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Software · head to head

WorkOS vs Descope

WorkOS logo

WorkOS

Software

Developer platform for enterprise-ready authentication and identity.

From
$125/one-time per connection
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Descope logo

Descope

Software

No-code drag-and-drop authentication platform.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Descope 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; Descope free tier capped at 7,500 MAU; Pro tier at 10,000 MAU, Growth tier at 25,000 MAU, forcing migration to Enterprise for larger organisations

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which WorkOS and Descope actually diverge.

Attributes where WorkOS and Descope differ
AttributeWorkOSDescope
Starting price$125/one-time per connectionFree
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, iOS, Android, API

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 Descope
  • Companies selling to mid-market and enterprise customersnot Descope
  • Applications requiring SCIM directory sync with corporate identity systemsnot Descope
  • Product teams needing audit logs for compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001)not Descope
  • Platforms with multiple identity provider requirementsnot Descope

Descope

  • Organisations seeking rapid identity implementation without custom developmentnot WorkOS
  • Companies supporting multiple user types (consumers, partners, AI agents) in single platformnot WorkOS
  • Multi-tenant B2B2C SaaS applications requiring per-organisation identity policiesnot WorkOS
  • Teams building passwordless-first authentication experiencesnot WorkOS
  • Healthcare and regulated industries requiring HIPAA-compliant identity managementnot WorkOS

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

Descope

  • Free tier capped at 7,500 MAU; Pro tier at 10,000 MAU, Growth tier at 25,000 MAU, forcing migration to Enterprise for larger organisations
  • HIPAA compliance only available in Growth tier ($799/mo) and above; not included in lower-priced plans
  • No-code UI builder provides pre-built flows but still requires custom frontend development for fully-branded authentication experiences
  • All paid tiers billed annually; no monthly billing option for commitment-free flexibility
  • Bot protection features available only in Growth tier and above

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

Descope

Free
  • Free ForeverFree
    • 7,500 monthly active users
    • Basic authentication
    • Community support
  • Pro$249/month
    • 10,000 monthly active users
    • Custom domains
    • CI/CD integration
  • Growth$799/month
    • 25,000 monthly active users
    • Bot protection
    • Fine-grained authorisation
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Unlimited monthly active users
    • Tiered discounts
    • Premium support with dedicated CS engineer

Which should you pick?

Choose WorkOS if

  • You work on Web, API.
WorkOS review

Choose Descope if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
Descope review

Questions people ask

Is WorkOS or Descope better?
Neither clearly leads. WorkOS starts at $125/one-time per connection and Descope at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, WorkOS or Descope?
Descope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $125/one-time per connection for WorkOS and Free for Descope.
Does WorkOS or Descope run on more platforms?
WorkOS runs on Web, API. Descope runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
Can I use Descope for free?
Yes. Descope 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 Descope 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.

Source
Descope: Can I build custom authentication flows without code?

Yes. Descope's drag-and-drop workflow interface allows you to construct and modify signup, login, MFA and SSO flows without code changes.

Source
WorkOS: What SDKs does WorkOS provide?

WorkOS offers SDKs for Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, PHP, Java, and .NET.

Source
Descope: Does Descope support AI agent authentication?

Yes. Descope supports building identity journeys for AI agents and MCP servers, including scoped OAuth tokens and delegation chains.

Source
WorkOS: Does WorkOS support SCIM provisioning?

Yes. WorkOS supports SCIM provisioning integration with systems like Okta and Entra ID for automated user management.

Source
Descope: Is Descope HIPAA compliant?

HIPAA compliance is available in Growth tier and above, starting at $799/month.

Source
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Related pages

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