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WSO2 Identity Server Pros and Cons: Top Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users benefit from the ease of configuring authentication with multiple security options, enhancing security across applications. (31 mentions)
Users value the robust security features of WSO2 Identity Server, ensuring safe and secure data management and sharing. (25 mentions)
Users praise WSO2 Identity Server for its secure management and single sign-on capabilities, enhancing efficiency and user experience. (23 mentions)
Users commend the ease of use of WSO2 Identity Server, highlighting simple configuration and efficient authentication processes. (22 mentions)
Users value the convenience of single sign-on in WSO2 Identity Server, streamlining access to multiple applications. (21 mentions)
Users find the difficult learning curve of WSO2 Identity Server a barrier to effective setup and use. (14 mentions)
Users find WSO2 Identity Server’s complexity a barrier, hindering setup and causing performance issues in high-load scenarios. (11 mentions)
Users find the complex setup of WSO2 Identity Server challenging, especially for beginners and large deployments. (11 mentions)
Users face a steep learning curve with WSO2 Identity Server, finding setup and usage quite challenging. (10 mentions)
Users find the poor documentation challenging, making advanced use-cases difficult and creating confusion during setup. (10 mentions)
Users note the high expertise requirement for customizing WSO2 Identity Server, limiting accessibility for some organizations. (8 mentions)
Users point out the required expertise for customization, which can be a barrier for some organizations. (7 mentions)

Top Pros or Advantages of WSO2 Identity Server

1. Authentication
Users benefit from the ease of configuring authentication with multiple security options, enhancing security across applications.
See 31 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Jean Pierre V.
JV

Jean Pierre V.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Fast, lots of authentication and federation options"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

Ease in configuring authentication, speed in authentication, the various options of security protocols in authentication.

SG

Shailja G.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Efficient server securing tool"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

Multiple plugins and functionalities are available in this platform for configuring and integrating it with other software and data resourcing facilit

2. Security
Users value the robust security features of WSO2 Identity Server, ensuring safe and secure data management and sharing.
See 25 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Jean Pierre V.
JV

Jean Pierre V.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Fast, lots of authentication and federation options"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

Ease in configuring authentication, speed in authentication, the various options of security protocols in authentication.

SG

Shailja G.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Efficient server securing tool"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

Multiple plugins and functionalities are available in this platform for configuring and integrating it with other software and data resourcing facilit

3. Identity Management
Users praise WSO2 Identity Server for its secure management and single sign-on capabilities, enhancing efficiency and user experience.
See 23 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Streamlining Access Control"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

WSO2 provided the best solution for secure management and single sign-on capabilities for web applications and mobile applications. WSO2 server offers

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Great open-source IAM server"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

WSO2 identity server is one of if not the best IAM servers out there. It supports a wide range of authentication protocols and standards including SAM

4. Ease of Use
Users commend the ease of use of WSO2 Identity Server, highlighting simple configuration and efficient authentication processes.
See 22 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Jean Pierre V.
JV

Jean Pierre V.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Fast, lots of authentication and federation options"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

Ease in configuring authentication, speed in authentication, the various options of security protocols in authentication.

SG

Shailja G.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Efficient server securing tool"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

Multiple plugins and functionalities are available in this platform for configuring and integrating it with other software and data resourcing facilit

5. Single Sign-On
Users value the convenience of single sign-on in WSO2 Identity Server, streamlining access to multiple applications.
See 21 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Streamlining Access Control"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

WSO2 provided the best solution for secure management and single sign-on capabilities for web applications and mobile applications. WSO2 server offers

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Great open-source IAM server"

What do you like about WSO2 Identity Server?

