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# Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Amazon CognitoMicrosoft Entra External ID[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**Amazon Cognito**
No pricing available

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Amazon Cognito**
Not enough reviews yet

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**Amazon Cognito**
Not enough reviews yet

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**Amazon Cognito**
$$$$$

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Amazon Cognito**
Not enough reviews yet

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**
Not enough reviews yet

**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**Amazon Cognito**
[
API Integration (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1298538&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Authentication (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1299760&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Complex Setup (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1299812&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Error Handling (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1944594&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**
Not enough data

Integrations

**Amazon Cognito**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-api-gateway.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon API Gateway

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-api-gateway/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-cognito.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon Cognito

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-simple-email-service-amazon-ses.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-simple-email-service-amazon-ses/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-simple-notification-service-sns.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon Simple Notification...

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-simple-notification-service-sns/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/integrations)

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**
Not enough data

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**Amazon Cognito**

8.6

8.637

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**

8.8

8.819

Ease of Use

**Amazon Cognito**

8.1

8.137

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**

8.1

8.119

Ease of Setup

**Amazon Cognito**

8.5

8.513

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**

8.5

8.511

Ease of Admin

**Amazon Cognito**

8.5

8.511

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**

8.5

8.510

Quality of Support

**Amazon Cognito**

7.5

7.535

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**

8.2

8.219

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Amazon Cognito**

8.3

8.311

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**

9.1

9.111

Product Direction (% positive)

**Amazon Cognito**

8.1

8.136

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities**

9.4

9.420

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)

8.3

14

8.9

16

User Insights

**Reviewers' Company Size**

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
48.9%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
22.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
28.9%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
48.9%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
22.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
28.9%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
44.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
40.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
16.0%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
44.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
40.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
16.0%

**Reviewers' Industry**

[![Amazon Cognito](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1528476502/amazon-cognito.svg "Amazon Cognito")](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/reviews)
Amazon Cognito

Information Technology and Services
15.6%

Computer Software
15.6%

Financial Services
8.9%

Automotive
6.7%

Internet
4.4%

Other
48.9%

[![Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/a8a99a96fda235658139f710592f8a53/microsoft-azure-active-directory-external-identities.svg "Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities")](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-azure-active-directory-external-identities/reviews)
Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities

Information Technology and Services
16.0%

Computer & Network Security
12.0%

Computer Software
8.0%

Market Research
8.0%

Accounting
4.0%

Other
52.0%

Alternatives

**Amazon Cognito Alternatives**

 ![Okta](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/fc3b8f792177eb1565971fd0bb450896/okta.svg "Okta")

[
Okta
](/products/okta/reviews)

 ![Auth0](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_f2737a65f0dea813b21792c5eaee8699/auth0.png "Auth0")

[
Auth0
](/products/auth0/reviews)

 ![OneLogin](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565710/onelogin.svg "OneLogin")

[
OneLogin
](/products/onelogin/reviews)

 ![Ping Identity](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/084ea22e3216e56618026da090f9b785/ping-identity.svg "Ping Identity")

[
Ping Identity
](/products/ping-identity/reviews)

**Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities Alternatives**

 ![Auth0](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_f2737a65f0dea813b21792c5eaee8699/auth0.png "Auth0")

[
Auth0
](/products/auth0/reviews)

 ![Okta](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/fc3b8f792177eb1565971fd0bb450896/okta.svg "Okta")

[
Okta
](/products/okta/reviews)

 ![Frontegg](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/269d4ab686158e1a566bbed7e81650f3/frontegg.svg "Frontegg")

[
Frontegg
](/products/frontegg/reviews)

 ![Ping Identity](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/084ea22e3216e56618026da090f9b785/ping-identity.svg "Ping Identity")

[
Ping Identity
](/products/ping-identity/reviews)

## Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Entra External ID FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 16, 2026

### What is the difference between Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Entra External ID?

Microsoft Entra External ID stands out for its higher G2 rating and support satisfaction, while Amazon Cognito is noted for its scalability and AWS ecosystem integration.

| [Amazon Cognito](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/reviews) | [Microsoft Entra External ID](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-external-id/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.1/5 (47 reviews) | 4.2/5 (27 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| 8.5 | 8.5 |
| 7.5 | 8.2 |
| Scalability and AWS integration | Centralized management and ease of use |

### How do the pricing models of Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Entra External ID compare?

Microsoft Entra External ID is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing and cost structure.

- **Amazon Cognito:** In recent reviews, several mention that Cognito is cost-effective for small to medium user pools but note that costs can rise with larger user bases and advanced features.
- **Microsoft Entra External ID:** Reviewers describe it as a bit expensive but consistently state that the value justifies the cost, especially for organizations needing robust security and integration with Microsoft services.

### What are the best alternatives to Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Entra External ID?

The top three alternatives to Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Entra External ID are Auth0, Okta, and OneLogin.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Amazon Cognito](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cognito/reviews) | 4.1/5 (47 reviews) | Small-Business | Cost-effective for small to medium user pools; costs can rise with scale | Scalability and AWS integration |
| [Microsoft Entra External ID](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-external-id/reviews) | 4.2/5 (27 reviews) | Small-Business | Priced higher but justified by robust security and Microsoft integration | Centralized management and ease of use |
| [Auth0](https://www.g2.com/products/auth0/reviews) | 4.3/5 (280 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Flexible authentication and developer-friendly platform |
| [Okta](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1373 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Comprehensive identity management and integrations |
| [OneLogin](https://www.g2.com/products/onelogin/reviews) | 4.4/5 (292 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Ease of use and strong SSO capabilities |

### Which Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) features should I prioritize when comparing Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Entra External ID?

Buyers should prioritize Authentication, Ease of Setup, Quality of Support, Scalability, and Integration capabilities when comparing Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Entra External ID.

- **Authentication:** Amazon Cognito (all-time mentions: 1); Microsoft Entra External ID (recent reviews highlight robust authentication and MFA support).
- **Ease of Setup:** Amazon Cognito 8.5; Microsoft Entra External ID 8.5.
- **Quality of Support:** Amazon Cognito 7.5; Microsoft Entra External ID 8.2.
- **Scalability:** Amazon Cognito (all-time mentions: 1); Microsoft Entra External ID (recent reviews cite scalability for user management).
- **Integration:** Amazon Cognito (all-time mentions: 1 for integrations, AWS Lambda integration cited); Microsoft Entra External ID (recent reviews highlight integration with Microsoft services and Office 365).

### What are the pros and cons of Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Entra External ID?

Amazon Cognito's headline strength is scalability and AWS integration, while Microsoft Entra External ID excels in centralized management and ease of use.

- **Amazon Cognito strengths:** Scalability (all-time mentions: 1), seamless AWS integration, robust authentication features, and support for multiple identity providers.
- **Amazon Cognito trade-offs:** Complex setup (all-time mentions: 1), challenging error handling, expertise requirement, and documentation gaps.
- **Microsoft Entra External ID strengths:** Centralized management, ease of use, strong integration with Microsoft services, and robust security and compliance features.
- **Microsoft Entra External ID trade-offs:** Higher cost noted in recent reviews, some limitations in customization, and occasional challenges with external user access depending on browser.

### Is Amazon Cognito or Microsoft Entra External ID better for small businesses?

Amazon Cognito is the better fit for small businesses, as both products' largest reviewer segment is Small-Business, but Amazon Cognito reviews emphasize cost-effectiveness and ease of setup for smaller teams.

- **Amazon Cognito:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers highlight affordability and reduced development effort for small-scale applications.
- **Microsoft Entra External ID:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers note ease of use but mention higher costs and more advanced features than some small businesses require.

### Which Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) platform has better integrations?

Amazon Cognito is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing its AWS ecosystem compatibility and Lambda integration.

- **Amazon Cognito:** Integrates with AWS Lambda (all-time mentions: 1) and is frequently cited for its compatibility within the AWS ecosystem.
- **Microsoft Entra External ID:** Recent reviews highlight integration with Microsoft services and Office 365, but no all-time mention counts are available.

### How do Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Entra External ID compare on customer support?

Microsoft Entra External ID scores higher on Quality of Support, with a 0.7-point advantage over Amazon Cognito (8.2 vs 7.5).

- **Amazon Cognito:** Reviewers describe support as generally responsive but note challenges with documentation and troubleshooting complex issues.
- **Microsoft Entra External ID:** Reviewers consistently praise support quality, mentioning helpful onboarding, responsive assistance, and strong documentation.

### Which is easier to implement, Amazon Cognito or Microsoft Entra External ID?

Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Entra External ID are rated equally on Ease of Setup, both scoring 8.5, indicating parity in implementation experience.

- **Amazon Cognito:** Reviewers note that initial setup can be tedious, especially for advanced configurations, but basic setup is straightforward for AWS users.
- **Microsoft Entra External ID:** Reviewers highlight user-friendly setup, especially for organizations already using Microsoft services, though some mention a learning curve for advanced features.

### Which product has better Authentication?

Both Amazon Cognito and Microsoft Entra External ID are rated highly for Authentication, with reviewers citing robust and secure authentication features.

- **Amazon Cognito:** Authentication (all-time mentions: 1); supports MFA, social identity providers, and custom authentication flows.
- **Microsoft Entra External ID:** Recent reviews highlight strong authentication, MFA, and conditional access policies; Meets Requirements score: 8.8.

## Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found them equally easy to use, set up, and administer. However, reviewers preferred doing business with Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities overall.

- Reviewers felt that Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities meets the needs of their business better than Amazon Cognito.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities over Amazon Cognito.