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Cybersecurity · head to head

Entrust Identity as a Service vs GNU Emacs

Entrust Identity as a Service logo

Entrust Identity as a Service

Cybersecurity

Workforce and customer authentication from a certificate authority

From
$2/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
G

GNU Emacs

Developer Tools

Extensible, customizable free text editor and computing environment

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GNU Emacs has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Entrust Identity as a Service the application integration catalogue is smaller than that of the dedicated identity vendors, so uncommon SaaS applications more often need custom SAML configuration rather than a template.; GNU Emacs steep learning curve for its default keybindings and Lisp-based configuration.
  • They diverge on capability: Entrust Identity as a Service covers Multi-factor authentication, GNU Emacs covers Emacs Lisp Extensibility.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Entrust Identity as a Service and GNU Emacs actually diverge.

Attributes where Entrust Identity as a Service and GNU Emacs differ
AttributeEntrust Identity as a ServiceGNU Emacs
Starting price$2/monthFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, Linuxlinux, mac, windows
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools
FoundedUnknown1984

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 Entrust Identity as a Service

  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Single sign-on
  • Adaptive authentication
  • Passwordless login
  • Credential lifecycle
  • Derived PIV credentials
  • Directory integration

Only in GNU Emacs

  • Emacs Lisp Extensibility
  • Package Ecosystem
  • Org Mode
  • Built-in Version Control Interfaces
  • Cross-platform

What people use each for

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

Entrust Identity as a Service

  • A government agency needing derived mobile credentials from an existing PIV smart card estatenot GNU Emacs
  • A bank that must support hardware tokens for corporate treasury users alongside push authentication for staffnot GNU Emacs
  • An organisation already buying Entrust certificates that wants credential issuance and authentication from one vendornot GNU Emacs
  • A defence supplier required to use certificate-based authentication that mainstream cloud identity products handle poorlynot GNU Emacs

GNU Emacs

  • Programming with deep Lisp-based customizationnot Entrust Identity as a Service
  • Note-taking and planning with Org modenot Entrust Identity as a Service
  • Managing email and file systems from a single environmentnot Entrust Identity as a Service
  • Long-term, keyboard-driven text editing workflowsnot Entrust Identity as a Service

Where each one falls short

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

Entrust Identity as a Service

  • The application integration catalogue is smaller than that of the dedicated identity vendors, so uncommon SaaS applications more often need custom SAML configuration rather than a template.
  • Developer experience for customer identity use cases is behind the specialists, and teams building consumer signup flows will find the APIs and documentation less complete.
  • Advanced capabilities including adaptive authentication and credential management sit above the published entry price, so the two dollar figure rarely reflects what a regulated buyer actually spends.
  • There are two overlapping products, Identity as a Service and Identity Enterprise, and choosing wrongly at the start means a migration later rather than a licence change.
  • Identity governance, access certification and privileged access are not covered, so an organisation with audit-driven access review requirements needs a second vendor alongside it.

GNU Emacs

  • Steep learning curve for its default keybindings and Lisp-based configuration.
  • Default UI looks dated compared to modern editors without heavy customization.
  • Performance can lag on very large files compared to newer editors.
  • Discoverability of features is poor without prior familiarity or external guides.

Pricing, plan by plan

Entrust Identity as a Service

$2/month
  • Workforce Standard$2/month
    • Multi-factor authentication
    • Single sign-on
    • Directory integration
  • Higher tiers$undefined/month
    • Adaptive risk-based authentication
    • Certificate and smart card credential management
    • Derived PIV credentials

GNU Emacs

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor and ecosystem, no paid tiers

Which should you pick?

Choose Entrust Identity as a Service if

  • You need multi-factor authentication.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want single sign-on.
Entrust Identity as a Service review

Choose GNU Emacs if

  • You need emacs lisp extensibility.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on linux, mac, windows.
  • You also want package ecosystem.
GNU Emacs review

Questions people ask

Is Entrust Identity as a Service or GNU Emacs better?
Neither clearly leads. Entrust Identity as a Service starts at $2/month and GNU Emacs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Entrust Identity as a Service or GNU Emacs?
GNU Emacs has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2/month for Entrust Identity as a Service and Free for GNU Emacs.
Does Entrust Identity as a Service or GNU Emacs run on more platforms?
Entrust Identity as a Service runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux. GNU Emacs runs on linux, mac, windows.
Can I use GNU Emacs for free?
Yes. GNU Emacs has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Entrust Identity as a Service starts at $2/month.
What is Entrust Identity as a Service best used for?
Entrust Identity as a Service is most often used for a government agency needing derived mobile credentials from an existing piv smart card estate, a bank that must support hardware tokens for corporate treasury users alongside push authentication for staff, an organisation already buying entrust certificates that wants credential issuance and authentication from one vendor, a defence supplier required to use certificate-based authentication that mainstream cloud identity products handle poorly. Of those, a government agency needing derived mobile credentials from an existing piv smart card estate and a bank that must support hardware tokens for corporate treasury users alongside push authentication for staff are not what GNU Emacs is typically brought in for.
What can Entrust Identity as a Service do that GNU Emacs cannot?
Entrust Identity as a Service covers Multi-factor authentication, Single sign-on, Adaptive authentication, Passwordless login. GNU Emacs covers Emacs Lisp Extensibility, Package Ecosystem, Org Mode, Built-in Version Control Interfaces.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Entrust Identity as a Service: Is MFA included or extra?

Multi-factor authentication is included in the workforce bundles rather than sold separately, which is not true of every competitor. Adaptive risk-based authentication sits in higher tiers.

GNU Emacs: Is GNU Emacs free, including for commercial use?

Yes, Emacs is free software released under the GNU General Public License, which allows anyone to use, study, modify, and redistribute it, including commercially.

Source
Entrust Identity as a Service: Does it do identity governance?

No. Access certification, role mining and joiner-mover-leaver governance require a separate product such as SailPoint or Saviynt.

GNU Emacs: How do I install Emacs?

On Linux it is available via package managers like apt-get, pacman, dnf, or zypper; on macOS via Homebrew or MacPorts; on Windows via an installer or zip from GNU mirrors; and on Android via F-Droid or GNU FTP.

Source
Entrust Identity as a Service: Why choose this over Okta or Entra ID?

Almost always because of PKI, smart cards or derived credentials. Without that requirement the mainstream platforms are the stronger general purpose choice.

GNU Emacs: What platforms does Emacs support?

Emacs runs on GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Haiku, macOS, MS Windows, Android (versions 2.2 to 15.0), Solaris, and MS-DOS/FreeDOS.

Source
GNU Emacs: How is Emacs extended with packages?

Emacs is customized and extended through its Emacs Lisp dialect, with thousands of community packages distributed via repositories like MELPA that add language modes and tools.

Source
GNU Emacs: Where can I get source code or development builds?

Emacs source code and development builds are hosted at savannah.gnu.org, in addition to stable releases distributed through GNU mirrors.

Source
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