Auth0 vs Amazon Cognito
Default scenario: At 50K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections: Auth0 (over self-serve plan limits · contact sales), Amazon Cognito $2,640/yr.
The services may differ in features, performance, support and the work you need to do yourself. Read the notes and test what matters to your setup.
Your selected usage
50K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections
- Auth0: Over self-serve plan limits · contact sales
- Amazon Cognito: $2,640/yr estimated
Estimated costs at different usage levels
| Usage | Auth0 | Amazon Cognito |
|---|---|---|
| Default scenario50K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections | —Over self-serve plan limits · contact sales | $2,640/yrLite (up to 100k MAU) · $220 MAU + $0 SSO |
| Consumer app500K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections | —Over self-serve plan limits · contact sales | $28,020/yrLite (over 100k MAU) · $1,840 MAU + $0 SSO |
| B2B SaaS20K monthly active users, 25 enterprise SSO connections | $72,000/yrB2B Essentials 20k MAU · $0 MAU + $2,200 SSO | $4,260/yrLite (up to 100k MAU) · $55 MAU + $300 SSO |
| Startup5K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections | $0/yrFree · $0 MAU + $0 SSO | $0/yrLite (up to 100k MAU) · $0 MAU + $0 SSO |
MFA, custom domains, audit logs and SCIM are paid add-ons on several vendors. Check the notes. Try your own numbers against all authentication providers.
Side by side
| Auth0 | Amazon Cognito | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Okta-owned customer identity platform with separate B2C and B2B plans, priced in fixed MAU brackets that end at 10k-30k MAU on self-serve. | AWS user pools with Lite, Essentials and Plus tiers billed per MAU. 10,000 MAU free; SAML/OIDC users cost $0.015/MAU. |
| Headquarters | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Parent jurisdiction | 🇺🇸 United States (Okta) | 🇺🇸 United States (Amazon) |
| EU self-serve plan | Available; check eligible plans and regions | Available; check eligible plans and regions |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | subscription | payg |
| Free tier | Free plan up to 25,000 MAU with 1 enterprise connection and 1 custom domain. | 10,000 MAU per month on Lite and Essentials (direct and social sign-in), 50 federated MAU; no expiry. |
| Open source | No | No |
| Source last checked | 2026-10-06 | 2026-10-06 |
| Pricing evidence | Published rates | Published rates |
Which should you choose?
Auth0 has the lower estimated bill wherever both list a self-serve price, from 5K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections to 25K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections. From about 50K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections, Auth0 is over its self-serve plan limits.
Choose Auth0 if…
Our data shows no advantage on price, residency, jurisdiction or licensing. Compare features in the notes below.
Choose Amazon Cognito if…
- it has the lower estimated bill at B2B SaaS usage
Based on estimated list-price bills and the facts above. Features, performance and support aren’t scored.
Auth0 pricing
Calculated from the listed vendor rates; exclusions still apply.
| Plan | Base fee / month | Enterprise connection / month |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 |
| B2C Essentials 500 MAU | $35 | $0 |
| B2C Essentials 1k MAU | $70 | $0 |
| B2C Essentials 2.5k MAU | $175 | $0 |
| B2C Essentials 5k MAU | $350 | $0 |
| B2C Essentials 7.5k MAU | $525 | $0 |
| B2C Essentials 10k MAU | $700 | $0 |
| B2C Essentials 20k MAU | $1,400 | $0 |
| B2C Essentials 30k MAU | $2,100 | $0 |
| B2B Essentials 500 MAU | $150 | $100 |
| B2B Essentials 1k MAU | $300 | $100 |
| B2B Essentials 2.5k MAU | $700 | $100 |
| B2B Essentials 5k MAU | $1,300 | $100 |
| B2B Essentials 7.5k MAU | $1,725 | $100 |
| B2B Essentials 10k MAU | $2,100 | $100 |
| B2B Essentials 20k MAU | $3,800 | $100 |
| B2B Professional 1k MAU | $800 | $100 |
| B2B Professional 2.5k MAU | $1,200 | $100 |
| B2B Professional 5k MAU | $1,500 | $100 |
| B2B Professional 7.5k MAU | $1,800 | $100 |
| B2B Professional 10k MAU | $2,400 | $100 |
Monthly list prices; annual billing costs 11x the monthly price. Self-serve plans are sold in fixed MAU brackets with no per-MAU overage, and stop at 30k MAU (B2C Essentials), 20k (B2C Professional, B2B Essentials) and 10k (B2B Professional); above that it is an Enterprise contract. B2C plans include no enterprise (SAML/OIDC) connections. B2B Essentials includes 3 and B2B Professional 5, with extra connections at $100/month each up to 30 in total. B2C Professional (from $240 for 1k MAU to $3,200 for 20k) is always pricier than B2C Essentials and is left out of the calculator. Enterprise MFA is a $100/month add-on on Essentials and included on Professional. M2M token packs are extra. Tenants can be created in the EU region on every plan. Okta, Inc. (US) signs a DPA.
Auth0 plan limits, full rates and cheaper alternatives · official pricing page
Amazon Cognito pricing
Calculated from the listed vendor rates; exclusions still apply.
| Plan | Base fee / month | 1k additional active users | 1k SSO active users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite (up to 100k MAU) | $0 | $5.5 | $15 |
| Lite (over 100k MAU) | $495 | $4.6 | $15 |
Lite tier: 10k MAU free, then $0.0055 per MAU for the next 90k and $0.0046 above 100k (bands modelled as two plans). Essentials (the default for new user pools, adds managed login, passkeys and access-token customisation) is $0.015/MAU after 10k free; Plus (threat protection) is $0.02/MAU with no free tier. There is no per-connection SSO fee, but users who sign in via SAML or OIDC federation cost $0.015/MAU after 50 free, which the calculator's per-connection SSO input cannot show. Advanced security on Lite is $0.05/MAU for the first 50k. M2M token requests $0.00225 each. SMS and email via SNS/SES billed separately. User pools are regional, so EU regions (Frankfurt, Ireland, Paris, etc.) keep data in the EU.
Amazon Cognito plan limits, full rates and cheaper alternatives · official pricing page
Frequently asked questions
Is Auth0 cheaper than Amazon Cognito?
Auth0 has the lower estimated bill wherever both list a self-serve price, from 5K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections to 25K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections. From about 50K monthly active users, no enterprise SSO connections, Auth0 is over its self-serve plan limits. Estimates use list prices and leave out features, support and operating costs.
Do Auth0 and Amazon Cognito offer EU data residency?
Both offer EU data residency on a self-serve plan. Check which plans and regions qualify.
Do Auth0 and Amazon Cognito have a free tier or trial?
Auth0: Free plan up to 25,000 MAU with 1 enterprise connection and 1 custom domain. Amazon Cognito: 10,000 MAU per month on Lite and Essentials (direct and social sign-in), 50 federated MAU; no expiry.
Where are Auth0 and Amazon Cognito based?
Auth0 is headquartered in the United States and owned by Okta (the United States). Amazon Cognito is headquartered in the United States and owned by Amazon (the United States).