Softwr

Government · head to head

Citizen vs WorkOS

Citizen logo

Citizen

Government

Real-time Safety Alerts

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
WorkOS logo

WorkOS

Cybersecurity

Developer platform for enterprise-ready authentication and identity.

From
$125/one-time per connection
Free plan
No

The short version

  • Only Citizen has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Citizen no premium or paid features mentioned; WorkOS authKit free tier limited to 1 million monthly active users; additional millions cost $2,500/month
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citizen and WorkOS actually diverge.

Attributes where Citizen and WorkOS differ
AttributeCitizenWorkOS
Starting priceFree$125/one-time per connection
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, AndroidWeb, API
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded2016Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Citizen

  • Real-time Alerts
  • 911 Monitoring
  • Live Video
  • Safety Map
  • Personal Safety
  • Emergency Services
  • Social Media
  • Location Services

Only in WorkOS

Nothing recorded that Citizen does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Citizen

  • Citizen Servicesnot WorkOS
  • Records Managementnot WorkOS
  • Public Safetynot WorkOS
  • Civic Engagementnot WorkOS

WorkOS

  • SaaS applications needing rapid enterprise SSO deploymentnot Citizen
  • Companies selling to mid-market and enterprise customersnot Citizen
  • Applications requiring SCIM directory sync with corporate identity systemsnot Citizen
  • Product teams needing audit logs for compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001)not Citizen
  • Platforms with multiple identity provider requirementsnot Citizen

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Citizen

  • No premium or paid features mentioned
  • App is completely free with no monetization model disclosed
  • No in-app purchases or premium tier mentioned
  • Subscription or paid features may exist but not disclosed

WorkOS

  • AuthKit free tier limited to 1 million monthly active users; additional millions cost $2,500/month
  • Per-connection pricing for SSO and Directory Sync ($125–$50 each) scales poorly for enterprises with many identity providers
  • Audit logs require separate subscription at $125/month per SIEM connection or $99/month per 1 million events
  • Radar fraud protection billed separately at $100/month per 50,000 additional checks beyond 1,000 free checks
  • Custom domain feature requires $99/month subscription
  • Requires annual commitment for SLA and support guarantees; pay-as-you-go tier lacks uptime guarantee

Pricing, plan by plan

Citizen

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Real-time Alerts
    • Incident Feed
    • Safety Map

WorkOS

$125/one-time per connection
  • Pay as You Go$undefined/variable
    • Per-connection pricing from $125 to $50 with volume discounts
    • Up to 60% discount at scale
    • Quick deployment
  • Annual Credits$undefined/variable
    • Custom pricing with volume discounts
    • 99.99% uptime SLA
    • Guided migration

Which should you pick?

Choose Citizen if

  • You need real-time alerts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want 911 monitoring.

Choose WorkOS if

  • You work on Web, API.

Questions people ask

Is Citizen or WorkOS better?
Neither clearly leads. Citizen starts at Free and WorkOS at $125/one-time per connection, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Citizen or WorkOS?
Citizen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Citizen and $125/one-time per connection for WorkOS.
Does Citizen or WorkOS run on more platforms?
Citizen runs on Ios, Android. WorkOS runs on Web, API.
Can I use Citizen for free?
Yes. Citizen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WorkOS starts at $125/one-time per connection.
What is Citizen best used for?
Citizen is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what WorkOS is typically brought in for.
What can Citizen do that WorkOS cannot?
Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, 911 Monitoring, Live Video, Safety Map.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Citizen: How much does Citizen cost?

Citizen is available as a free app download for iOS and Android. The app includes core safety and alert features at no cost.

Source
WorkOS: How quickly can I implement WorkOS SSO?

Developers can implement single sign-on in minutes instead of months. Multiple customers report setting up SSO in less than a week, with WorkOS handling the complexity of SAML and OIDC protocols.

Source
Citizen: Are there paid features or premium subscriptions in Citizen?

Citizen's website does not mention paid features, premium subscriptions, or in-app purchases. All advertised features appear to be included in the free app.

Source
WorkOS: What SDKs does WorkOS provide?

WorkOS offers SDKs for Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, PHP, Java, and .NET.

Source
WorkOS: Does WorkOS support SCIM provisioning?

Yes. WorkOS supports SCIM provisioning integration with systems like Okta and Entra ID for automated user management.

Source
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads