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# Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Entra External ID Comparison - What are their main differences?

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

Reviews

**Amazon Cognito** [

4.1/5(47)

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

**Microsoft Entra External ID** [

4.2/5(27)

](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-external-id/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**Amazon Cognito**
No pricing available

**Microsoft Entra External ID**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Amazon Cognito**
Not enough reviews yet

**Microsoft Entra External ID**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**Amazon Cognito**
Not enough reviews yet

**Microsoft Entra External ID**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**Amazon Cognito**
$$$$$

**Microsoft Entra External ID**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Amazon Cognito**
Not enough reviews yet

**Microsoft Entra External ID**
Not enough reviews yet

Pros & Cons

**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 Entra External ID**
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 Entra External ID**
Not enough data

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Amazon Cognito**

8.6

8.637

**Microsoft Entra External ID**

8.8

8.819

Ease of Use

**Amazon Cognito**

8.1

8.137

**Microsoft Entra External ID**

8.1

8.119

Ease of Setup

**Amazon Cognito**

8.5

8.513

**Microsoft Entra External ID**

8.5

8.511

Ease of Admin

**Amazon Cognito**

8.5

8.511

**Microsoft Entra External ID**

8.5

8.510

Quality of Support

**Amazon Cognito**

7.5

7.535

**Microsoft Entra External ID**

8.2

8.219

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Amazon Cognito**

8.3

8.311

**Microsoft Entra External ID**

9.1

9.111

Product Direction (% positive)

**Amazon Cognito**

8.1

8.136

**Microsoft Entra External ID**

9.4

9.420

Features

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)[Hide 31 FeaturesShow 31 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.3

14

8.9

16

Functionality

Self-registration and self-service

8.0

11

|

Verified

8.2(won by 0.2)

14

Authentication

8.2

14

|

Verified

9.2(won by 1.0)

14

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Scalability

9.0

14

|

Verified

9.2(won by 0.2)

14

Social login

8.1

12

|

Verified

8.5(won by 0.4)

14

Customer data linking

8.0

11

|

Verified

9.2(won by 1.2)

13

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Consent and preference management

Feature Not Available

8.9(won by default)

14

Access Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Two-Factor Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Authentication Risk Management - Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)

Adaptive MFA

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anomaly Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Fraudulent Login Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Adaptive Authentication Policies

Not enough data

Not enough data

Risk-Based Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Biometric & Behavioral Analysis - Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)

Behavioral Biometric Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

Liveness Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Context-Aware Security Controls - Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)

Account Recovery Assistants

Not enough data

Not enough data

Constraint Enforcement

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Real-Time Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Certification

Not enough data

Not enough data

Behavioral Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Self Service Portal

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multiple Authentication Methods

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Provisioning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Automatic User/Device Recognition

Not enough data

Not enough data

Unified Directory

Not enough data

Not enough data

Self-Service Access Request

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Show 1 feature category with incomplete data

Identity Management[Hide 44 FeaturesShow 44 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Fraud Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

PCI Compliance

Not enough data

Not enough data

Application Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audit Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Data Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Privileged Account Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting & Statistics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Two-Factor Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Member Accounts

Not enough data

Not enough data

HIPAA Compliant

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Self-Service Access Request

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Provisioning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audit Trail

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Active Directory Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Compliance Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Login

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Branding

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Security Auditing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Policy Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Synchronization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Unified Directory

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Factor Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Biometrics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Credential Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Event Logs

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Password Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Certification

Not enough data

Not enough data

Self Service Portal

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![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

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

48.9%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

22.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

28.9%

[![Microsoft Entra External ID](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/a8a99a96fda235658139f710592f8a53/azure-active-directory-external-identities.svg "Microsoft Entra External ID")](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-external-id/reviews)

Microsoft Entra External ID

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.)

48.9%

44.0%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

22.2%

40.0%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

28.9%

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 Entra External ID](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/a8a99a96fda235658139f710592f8a53/azure-active-directory-external-identities.svg "Microsoft Entra External ID")](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-external-id/reviews)
Microsoft Entra External ID

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%

FAQs

## 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.

Alternatives

**Amazon Cognito Alternatives**

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

[
Okta
](/products/okta/reviews)

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

[
OneLogin
](/products/onelogin/reviews)

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

[
Auth0
](/products/auth0/reviews)

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

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

**Microsoft Entra External ID 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)

 ![Salesforce Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/b2a749c6cf5119ab76e497c1082c3161/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform.svg "Salesforce Platform")

[
Salesforce Platform
](/products/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform/reviews)

## Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Entra External ID

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

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