WSO2 identity server is one of if not the best IAM servers out there. It supports a wide range of authentication protocols and standards including SAM

Top Cons or Disadvantages of WSO2 Identity Server

1. Difficult Learning
Users find the difficult learning curve of WSO2 Identity Server a barrier to effective setup and use.
See 14 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Great open-source IAM server"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

It has a very steep learning curve. Due to its complexity it can be hard to set up and use. Sometimes, the documentation for this product is not compr

Mahipal S.
MS

Mahipal S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"WSO2 Identity Server Review"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

The difficulties of using WSO2 Identity Server also means that a lot of beginners may have trouble starting up. It can take some time to design and cu

2. Complexity
Users find WSO2 Identity Server’s complexity a barrier, hindering setup and causing performance issues in high-load scenarios.
See 11 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Great open-source IAM server"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

It has a very steep learning curve. Due to its complexity it can be hard to set up and use. Sometimes, the documentation for this product is not compr

Mahipal S.
MS

Mahipal S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"WSO2 Identity Server Review"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

The difficulties of using WSO2 Identity Server also means that a lot of beginners may have trouble starting up. It can take some time to design and cu

3. Complex Setup
Users find the complex setup of WSO2 Identity Server challenging, especially for beginners and large deployments.
See 11 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Great open-source IAM server"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

It has a very steep learning curve. Due to its complexity it can be hard to set up and use. Sometimes, the documentation for this product is not compr

Mahipal S.
MS

Mahipal S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"WSO2 Identity Server Review"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

The difficulties of using WSO2 Identity Server also means that a lot of beginners may have trouble starting up. It can take some time to design and cu

4. Learning Curve
Users face a steep learning curve with WSO2 Identity Server, finding setup and usage quite challenging.
See 10 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Great open-source IAM server"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

It has a very steep learning curve. Due to its complexity it can be hard to set up and use. Sometimes, the documentation for this product is not compr

Mahipal S.
MS

Mahipal S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"WSO2 Identity Server Review"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

The difficulties of using WSO2 Identity Server also means that a lot of beginners may have trouble starting up. It can take some time to design and cu

5. Poor Documentation
Users find the poor documentation challenging, making advanced use-cases difficult and creating confusion during setup.
See 10 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Great open-source IAM server"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

It has a very steep learning curve. Due to its complexity it can be hard to set up and use. Sometimes, the documentation for this product is not compr

DW

Dena W.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"WSO2; effective identity manager"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

I think the only dislike is that it's a bit complex to understand, it took me a long time and lots or reading up on the product documentation to figur

6. Expertise Requirement
Users note the high expertise requirement for customizing WSO2 Identity Server, limiting accessibility for some organizations.
See 8 mentions

See Related User Reviews

MI

Mohammed I.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"IAM solution designed to handle complex auth and authorization requirements."

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

Installation is little daunting, which requires a solid IAM understanding. During heavy loads there has been some performance issues.

Kamasu P.
KP

Kamasu P.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"A nice looking well designed auth system out of the box"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

Using identity server in a kubernetes environment requires some advanced technical knowledge

7. Required Expertise
Users point out the required expertise for customization, which can be a barrier for some organizations.
See 7 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Kamasu P.
KP

Kamasu P.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"A nice looking well designed auth system out of the box"

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

Using identity server in a kubernetes environment requires some advanced technical knowledge

MI

Mohammed I.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"IAM solution designed to handle complex auth and authorization requirements."

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

Installation is little daunting, which requires a solid IAM understanding. During heavy loads there has been some performance issues.

WSO2 Identity Server Reviews (107)

Reviews

WSO2 Identity Server Reviews (107)

4.5
107 reviews
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Sher S.
SS
Deputy Vice President
Insurance
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"WSO2 Identity Server Worth its Pricing"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

What I appreciate most about WSO2 Identity Server is its comprehensive support for identity federation and single sign-on (SSO) using open standards like SAML 2.0, OAuth2, and OpenID Connect. It’s incredibly flexible, allowing seamless integration with a wide range of identity providers and enterprise systems.

The adaptive authentication framework is another standout feature—it enables organizations to define custom authentication flows based on user behavior, device, or risk level, which is essential for modern security needs.

Additionally, the self-service portal, multi-tenancy support, and role-based access control make it a powerful solution for both cloud-native and on-premise deployments. Being open-source, it also offers great transparency and community support.

