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Technology · head to head

GitHub Desktop vs Okta

GitHub Desktop logo

GitHub Desktop

Technology

Simple collaboration from your desktop

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Okta logo

Okta

Technology

The identity platform for builders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GitHub Desktop available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build; Okta requires $1,500 annual minimum contract
  • They diverge on capability: GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface, Okta covers Single sign-on (SSO).

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitHub Desktop and Okta actually diverge.

Attributes where GitHub Desktop and Okta differ
AttributeGitHub DesktopOkta
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsWindows, MacosWeb, SaaS
Founded20082009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).

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 GitHub Desktop

  • Visual Git interface
  • GitHub integration
  • Branch management
  • Pull request workflow
  • Commit history
  • Merge conflict resolution
  • Repository cloning
  • Collaboration tools

Only in Okta

  • Single sign-on (SSO)
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Lifecycle management
  • Universal directory
  • API access management
  • B2B integration
  • Passwordless authentication
  • Adaptive MFA

What people use each for

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

GitHub Desktop

  • Git repository managementnot Okta
  • Open source contributionsnot Okta
  • Code collaborationnot Okta
  • Version controlnot Okta
  • Team developmentnot Okta

Okta

  • Employee SSOnot GitHub Desktop
  • Customer identitynot GitHub Desktop
  • B2B integrationnot GitHub Desktop
  • Zero Trust securitynot GitHub Desktop
  • Compliancenot GitHub Desktop

Where each one falls short

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

GitHub Desktop

  • Available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build

Okta

  • Requires $1,500 annual minimum contract
  • Admin-only MFA can be vulnerable to push notification fatigue attacks
  • Implementation requires significant services and integration fees in year one

Pricing, plan by plan

GitHub Desktop

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Git repository management
    • GitHub integration
    • Visual diff tools

Okta

Free
  • Starter Suite$6/user/month
    • SSO
    • MFA
    • Universal Directory
  • Core Essentials Suite$14/user/month
    • Adaptive MFA
    • Privileged Access
    • Lifecycle Management
  • Essentials Suite$17/user/month
    • Same as Core Essentials
    • Most popular
  • Professional Suite$null/custom
    • Device Access
    • Identity Security Posture
    • Threat Protection

Which should you pick?

Choose GitHub Desktop if

  • You need visual git interface.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos.
  • You also want github integration.
GitHub Desktop review

Choose Okta if

  • You need single sign-on (sso).
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, SaaS.
  • You also want multi-factor authentication.
Okta review

Questions people ask

Is GitHub Desktop or Okta better?
Neither clearly leads. GitHub Desktop starts at Free and Okta at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitHub Desktop or Okta?
GitHub Desktop starts at Free and Okta at Free.
Does GitHub Desktop or Okta run on more platforms?
GitHub Desktop runs on Windows, Macos. Okta runs on Web, SaaS.
Can I use GitHub Desktop for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is GitHub Desktop best used for?
GitHub Desktop is most often used for git repository management, open source contributions, code collaboration, version control. Of those, git repository management and open source contributions are not what Okta is typically brought in for.
What can GitHub Desktop do that Okta cannot?
GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface, GitHub integration, Branch management, Pull request workflow. Okta covers Single sign-on (SSO), Multi-factor authentication, Lifecycle management, Universal directory.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Okta: What is the minimum contract for Okta Workforce Identity?

Okta requires a $1,500 annual minimum contract for Workforce Identity plans. Pricing starts at $6 per user per month (Starter) and ranges to $17 per user per month (Essentials), billed annually.

Source
Okta: Does Okta offer a free trial?

Yes, Okta provides a 30-day free trial so customers can explore all product capabilities before committing to a paid plan.

Source
Okta: How many pre-built integrations does Okta support?

Okta offers over 7,000 pre-built integrations with popular enterprise applications including Salesforce, Slack, Workday, Box, Confluence, and Zendesk.

Source
Okta: What security features does Okta provide for admins?

Okta provides multi-factor authentication, adaptive MFA, single logout, and identity threat detection and response. However, only 94% of Okta customers have MFA enabled for administrators.

Source
Okta: Can Okta integrate with on-premises directories?

Yes, Okta's Universal Directory and lifecycle management support cloud and on-premises identity sources, including Active Directory and LDAP.

Source
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Related pages

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