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Cybersecurity · head to head

Descope vs Idira

Descope logo

Descope

Cybersecurity

No-code drag-and-drop authentication platform.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Idira logo

Idira

Cybersecurity

Built on CyberArk's legacy and powered by Palo Alto Networks

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; Idira no pricing is published anywhere on the product page; every call to action is Request a Demo or a sales contact form
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descope and Idira actually diverge.

Attributes where Descope and Idira differ
AttributeDescopeIdira
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APIWeb

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

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 Idira
  • Companies supporting multiple user types (consumers, partners, AI agents) in single platformnot Idira
  • Multi-tenant B2B2C SaaS applications requiring per-organisation identity policiesnot Idira
  • Teams building passwordless-first authentication experiencesnot Idira
  • Healthcare and regulated industries requiring HIPAA-compliant identity managementnot Idira

Idira

  • Tracking all privileged account usage in manufacturing facilitiesnot Descope
  • Securing clinical resource access across distributed healthcare practicesnot Descope
  • Implementing managed privilege access management across government agenciesnot Descope
  • Consolidating human, machine, and AI agent activity monitoringnot Descope
  • Centralizing vault and secrets management across environmentsnot 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

Idira

  • No pricing is published anywhere on the product page; every call to action is Request a Demo or a sales contact form
  • Endpoint privilege management and agentic AI identity governance are sold as separate solution categories rather than one bundled price, so evaluating total cost requires multiple sales conversations

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$799/month
    • 25,000 monthly active users
    • Bot protection
    • Fine-grained authorisation
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited monthly active users
    • Tiered discounts
    • Premium support with dedicated CS engineer

Idira

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Idira review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Descope if

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

Choose Idira if

Nothing in the data separates Idira from Descope on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Idira review

Questions people ask

Is Descope or Idira better?
Neither clearly leads. Descope starts at Free and Idira at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descope or Idira?
Descope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Descope and On request for Idira.
Does Descope or Idira run on more platforms?
Descope runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. Idira runs on Web.
Can I use Descope for free?
Yes. Descope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Idira 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 Idira 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
Idira: How is Idira priced and what are the costs?

Idira pricing is not disclosed on the Palo Alto Networks website. The company directs interested organizations to request a demo or contact their sales team directly to discuss pricing and licensing options for this identity security platform.

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
Descope: Is Descope HIPAA compliant?

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

Source
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