Overall, WSO2 Identity Server delivers enterprise-grade identity management with the agility and extensibility needed for evolving digital ecosystems. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

Nothing Specific as Dislikes. I can Suggest Improvement area.

Must allow OTP Login

More Two Factor Authentication Connector Implementation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Tebalo T.
TT
Developer
Financial Services
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Securing PSG's Digital Ecosystem: A Review of WSO2 Identity Server"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

Our experience with WSO2 Identity Server at PSG has been defined by its ease of setup and seamless integration with our group systems via OAuth and SAML, which significantly reduced implementation time. Operationally, the platform excels with its immediate API responses, developer-friendly logging, and comprehensive REST APIs that are crucial for our DevOps automation. A core component of its value is the robust suite of security features; its Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is central to our daily operations, securing access for both internal staff and external customers alike. This technical excellence is matched by WSO2's excellent customer support, and as an open-source solution, it offers unparalleled flexibility and a significantly lower total cost of ownership, making it a strategically sound asset for PSG's technology stack. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

While WSO2 Identity Server is a powerful platform, it is not without its challenges, particularly for teams managing large-scale deployments. Its deep extensibility, a key strength, also introduces a considerable learning curve, and teams may find the documentation difficult to navigate for highly specific or advanced customizations. As a robust, enterprise-grade Java application, it can be resource-intensive, demanding careful infrastructure planning and performance tuning. This complexity can also surface during major version migrations, which often require significant manual effort and meticulous planning to execute successfully, particularly in environments with heavy customization. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

VV
Software Architect & Team Manager
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Beginer with Identity Server but strong understanding"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

We have been using WSO2 Identity Server for approximately 18 months, on version 6.1.0.

We are currently prototyping version 7.1.0 and are considering the migration in the short to medium term.

Personally, I use Asgardeo, which is the cloud version of WSO2 IS 7.1.0.

I appreciate the userstore management as well as the claims management in the current version.

It is relatively easy to implement for basic use cases, but can become more complex when specific and particular cases arise.

I appreciate the diversity of the product's standard connectors.

We use it across various applications, through public web portals with identity federation, coupled with our WSO2 API Manager.

We also use it for internal functionalities with SSO and SAML connections.

We are eager to migrate to version 7.1.0 to benefit from the new features such as the redesigned administration portals and the ability to further customize authentication and enrollment flows. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

On the contrary to the positive points, it is often difficult to administer and challenging to provide business KPIs from the logs.

It is complex to integrate third-party solutions such as Mainframe systems.

I don't blame the product itself, as we are not on its latest version. I hope that using the latest version will improve our perspective on the product. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

CG
Cyber Security Architect – Core banking SSO & API security.
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Bridging RFC Precision with Real-World Flexibility in WSO2 IS"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

WSO2 Identity Server stands out for its clean, intuitive interface that closely mirrors the concepts defined in the relevant RFCs. This alignment between theory and implementation makes it an excellent platform not only for deploying but also for learning and understanding modern identity protocols. The system's support for a wide range of SSO protocols is impressively comprehensive — whether you're working with OAuth2, OpenID Connect, SAML, or even more advanced flows, everything is available and well-documented.

Another key strength is the flexibility of the platform. When our use cases required going beyond standard SSO behavior, the WSO2 support team was highly responsive and knowledgeable, providing guidance that allowed us to meet our functional requirements without compromising on security or standards compliance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

In version 7.x, the platform introduces a set of default templates aimed at simplifying administration for common scenarios. While this is a great feature for newcomers, I found that an "expert mode" was missing — one that would allow advanced users to bypass the template system entirely for more fine-grained control. The current setup requires working around these simplifications, which can be limiting for teams with deeper technical expertise who need full configurability.

