Softwr

Software · head to head

Jenkins vs Okta

Jenkins logo

Jenkins

Software

The leading open source automation server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Okta logo

Okta

Software

The identity platform for builders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Jenkins described by the vendor as the leading open source automation server and a community-driven project, with no commercial edition or license fee; Okta requires $1,500 annual minimum contract
  • They diverge on capability: Jenkins covers Continuous integration, Okta covers Single sign-on (SSO).

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jenkins and Okta actually diverge.

Attributes where Jenkins and Okta differ
AttributeJenkinsOkta
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Macos, DockerWeb, SaaS
Founded20112009

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

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 Jenkins

  • Continuous integration
  • Continuous delivery
  • Pipeline as code
  • Distributed builds
  • Plugin ecosystem
  • REST API
  • CLI tools
  • Build triggers

Only in Okta

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

Both cover

  • AWS
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Jenkins

  • CI/CD pipelinesnot Okta
  • Automated testingnot Okta
  • Build automationnot Okta
  • Deployment automationnot Okta
  • Infrastructure as codenot Okta

Okta

  • Employee SSOnot Jenkins
  • Customer identitynot Jenkins
  • B2B integrationnot Jenkins
  • Zero Trust securitynot Jenkins
  • Compliancenot Jenkins

Where each one falls short

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

Jenkins

  • Described by the vendor as the leading open source automation server and a community-driven project, with no commercial edition or license fee

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

Jenkins

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Unlimited builds
    • 1000+ plugins
    • Self-hosted
  • CloudBees CI$undefined/month
    • Enterprise features
    • High availability
    • Role-based access

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 Jenkins if

  • You need continuous integration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker.
  • You also want continuous delivery.
Jenkins 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 Jenkins or Okta better?
Neither clearly leads. Jenkins 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, Jenkins or Okta?
Jenkins starts at Free and Okta at Free.
Does Jenkins or Okta run on more platforms?
Jenkins runs on Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker. Okta runs on Web, SaaS.
Can I use Jenkins for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Jenkins best used for?
Jenkins is most often used for ci/cd pipelines, automated testing, build automation, deployment automation. Of those, ci/cd pipelines and automated testing are not what Okta is typically brought in for.
What can Jenkins do that Okta cannot?
Jenkins covers Continuous integration, Continuous delivery, Pipeline as code, Distributed builds. Okta covers Single sign-on (SSO), Multi-factor authentication, Lifecycle management, Universal directory. Both handle AWS, Slack.

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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Jenkins

More on Okta

Keep looking

Other head to heads