Software · head to head
Okta vs Zoho People
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Okta requires $1,500 annual minimum contract; Zoho People slow response times and slow loading on the platform affecting user efficiency
- They diverge on capability: Okta covers Single sign-on (SSO), Zoho People covers Employee Database.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Okta and Zoho People actually diverge.
| Attribute | Okta | Zoho People |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, SaaS | Web |
| Founded | 2009 | 1996 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Okta
- Single sign-on (SSO)
- Multi-factor authentication
- Lifecycle management
- Universal directory
- API access management
- B2B integration
- Passwordless authentication
- Adaptive MFA
Only in Zoho People
- Employee Database
- Time Off
- Time Tracking
- Attendance
- Performance
- Onboarding
- Self-Service
- Zoho CRM
Both cover
- Microsoft 365
- Google Workspace
- Slack
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Okta
- Employee SSOnot Zoho People
- Customer identitynot Zoho People
- B2B integrationnot Zoho People
- Zero Trust securitynot Zoho People
- Compliancenot Zoho People
Zoho People
No use cases recorded yet. See the Zoho People review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Zoho People
- Slow response times and slow loading on the platform affecting user efficiency
- Limited customization options for leave and performance management workflows
- Mobile app is missing key features available in desktop version, like timesheets and reporting
- Customer support is ticket-based only with no live chat unless on premium plan
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Zoho People
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Zoho People review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Zoho People if
- You need employee database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want time off.
Questions people ask
- Is Okta or Zoho People better?
- Neither clearly leads. Okta starts at Free and Zoho People at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Okta or Zoho People?
- Okta starts at Free and Zoho People at Free.
- Does Okta or Zoho People run on more platforms?
- Okta runs on Web, SaaS. Zoho People runs on Web.
- Can I use Okta for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Okta best used for?
- Okta is most often used for employee sso, customer identity, b2b integration, zero trust security. Of those, employee sso and customer identity are not what Zoho People is typically brought in for.
- What can Okta do that Zoho People cannot?
- Okta covers Single sign-on (SSO), Multi-factor authentication, Lifecycle management, Universal directory. Zoho People covers Employee Database, Time Off, Time Tracking, Attendance. Both handle Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, 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.
SourceZoho People: Does Zoho People have a free tier?
Yes, the Free plan supports up to 5-10 users with essential HR tools, email support, and 30-day free trial available on all paid plans with no credit card required.
SourceOkta: 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.
SourceZoho People: What is the pricing for Zoho People?
Pricing starts at $1.25 per user per month when billed annually. The Essential HR plan costs $1.50 monthly per user, dropping to $1.25 annually with five tiers available: Free, Essential HR, Professional, Premium, and Enterprise.
SourceOkta: 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.
SourceZoho People: Does Zoho People work with other Zoho applications?
Yes, Zoho People integrates with the Zoho ecosystem including Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and other Zoho applications for unified business management.
SourceOkta: 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.
SourceOkta: 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Zoho People
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