Software · head to head
WorkOS vs Authy
WorkOS
Software
Developer platform for enterprise-ready authentication and identity.
- From
- $125/one-time per connection
- Rated
- -
Authy
Software
Simple to setup, secure cloud backup, multi device support
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Authy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: WorkOS authKit free tier limited to 1 million monthly active users; additional millions cost $2,500/month; Authy free consumer app with no paid tier, so there is no vendor-stated enterprise SLA or support plan on the pricing side
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which WorkOS and Authy actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
WorkOS
- SaaS applications needing rapid enterprise SSO deploymentnot Authy
- Companies selling to mid-market and enterprise customersnot Authy
- Applications requiring SCIM directory sync with corporate identity systemsnot Authy
- Product teams needing audit logs for compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001)not Authy
- Platforms with multiple identity provider requirementsnot Authy
Authy
No use cases recorded yet. See the Authy review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
WorkOS
- AuthKit free tier limited to 1 million monthly active users; additional millions cost $2,500/month
- Per-connection pricing for SSO and Directory Sync ($125–$50 each) scales poorly for enterprises with many identity providers
- Audit logs require separate subscription at $125/month per SIEM connection or $99/month per 1 million events
- Radar fraud protection billed separately at $100/month per 50,000 additional checks beyond 1,000 free checks
- Custom domain feature requires $99/month subscription
- Requires annual commitment for SLA and support guarantees; pay-as-you-go tier lacks uptime guarantee
Authy
- Free consumer app with no paid tier, so there is no vendor-stated enterprise SLA or support plan on the pricing side
- Vendor markets multi-device sync as a core feature, meaning account security depends on cloud-backed codes rather than device-only storage
Pricing, plan by plan
WorkOS
$125/one-time per connection- Pay as You Go$null/variable
- Per-connection pricing from $125 to $50 with volume discounts
- Up to 60% discount at scale
- Quick deployment
- Annual Credits$null/variable
- Custom pricing with volume discounts
- 99.99% uptime SLA
- Guided migration
Authy
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Authy review.
Which should you pick?
Questions people ask
- Is WorkOS or Authy better?
- Neither clearly leads. WorkOS starts at $125/one-time per connection and Authy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, WorkOS or Authy?
- Authy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $125/one-time per connection for WorkOS and Free for Authy.
- Does WorkOS or Authy run on more platforms?
- WorkOS runs on Web, API. Authy runs on Web.
- Can I use Authy for free?
- Yes. Authy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WorkOS starts at $125/one-time per connection.
- What is WorkOS best used for?
- WorkOS is most often used for saas applications needing rapid enterprise sso deployment, companies selling to mid-market and enterprise customers, applications requiring scim directory sync with corporate identity systems, product teams needing audit logs for compliance (soc 2, iso 27001). Of those, saas applications needing rapid enterprise sso deployment and companies selling to mid-market and enterprise customers are not what Authy is typically brought in for.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
WorkOS: How quickly can I implement WorkOS SSO?
Developers can implement single sign-on in minutes instead of months. Multiple customers report setting up SSO in less than a week, with WorkOS handling the complexity of SAML and OIDC protocols.
SourceWorkOS: What SDKs does WorkOS provide?
WorkOS offers SDKs for Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, PHP, Java, and .NET.
SourceWorkOS: Does WorkOS support SCIM provisioning?
Yes. WorkOS supports SCIM provisioning integration with systems like Okta and Entra ID for automated user management.
Source