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Developer Tools · head to head

Deno vs WorkOS

Deno logo

Deno

Developer Tools

A fast, open-source, fully Node-compatible JS runtime with TypeScript baked right in

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
WorkOS logo

WorkOS

Cybersecurity

Developer platform for enterprise-ready authentication and identity.

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

The short version

  • Only Deno has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Deno egress bandwidth overage costs $0.20/GB which can become expensive for high-traffic applications; 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 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deno and WorkOS actually diverge.

Attributes where Deno and WorkOS differ
AttributeDenoWorkOS
Starting priceFree$125/one-time per connection
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, API
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity

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

What people use each for

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

Deno

  • Running TypeScript natively without transpilation overheadnot WorkOS
  • Migrating Node.js applications to secure-by-default runtimenot WorkOS
  • Deploying edge functions and serverless containers seamlesslynot WorkOS
  • Consolidating developer tools into single binarynot WorkOS

WorkOS

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

Where each one falls short

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

Deno

  • Egress bandwidth overage costs $0.20/GB which can become expensive for high-traffic applications
  • CPU time overage is $0.10/hour on Pro and Builder tiers, adding to costs for compute-intensive workloads
  • Enterprise pricing is not disclosed; requires sales contact

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

Deno

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 million requests/month
    • 20GB egress bandwidth
    • 10 apps
  • Pro$20/month
    • 5 million requests/month
    • 200GB egress
    • 50 apps
  • Builder$200/month
    • 25 million requests/month
    • 2,000GB egress
    • 10,000 apps
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Custom limits on all metrics
    • 99.95% reliability SLA
    • Email support with SLA

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 Deno if

  • You want to start without paying.
Deno review

Choose WorkOS if

  • You work on Web, API.
WorkOS review

Questions people ask

Is Deno or WorkOS better?
Neither clearly leads. Deno 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, Deno or WorkOS?
Deno has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Deno and $125/one-time per connection for WorkOS.
Does Deno or WorkOS run on more platforms?
Deno runs on Web. WorkOS runs on Web, API.
Can I use Deno for free?
Yes. Deno has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WorkOS starts at $125/one-time per connection.
What is Deno best used for?
Deno is most often used for running typescript natively without transpilation overhead, migrating node.js applications to secure-by-default runtime, deploying edge functions and serverless containers seamlessly, consolidating developer tools into single binary. Of those, running typescript natively without transpilation overhead and migrating node.js applications to secure-by-default runtime are not what WorkOS is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Deno: How much does Deno Deploy cost?

Deno Deploy offers a free tier at $0/month, Pro at $20/month, and Builder at $200/month. Enterprise has custom pricing. All plans include base request and bandwidth limits, with overage charges for additional usage.

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
Deno: What are Deno Deploy's overage charges?

Egress bandwidth overages cost $0.20 per GB. CPU time overages are $0.10 per hour on Pro and Builder tiers. Memory time and KV database operations also incur charges beyond included limits.

Source
WorkOS: What SDKs does WorkOS provide?

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

Source
Deno: How many apps can I deploy on Deno's free plan?

The free tier includes 10 apps with up to 1 concurrent build. Pro tier supports 50 apps with 3 concurrent builds, and Builder supports 10,000 apps with 20 concurrent builds.

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
Deno: How many team members can access Deno Deploy?

The free tier supports up to 3 team members. Pro supports 10 team members. Builder supports 25 team members. Enterprise has custom seat limits.

Source
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