Auth0 → WorkOS migration playbook
Migrate from Auth0 to WorkOS — driven by B2B-first design preferences, simpler SSO + SCIM model, or cost.
TL;DR
WorkOS positions as "B2B-first Auth0 alternative." Some B2B SaaS companies migrate to simplify enterprise SSO + SCIM + Directory Sync. Timeline 2-4 months for typical B2B SaaS.
Auth0
WorkOS
Typical timeline
2-4 months for B2B SaaS
Why teams move
- B2B-first architecture preference
- Auth0 MAU pricing pressure
- Simpler API surface for enterprise SSO + SCIM
- Post-Okta-acquisition vendor independence
The migration in 4 phases.
1. Phase 1 — Discovery
2-3 weeks
- Auth0 tenant inventory
- Decide what stays in Auth0 vs moves
2. Phase 2 — WorkOS integration
3-4 weeks
- WorkOS SDK integrated
- SSO + SCIM endpoints live
3. Phase 3 — Migration
4-8 weeks
- Customer organizations migrated
- Federation switched
4. Phase 4 — Auth0 decommission
2-4 weeks
- Auth0 tenant retired
What lives where.
| Capability | Source (Auth0) | Target (WorkOS) |
|---|---|---|
| B2B Organizations | Auth0 Organizations | WorkOS Organizations |
| Enterprise SSO | Auth0 SAML / OIDC connections | WorkOS SSO |
| SCIM provisioning | Auth0 SCIM | WorkOS Directory Sync |
| Consumer auth | Auth0 social / passwordless / database connections | Stays in Auth0 OR migrate to WorkOS AuthKit |
What moves, what doesn’t.
Customer organizations
Recreate organizations in WorkOS via API. Map Auth0 org IDs to WorkOS org IDs.
SAML connections
Each customer's SAML config must be re-imported into WorkOS. Coordinate with customer admins.
Application code
Auth0 SDK → WorkOS SDK is significant code change. Touches every auth flow.
The 7-step cutover.
- 01Organization-by-organization (customer-by-customer) migration
- 02Coexistence window with both Auth0 + WorkOS accepting tokens
- 03Customer notification + re-import of SAML metadata
- 04Auth0 tenant decommissioned
What teams find out the hard way.
WorkOS is narrower than Auth0
Auth0 covers B2B + B2C + Workforce. WorkOS focuses on B2B Enterprise SSO + SCIM. If you need consumer auth too, plan that separately.
Application code rewrite
Auth0 SDK and WorkOS SDK are different. Every auth touchpoint must change.
Customer experience continuity
B2B customers will need to re-import SAML metadata. Plan customer comms 4 weeks ahead.
Questions we get on this migration.
Does WorkOS handle consumer auth like Auth0 does?
WorkOS AuthKit handles consumer auth now, but Auth0 has deeper coverage. Verify your specific consumer-auth needs.
We’ve led this migration. More than once.
Engagement starts with a 90-minute discovery call — we tell you what we’d actually do, with timeline + risk register. No commitment.