Softwr

Cybersecurity · head to head

Ping Identity vs Vim

Ping Identity logo

Ping Identity

Cybersecurity

Enterprise identity for workforce and customers, with a 5,000 user floor

From
$3/month
Free plan
No
Visit Ping IdentityFull review
Vim logo

Vim

Developer Tools

Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit VimFull review

The short version

  • Vim is a highly configurable text editor.
  • Vim is free; Ping Identity starts at $3/mo.
  • Only Ping Identity lists single sign-on; only Vim lists modal editing.
  • Where Vim falls short: configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ping Identity and Vim actually diverge.

Attributes where Ping Identity and Vim differ
AttributePing IdentityVim
Starting price$3/monthFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Linux, WindowsLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: founded for Ping Identity.

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 Ping Identity

  • Single sign-on
  • Adaptive MFA
  • Identity orchestration
  • API access management
  • Directory services
  • Flexible deployment
  • ForgeRock capabilities

Only in Vim

  • Modal editing
  • Extensive customization
  • Plugin support
  • Macro recording
  • Split windows
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Search and replace
  • Command history

What people use each for

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

Ping Identity

  • A bank that must keep identity data on premises in one country while running SaaS identity elsewherenot Vim
  • An airline or telco with tens of millions of customer identities needing a directory that holds that scalenot Vim
  • An enterprise assembling authentication journeys that call several external verification and risk vendorsnot Vim
  • An existing ForgeRock customer deciding what its upgrade path looks like under Ping ownershipnot Vim

Vim

  • Code editingnot Ping Identity
  • Configuration filesnot Ping Identity
  • System administrationnot Ping Identity
  • Remote editingnot Ping Identity
  • Terminal-based developmentnot Ping Identity

Where each one falls short

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

Ping Identity

  • Workforce pricing carries a 5,000 user annual minimum, so an organisation with 800 staff pays for 5,000 and the effective per user cost is over six times the list rate
  • Adaptive multi-factor authentication is in the Plus tier only, doubling the per user price for a capability many buyers assume is standard in a modern identity platform
  • ForgeRock no longer exists as an independent product, so customers who chose it specifically to avoid Ping now face a roadmap set by the vendor they did not pick
  • Thoma Bravo ownership across both merged companies means the commercial priority is margin, and buyers report firmer renewal negotiations than they saw before 2022
  • The portfolio has overlapping components from three product lineages, so scoping a deployment requires vendor architects and the licensing conversation is more complicated than the price list implies

Vim

  • Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
  • Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
  • Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
  • Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity

Pricing, plan by plan

Ping Identity

$3/month
  • PingOne for Workforce Essential$3/mo
    • Minimum 5,000 users billed annually
    • Single sign-on and directory services
    • OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, SAML and SCIM
  • PingOne for Workforce Plus$6/mo
    • Minimum 5,000 users billed annually
    • Everything in Essential
    • Adaptive multi-factor authentication
  • PingOne for Customers Essential$35,000/yr
    • Flat annual fee
    • No-code identity orchestration
    • Unified customer profiles
  • PingOne for Customers Plus$50,000/yr
    • Flat annual fee
    • Everything in Essential
    • Adaptive MFA and device management

Vim

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Powerful text editing
    • Extensive customization
    • Plugin ecosystem

Which should you pick?

Choose Ping Identity if

  • You need single sign-on.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Windows.
  • You also want adaptive mfa.
Ping Identity review

Choose Vim if

  • You need modal editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want extensive customization.
Vim review

Questions people ask

Is Ping Identity or Vim better?
Neither clearly leads. Ping Identity starts at $3/month and Vim at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ping Identity or Vim?
Vim has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $3/month for Ping Identity and Free for Vim.
Does Ping Identity or Vim run on more platforms?
Ping Identity runs on Web, Linux, Windows. Vim runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Vim for free?
Yes. Vim has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ping Identity starts at $3/month.
What is Ping Identity best used for?
Ping Identity is most often used for a bank that must keep identity data on premises in one country while running saas identity elsewhere, an airline or telco with tens of millions of customer identities needing a directory that holds that scale, an enterprise assembling authentication journeys that call several external verification and risk vendors, an existing forgerock customer deciding what its upgrade path looks like under ping ownership. Of those, a bank that must keep identity data on premises in one country while running saas identity elsewhere and an airline or telco with tens of millions of customer identities needing a directory that holds that scale are not what Vim is typically brought in for.
What can Ping Identity do that Vim cannot?
Ping Identity covers Single sign-on, Adaptive MFA, Identity orchestration, API access management. Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ping Identity: Can I still buy ForgeRock?

Not as a separate product. Ping acquired ForgeRock in 2023 and the capabilities are sold within the Ping portfolio. Existing customers should ask about the specific migration path for their components.

Vim: Is Vim free and open source?

Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.

Source
Ping Identity: What is the real minimum spend?

PingOne for Workforce Essential is 3 USD per user per month with a 5,000 user annual minimum, so roughly 180,000 USD a year before anything else.

Vim: What platforms does Vim support?

Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.

Source
Ping Identity: Is MFA included?

Basic authentication policies are in Essential. Adaptive MFA and passwordless require the Plus tier at 6 USD per user per month.

Vim: Who maintains Vim now?

Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.

Source
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