Comparing the Best IAM Solutions for Enterprises in 2025

Updated on June 30, 2025

This comprehensive guide offers IT leaders an in-depth comparison of the leading Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions available for enterprises in 2025. This document evaluates platforms like JumpCloud, Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Ping Identity, and ForgeRock, detailing their core strengths, key features, and optimal use cases.

Our analysis considers factors such as identity models, access and governance capabilities, integration breadth, scalability, and deployment flexibility. The aim is to empower IT decision-makers with the necessary insights to select an IAM solution that aligns perfectly with their organization’s unique requirements and strategic objectives, facilitating a secure and efficient IT environment.

Comparative Table: Top IAM Solutions for Enterprises in 2025

Disclaimer on Ratings: G2 ratings are dynamic and subject to change. Ratings noted are approximations based on available data as of the last update.

Detailed Comparison of Top Solutions

1. JumpCloud

• Best for: JumpCloud is a comprehensive cloud-native identity and Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution that excels for on-prem, hybrid, and cloud-native small businesses and enterprise organizations seeking to unify users, devices, and resources.
• Overview: JumpCloud provides an open, cloud directory platform that consolidates identity, device management, and access controls. It’s designed to modernize enterprise IT by offering a single, secure solution for managing users, their devices (Windows, macOS, Linux), and access to applications (SaaS, on-prem), networks, and infrastructure. JumpCloud uniquely bridges the gap between traditional on-premise directories and the cloud-first demands of modern enterprises.
• Key Identity & Access Management Features:
  • Unified Cloud Directory: Centralizes all user identities, attributes, and groups in a single, authoritative cloud directory. This eliminates the complexities of managing multiple, disparate directories and serves as the single source of truth for authentication and authorization across the enterprise, offering a powerful alternative for organizations looking to move beyond traditional Active Directory.
  • Single Sign-On (SSO): Offers robust SSO capabilities with thousands of pre-built connectors for popular SaaS applications (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Workday) and supports custom SAML 2.0 and OIDC integrations for in-house or less common apps, ensuring a seamless user experience.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforces strong MFA policies across a wide range of access points, including device login (Windows, macOS, Linux), web applications, LDAP, RADIUS (for Wi-Fi/VPN), and SSH, supporting various factors like TOTP, push notifications, and biometrics.
  • Conditional Access Policies: Enables granular, context-aware access control based on user identity, device posture (e.g., managed status, OS version), network location, and other attributes, providing a critical layer of adaptive security.
  • User Lifecycle Management (IGA): Automates the entire user lifecycle, from secure provisioning of accounts and access to applications and systems upon onboarding, to automated deprovisioning upon offboarding, ensuring timely and secure access removal and compliance. This includes robust support for Just-in-Time (JIT) provisioning.
  • Secure LDAP-as-a-Service & RADIUS-as-a-Service: Provides cloud-hosted LDAP and RADIUS services, allowing seamless integration with legacy on-premise applications, network devices, and Wi-Fi infrastructure without requiring local directory servers.
  • Platform SSO for macOS: Delivers a truly native Single Sign-On experience for macOS devices, streamlining user logins to Mac devices and integrated resources.
  • Extensive API & Scripting Capabilities: Offers a comprehensive API for integrating with existing IT systems and robust custom script execution capabilities for advanced automation and unique IT requirements across various operating systems.
• Device Management Capabilities: Beyond pure IAM, JumpCloud integrates robust cross-platform device management for Windows, macOS, and Linux (including a wide range of distributions like Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS, Debian) directly from the same console. This enables policy enforcement, patch management, application deployment, and remote control, making it a powerful Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution that is essential for IT leaders managing diverse hardware fleets.
• Integrations & Scalability: JumpCloud offers deep integrations with major HRIS systems (e.g., Workday, BambooHR) for automated user syncing, cloud providers (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure), and thousands of applications. It is engineered for enterprise scalability, capable of securely managing thousands of users and devices across global footprints. The ability to seamlessly leverage JumpCloud alongside Google Workspace for unified user and device management further exemplifies its broad integration philosophy.
• Ease of Rollout & Support: JumpCloud is designed for rapid deployment and intuitive ongoing management through its cloud-native console, significantly reducing operational overhead. It provides extensive documentation, a vibrant community, and dedicated customer support options to ensure smooth adoption and problem resolution.
• Strengths:
  • Unifies identity, access, and device management (UEM) in a single, cloud-native platform, simplifying hybrid IT environments.
  • Provides a powerful alternative to Active Directory, capable of managing heterogeneous environments (Windows, macOS, Linux) comprehensively.
  • Offers comprehensive security features, including advanced MFA, conditional access, and secure directory services.
  • Delivers exceptional flexibility and automation through powerful scripting and API capabilities.
  • Streamlines user lifecycle management from a centralized cloud directory.
  • Features an intuitive, modern cloud console that significantly enhances administrative efficiency.

