBM Security Verify deep diveBest for
IBM-stack enterprises; environments needing on-prem + hybrid.
Trade-off
Outside IBM ecosystem, less compelling. Cloud-native modernization lagged.
How to pick the right alternative for your environment.
1. Workforce or CIAM?
Different vendors for different categories. Don't pick a CIAM vendor for workforce or vice versa.
2. How much on-prem legacy do you have?
Heavy on-prem? Ping or ForgeRock may be the most pragmatic. Cloud-first? Okta or Entra.
3. Are you M365 E3/E5?
Microsoft licensing argument applies — Entra ID may be the lower-TCO choice.
We run vendor-neutral selections + bake-offs.
From RFP to shortlist to bake-off to contract — we’ve seen every vendor pitch + every contract structure across the IAM ecosystem.