Corma versus Okta
Looking for a more holistic alternative to Okta?
Corma and Okta are both IT management platforms, each offering unique strengths in managing software licenses and optimizing SaaS usage. Okta stands out with its open platform and robust automation capabilities, providing real-time visibility into SaaS usage and enabling efficient management of software subscriptions and costs. Corma, on the other hand, excels in streamlining identity access management and simplifying software license administration, making it a comprehensive solution for enhancing productivity and ensuring compliance in SaaS environments. Discover how these platforms compare and which might best suit your organization's needs for effective SaaS governance.Discover how these solutions compare and which might be the best fit for your organization's needs.
Okta, founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, is a provider of cloud-based identity and access management solutions, offering Single Sign-On (SSO), Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and over 7,400 integrations to enhance security and user experience for a global customer base.
Mid-size and large enterprises
2009 by Todd McKinnon and Frederic Kerrest in San Francisco
The Comparison
If your organization has the budget and IT resources, Okta may be the right choice for managing identity and access at scale. However, for startups and SMBs looking for a cost-effective solution, pairing Google SSO with Corma can provide most of the same benefits at a fraction of the cost. If you want to have an absolute stellar solution (or you struggle to make a choice), Corma also integrates with Okta so you can get both, but unfortunately not for the price of one...
Single Sign-On (SSO) Capabilities
Offers robust SSO across multiple applications
Corma natively integrates with other SSOs like Google, Microsoft and even Okta
Discovering unauthorised software apps
Limited: Discovery through SSO but not browser extensions
100 percent visibility on users and apps through SSO, browser extension and API integrations
Automated licence management
Not part of the solution
In-depth features for a comprehensive software licence and contract management
Manage users from onboarding to offboarding
Features advanced user lifecycle management
Automates user lifecycle processes for streamlined IT operations
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to enforce least privilege access management
Supports RBAC for streamlined permissions management
Implements RBAC to ensure users have appropriate access levels
Adaptability for organisations with up to a few hundred users
Tailored for larger enterprises. Can be costly and very complex for smaller organizations
Delivers a cost-effective solution tailored for SMBs
The Comparison
Automation
employees onboarded and offboarded automatically
Time spent
spent less with Corma per week for management
Cost Efficiency
saved monthly by optimizing SaaS licences
The hidden cost of Okta
Okta supports automated SCIM provisioning for a wide range of applications, allowing for automated user creation and deactivation. However, many SaaS providers only offer SCIM and other automated features on their enterprise plans, often leading to significant cost increases. This is known as the SSO tax.
This can go into the thousands of euros every month that need to be paid on top of Okta’s subscription to unlock additional features which might be useful but whose cost increase is typically massive.
The hidden cost of using Okta often comes from the so-called SSO tax imposed by SaaS providers. SCIM Provisioning is typically hidden in the enterprise or premium pricing tiers. Businesses often need to upgrade to expensive enterprise subscriptions to unlock SCIM provisioning. Combined with Okta’s own per-user pricing structure (2€ per user!), these costs can add up quickly, making it a less affordable option for startups and cost-sensitive SMBs.
Making the Right Choice for Your Business
When it comes to deciding whether Okta versus Corma is the right choice for your company, it depends on your needs and budget. You should also try to anticipate how your organisation will evolve.
Will your structure stay more or less steady, or are you expecting a massive increase in users or new divisions?
Okta offers a full-featured identity management solution with powerful tools for access control, provisioning, and compliance reporting. However, it comes with considerable costs, both upfront subscription fees and hidden charges related to SaaS integration. It will also require an IT team, or at least a dedicated IT Manager, to operate it.
For smaller businesses, an alternative might be to use the existing identity provider like Google SSO, which offers a simple and cheap solution that can be enhanced by integrating with Corma. The combination offers the benefits of Google’s no-hassle SSO, while Corma takes care of more advanced tasks like automated user provisioning, deprovisioning, and access management.
Pairing Google SSO with Corma can be a smart approach that allows you to get many of the same advantages as Okta but without the heavy financial burden and setup complexity. It is also a solution that is tailored to push automation forward so the manual input is kept to a minimum when functionalities revolve around software expense management.
Is Corma a cheaper alternative to Okta for SaaS access management?
Yes. Corma offers advanced access and lifecycle management without the high per-user or SSO-related fees often required by Okta, making it ideal for cost-sensitive teams.
Does Corma support SCIM and SSO like Okta?
Corma supports SCIM, SAML, and integrates with Google, Microsoft, and even Okta itself—offering flexibility without forcing you into expensive enterprise plans.
What does Corma offer that Okta doesn’t for SaaS license management?
Unlike Okta, Corma includes built-in license and contract management, giving you full visibility and control over SaaS spend without needing third-party tools.
Is Corma better suited for SMBs than Okta?
Yes. Corma is purpose-built for SMBs, offering simple setup, automated provisioning, and full SaaS governance—without the enterprise-level cost and complexity of Okta.