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2. Okta 

• Best for: Large enterprises prioritizing cloud-native identity, SSO, adaptive authentication, and extensive SaaS application integrations. 
• Overview: Okta is an independent provider of cloud-native identity solutions, primarily focusing on Workforce Identity (for employees) and Customer Identity (for external users). It offers capabilities in SSO, MFA, lifecycle management, and API access management.
• Key Identity & Access Management Features: SSO Catalog: Has thousands of pre-built integrations for SaaS applications, enabling single sign-on across the enterprise application landscape. 
• Adaptive MFA: Provides context-aware multi-factor authentication, adjusting security requirements based on user, device posture, location, and network conditions for enhanced security. 
• Lifecycle Management Workflows: Automates user provisioning and deprovisioning to connected applications through workflows, improving operational efficiency and security posture. This includes entitlement support for disconnected apps via CSV import, ensuring consistent governance. 
• API Access Management: Secures access to APIs and microservices for both workforce and customer identities. 
• Universal Directory: A scalable and flexible cloud directory to store and manage a wide range of user identities and attributes. 
• Identity Governance (Basic IGA): Offers features like access certifications, access requests, and basic entitlement management, often extended via integrations with dedicated IGA platforms. New early access features in 2025 include custom remediation for device assurance and authentication claims sharing between Okta orgs for simplified SSO. 
• Integrations & Scalability: Okta has a vast integration network, particularly for SaaS applications and cloud platforms. It is built to scale for the largest global enterprises, supporting millions of users and high transaction volumes.
• Deployment Flexibility & Support: Cloud-native deployment simplifies infrastructure management for customers. Okta provides extensive documentation, a large community, and various support tiers for its enterprise clients.
• Pricing Model & Range: Okta uses a per user, per year pricing model, often broken down by feature sets (e.g., Workforce Identity Products like SSO, MFA, Lifecycle Management). Pricing is typically quote-based for enterprise volumes but can be estimated from ~$6-$15 per user/month for common bundles (as of June 2025). There’s often a minimum contract value.
• Strengths:
  • Positioning in cloud-native identity, offering a mature platform.
  • Application integration catalog for SSO across thousands of SaaS apps.
  • Adaptive authentication capabilities to enhance security without hindering user experience.
  • Scalability and reliability for very large user bases and high demand. 
• Considerations:
  • Can become expensive as additional features (like advanced governance or API security) are added.
  • Device management capabilities are less comprehensive compared to Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solutions, typically relying on integrations with third-party MDMs.
  • For organizations heavily tied to on-premise Active Directory, initial synchronization and ongoing hybrid management might require dedicated expertise.

3. Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) 