That said, this topic is already under consideration for future releases, as WSO2 has shown strong responsiveness to customer feedback and actively engages with its user community to improve the product. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Rafael F.
RF
Api Management & API Government Tech Lead
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"CustomRobust and configurable"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

I like it because of the multitude of configurations you can perform. It can connect not only with WSO2’s own API Manager but also with third-party systems. It integrates with other platforms, and each integration can be configured in a granular and isolated manner. That level of flexibility is hard to find in other identity servers. Additionally, it's very robust, with multiple layers of security that, just like the integrations, can be fully customized to suit your needs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

At a functional level, I wouldn’t consider it a disadvantage, but from a user experience perspective, I’d say it’s very difficult to use, and the graphical interface of previous versions is terrible. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Abdallah A.
AA
CyberSecurity Lecturer
"Highly Customizable, but Outdated UI"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

I appreciate the high accessibility and customization capabilities of WSO2 Identity Server, which allow for seamless integration and development of custom add-ons. The product's extensive array of connectors and event handlers enhances its functionality, and as an open-source platform, it facilitates ease of development and adaptability. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

I find the user interface for the console side to be outdated. Additionally, the web applications used for the user side, specifically JSP, seem outdated by cloud technology standards. I would like to see updates and enhancements in these areas. I'm currently using an older version (Version 5.9) and am not sure if later product versions have addressed these issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Oussama N.
ON
Integration Consultant
Information Technology and Services
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Flexible, Open-Source IAM with Strong Extensibility – But Requires Deep Expertise"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

WSO2 Identity Server stands out for its open-source nature, modularity, and extensibility. I especially appreciate its support for industry standards like SAML 2.0, OAuth2, OIDC, and SCIM, making it highly interoperable with modern applications. The multi-tenancy capabilities are solid, and the adaptive authentication scripting using JavaScript gives me full control to implement complex login flows, such as step-up authentication or conditional MFA.

The integration with WSO2 API Manager and Micro Integrator also enables a seamless digital identity and API security strategy, which is crucial for our enterprise clients pursuing digital transformation. The product is well-documented, and the community around WSO2, including Slack and GitHub, is active and helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

The learning curve is steep, especially for teams unfamiliar with WSO2’s architecture. While flexibility is a plus, it often requires significant customization, and misconfiguration can lead to security gaps. The UI/UX for the admin console feels outdated compared to modern IAM platforms like ForgeRock or Okta. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MR
Deputy Director ICT & Digitalisation
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Amazing"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

What I like most about WSO2 Identity Server is its flexibility, standards compliance, and enterprise-grade security features. It’s one of the few open-source identity and access management solutions that offers such a comprehensive and customizable platform Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

While WSO2 Identity Server is a powerful and feature-rich platform, there are a few areas where it can be challenging:

1. Steep Learning Curve

2. Documentation Gaps

3. UI/UX of Admin Console

4. Performance Tuning Needed for Scale

Out of the box Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Naresh N.
NN
Integration Engineer
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Flexible, Open-Source IAM That Grows With Your Business - WSO2 Identity Server"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

WSO2 Identity Server stands out for its flexibility and open-source transparency. It's one of the few IAM solutions that give you full control over customization from fine-grained access policies to federated authentication workflows. The support for OAuth2, SAML, OpenID Connect, and SCIM is robust and well-documented, and the ability to extend the platform via custom handlers or scripts is a big win for developers.

Another major plus is the multi-tenancy feature, which is ideal for large organizations or service providers managing identity across business units or clients. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

The learning curve can be steep. While the documentation is detailed, it’s not always beginner-friendly. Getting up and running can require significant engineering effort, especially if you’re not familiar with IAM concepts. Also, the UI feels a bit dated and could benefit from a more modern and intuitive design, especially for non-technical users managing configurations. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Indika K.
IK
Manager Software Development
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Robust IS"
What do you like best about WSO2 Identity Server?

WSO2 Identity Server is flexible and supports a lot of identity and access management features out of the box. It's also open-source, which makes it easier to customize and integrate with other systems, and we have used it over past 4-5 year and we didnt have to face any major issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about WSO2 Identity Server?

Since this more flexible and customizable, sometimes it can be a bit complex to set up and configure. Its better to explore and find out best suit configuration for your environment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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