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Software · head to head

Descope vs Drata

Descope logo

Descope

Software

No-code drag-and-drop authentication platform.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Drata logo

Drata

Software

Agentic trust management with compliance automation.

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Descope has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Descope free tier capped at 7,500 MAU; Pro tier at 10,000 MAU, Growth tier at 25,000 MAU, forcing migration to Enterprise for larger organisations; Drata no published pricing for any tier; requires contacting sales team for quotes

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descope and Drata actually diverge.

Attributes where Descope and Drata differ
AttributeDescopeDrata
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APIWeb, API

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

What people use each for

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

Descope

  • Organisations seeking rapid identity implementation without custom developmentnot Drata
  • Companies supporting multiple user types (consumers, partners, AI agents) in single platformnot Drata
  • Multi-tenant B2B2C SaaS applications requiring per-organisation identity policiesnot Drata
  • Teams building passwordless-first authentication experiencesnot Drata
  • Healthcare and regulated industries requiring HIPAA-compliant identity managementnot Drata

Drata

  • SaaS companies automating SOC 2 certification for enterprise salesnot Descope
  • Organisations managing multi-framework compliance simultaneouslynot Descope
  • Vendor management programmes requiring third-party security assessmentsnot Descope
  • Enterprises implementing AI governance and monitoring AI systemsnot Descope
  • Organisations seeking continuous compliance monitoring rather than point-in-time auditsnot Descope

Where each one falls short

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

Descope

  • Free tier capped at 7,500 MAU; Pro tier at 10,000 MAU, Growth tier at 25,000 MAU, forcing migration to Enterprise for larger organisations
  • HIPAA compliance only available in Growth tier ($799/mo) and above; not included in lower-priced plans
  • No-code UI builder provides pre-built flows but still requires custom frontend development for fully-branded authentication experiences
  • All paid tiers billed annually; no monthly billing option for commitment-free flexibility
  • Bot protection features available only in Growth tier and above

Drata

  • No published pricing for any tier; requires contacting sales team for quotes
  • Solution tiers (Startup, Growth, Enterprise) are marketing categories with no corresponding published prices or feature differentiation
  • No transparency on cost per framework, per user, or based on organisational size
  • AI questionnaire automation claims 375+ hours saved annually but does not publish per-questionnaire costs or limits
  • Compared directly with Vanta by customers, but pricing opaque for cost-benefit analysis

Pricing, plan by plan

Descope

Free
  • Free ForeverFree
    • 7,500 monthly active users
    • Basic authentication
    • Community support
  • Pro$249/month
    • 10,000 monthly active users
    • Custom domains
    • CI/CD integration
  • Growth$799/month
    • 25,000 monthly active users
    • Bot protection
    • Fine-grained authorisation
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Unlimited monthly active users
    • Tiered discounts
    • Premium support with dedicated CS engineer

Drata

On request
  • Startup$null/variable
    • 'Launch Trust Fast' with automated evidence collection
    • SOC 2 and other framework support
    • Basic compliance automation
  • Growth$null/variable
    • 'Accelerate Trust Smoothly' as teams expand
    • Multi-framework compliance
    • Enhanced AI automation
  • Enterprise$null/variable
    • 'Command Trust at Scale' for complex needs
    • Advanced GRC capabilities
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Descope if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
Descope review

Choose Drata if

  • You work on Web, API.
Drata review

Questions people ask

Is Descope or Drata better?
Neither clearly leads. Descope starts at Free and Drata at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descope or Drata?
Descope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Descope and On request for Drata.
Does Descope or Drata run on more platforms?
Descope runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. Drata runs on Web, API.
Can I use Descope for free?
Yes. Descope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Drata starts at On request.
What is Descope best used for?
Descope is most often used for organisations seeking rapid identity implementation without custom development, companies supporting multiple user types (consumers, partners, ai agents) in single platform, multi-tenant b2b2c saas applications requiring per-organisation identity policies, teams building passwordless-first authentication experiences. Of those, organisations seeking rapid identity implementation without custom development and companies supporting multiple user types (consumers, partners, ai agents) in single platform are not what Drata is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Descope: Can I build custom authentication flows without code?

Yes. Descope's drag-and-drop workflow interface allows you to construct and modify signup, login, MFA and SSO flows without code changes.

Source
Drata: What compliance frameworks does Drata support?

Drata supports multiple frameworks including SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS and others, with multi-framework management capabilities.

Source
Descope: Does Descope support AI agent authentication?

Yes. Descope supports building identity journeys for AI agents and MCP servers, including scoped OAuth tokens and delegation chains.

Source
Drata: Does Drata automate questionnaires?

Yes. Drata's AI uses approved content to draft consistent responses, automating questionnaire completion and saving claimed 375+ hours per year.

Source
Descope: Is Descope HIPAA compliant?

HIPAA compliance is available in Growth tier and above, starting at $799/month.

Source
Drata: How many customers does Drata have?

Drata serves 8,500+ global customers ranging from startups to enterprises, with a 4.8/5.0 rating on G2.

Source
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