• Best for: Enterprises deeply invested in the Microsoft ecosystem (Microsoft 365, Azure).
• Overview: Microsoft Entra ID is Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management service, forming the backbone of identity for Microsoft 365 and Azure environments. It extends Active Directory capabilities to the cloud and provides features for securing access to applications and resources across hybrid and multi-cloud landscapes.
• Key Identity & Access Management Features:
  • Cloud-based Directory: Provides a scalable, multi-tenant cloud directory that serves as a central identity store. 
  • Hybrid Identity: Offers seamless synchronization with on-premise Active Directory via Microsoft Entra Connect (formerly Azure AD Connect), enabling unified identity and access management across hybrid environments. 
  • Single Sign-On (SSO): SSO capabilities for Microsoft apps (Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Azure) and thousands of non-Microsoft SaaS applications, simplifying user access. 
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Integrated MFA options, including Microsoft Authenticator, FIDO2 security keys, and Windows Hello for Business, providing authentication. 
  • Conditional Access: Context-aware access policies that use real-time signals (user, device, location, risk) to enforce security requirements without compromising user experience. 
  • Identity Protection: Real-time detection and remediation of identity-based risks and attacks. 
  • Privileged Identity Management (PIM): Supports the security of privileged accounts by providing just-in-time and just-enough access, reducing exposure (features primarily in P2). 
  • Identity Governance (IGA): Offers features like access reviews, entitlement management, and lifecycle workflows, primarily available with Entra ID Governance (requiring P2). 
  • Self-Service Capabilities: Empowers end-users with self-service password management, profile updates, and app access requests via portals like My Apps. 
  • Integrations & Scalability: Deeply integrated with the entire Microsoft ecosystem, including Microsoft 365, Azure, and various Microsoft Defender solutions. Entra ID scales to accommodate large enterprise demands globally, supporting millions of users.
  • Deployment Flexibility & Support: Primarily cloud-native, with hybrid capabilities through Entra Connect. Extensive Microsoft documentation and support channels are available.
  • Pricing Model & Range: Entra ID is licensed per user, per month, often included as part of Microsoft 365 or Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suites. Basic features are free with Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Premium tiers (P1, P2) range from ~$6.00-$9.00 per user/month (as of June 2025), offering advanced features like Conditional Access, PIM, and comprehensive IGA.

• Strengths:
  • Integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure services.
  • Hybrid identity capabilities for organizations with existing AD infrastructure.
  • Security features including Conditional Access, Identity Protection, and PIM.
  • Scalability and global availability for enterprise deployments. 
• Considerations:
  • Value is realized for organizations heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.
  • While supporting non-Microsoft apps, depth of integration might vary compared to pure-play IdPs like Okta for a highly diverse SaaS environment.
  • Managing on-premise infrastructure (beyond hybrid sync) still requires Active Directory expertise.

4. Ping Identity (now PingOne Cloud Platform) 

• Best for: Large, complex enterprises with extensive custom applications, hybrid environments, and a need for API security and advanced identity orchestration. 
• Overview: Ping Identity provides a comprehensive set of identity solutions, largely consolidated under the PingOne Cloud Platform, following the acquisition of ForgeRock. It caters to large enterprises with intricate identity needs, offering capabilities in access management, identity governance, and API security across cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments. 
• Key Identity & Access Management Features:
  • Comprehensive Access Management: SSO, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and adaptive authentication capabilities across diverse applications, APIs, and networks. 
  • Identity Governance: Features for user lifecycle management, access requests, approvals, and compliance reporting, often through orchestration capabilities. New features in 2025 include cloud-native identity governance, lifecycle, and relationship management within PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud. 
  • API Security & Authorization: Focus on securing APIs and microservices with granular authorization policies, protecting modern application architectures. 
  • Identity Orchestration: Provides tools to design, automate, and orchestrate complex identity journeys and workflows across various systems using no-code configuration. 
  • Risk-Based Authentication (RBA): Dynamically assesses user risk based on behavior and context to dynamically enforce stronger authentication steps when needed. 
  • Flexible Directory Integration: Can integrate with existing AD/LDAP directories or utilize its own cloud directory (PingDirectory). 
  • Passwordless Authentication: Offers passwordless authentication options for enhanced security and user experience. 
  • Integrations & Scalability: Ping Identity offers integration capabilities for custom applications, legacy systems, and cloud platforms through a broad set of APIs and connectors. It is designed for massive scale, supporting the largest global enterprises and high transaction volumes. 
  • Deployment Flexibility & Support: Provides flexible deployment options including cloud-native (PingOne Cloud Platform), hybrid, and on-premise solutions to meet diverse enterprise architectural requirements. Offers enterprise-grade support and professional services. 
  • Pricing Model & Range: Ping Identity’s pricing is typically quote-based, reflecting the customized and complex nature of large enterprise deployments. Licensing is often based on the number of identities or transactions. Community insights suggest a median buyer spend of $57,000 per year, with contract values ranging widely (e.g., ~$14,000–$477,000+ per year) depending on scale and features. There might be minimum annual spends.
• Strengths:
  • Capable for complex enterprise environments and extensive custom application integration.
  • Focus on API security and identity orchestration.
  • Flexible deployment options across cloud, hybrid, and on-premise.
  • Adaptive authentication and risk-based security features.
  • Consolidates ForgeRock’s strengths for platform capabilities. 
• Considerations:
  • Can be more complex to implement and manage than more out-of-the-box SaaS solutions, often requiring specialized internal expertise or professional services.
  • Pricing is not readily transparent and is typically quote-based, requiring direct engagement with sales.

5. ForgeRock (now part of Ping Identity)

• Best for: Enterprises requiring open-source flexibility, deep customization, and identity platform capabilities for complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments, especially for consumer-facing identity.
• Overview: ForgeRock, now part of Ping Identity and its capabilities integrated into the PingOne Cloud Platform, traditionally offered an open-source based digital identity platform. It provided comprehensive IAM for workforce, consumer, and IoT use cases, with a focus on extensibility and handling highly customized deployments in complex environments.
• Key Identity & Access Management Features:
  • Comprehensive Identity Platform: Unified capabilities for access management, identity governance, directory services, and API security. 
  • Open-Source Core: Provided a flexible foundation for deep customization and integration with existing or unique infrastructure. 
  • Advanced Access Management: SSO, MFA, and intelligent, contextual authentication features. Includes passwordless and usernameless logins, biometrics, and behavioral authentication. 
  • Scalable Directory Service: Directory capable of managing millions of identities and complex identity relationships. 
  • Identity Orchestration: Tools for building complex, adaptive identity journeys and workflows. 
  • Identity Governance: Automated lifecycle management, access reviews, and policy-driven access control. 
  • API Security: Security for APIs and microservices. 
  • Integrations & Scalability: Extensible through its open-source nature and APIs, allowing for deep integration with a wide array of applications, services, and legacy systems. Designed for enterprise-scale deployments, handling large volumes of identities and transactions seamlessly.
  • Deployment Flexibility & Support: Offered flexible deployment options including on-premise, private cloud, and public cloud, catering to diverse enterprise architectures. Enterprise-grade support and professional services were typically part of the offering.
  • Pricing Model & Range: ForgeRock’s pricing was typically quote-based, reflecting the enterprise nature and customization potential of its platform, often with higher implementation costs. As part of Ping Identity, its offerings are now integrated into the broader PingOne Cloud Platform, with pricing determined by the overall solution scope.
• Strengths:
  • Customization and extensibility due to its open-source foundation.
  • Capabilities for complex, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments, including consumer identity.
  • Access management and identity governance features.
  • Suitable for organizations with unique or highly complex identity challenges requiring tailored solutions. 
• Considerations:
  • Implementation and ongoing management could be complex, often requiring specialized internal expertise or professional services.
  • Historically, less out-of-the-box simplicity compared to pure SaaS offerings, requiring more effort for deployment and configuration.
  • Future product roadmap and independent pricing are now consolidated under Ping Identity, which may affect its standalone positioning.

Final Thoughts

While the IAM landscape offers diverse solutions, JumpCloud stands out as the optimal choice for enterprises seeking a unified, cloud-native approach to identity and device management. Its comprehensive features, from an advanced cloud directory to robust UEM capabilities, empower organizations to secure and streamline IT operations across hybrid environments. 

JumpCloud uniquely simplifies the complexities of modern IT, offering a powerful alternative to traditional Active Directory while integrating seamlessly with cloud-first demands. Discover how JumpCloud can transform your enterprise’s security posture and operational efficiency. We invite you to try an interactive demo or contact us directly to learn more about how JumpCloud can specifically address your organization’s unique requirements.

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