Microsoft Entra ID, formerly Azure Active Directory, is Microsoft's identity platform, with SSO, MFA and conditional access deeply integrated with Microsoft 365 and Azure, the natural choice for Microsoft organisations. It provides workforce identity, single sign on to Microsoft 365, Azure and thousands of other apps, multi factor authentication, conditional access for zero trust, identity protection, and user lifecycle, as the identity backbone of the Microsoft cloud, with a free tier and premium P1 and P2 plans, and it is included in Microsoft 365 plans. For the vast number of organisations on Microsoft 365 and Azure, Entra ID is the natural, often already owned, identity platform. For the Microsoft ecosystem, Entra ID is a leading choice.
Entra ID's distinction is being Microsoft's identity backbone, deeply integrated and often already owned by Microsoft organisations. It is the identity layer for Microsoft 365 and Azure, with SSO, MFA, conditional access and identity protection, and because it is included in Microsoft 365 plans, many organisations already have it, so identity fits their environment at little or no extra cost. That Microsoft integration and bundling set it apart for Microsoft centric organisations.
Microsoft Entra ID is best for organisations on Microsoft 365 and Azure that want identity deeply integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, with SSO, MFA, conditional access and identity protection, especially since it is included in Microsoft 365. It suits Microsoft centric organisations. It is a weaker fit for heterogeneous environments wanting the most vendor neutral platform and broadest integrations, where Okta fits, Google centric organisations, where Google Cloud Identity fits, or SMBs wanting an all in one cloud directory, where JumpCloud fits.
The core strengths are single sign on to Microsoft 365, Azure and thousands of apps, multi factor authentication, conditional access for zero trust, identity protection (risk based), and user lifecycle, deeply integrated with the Microsoft cloud. Entra ID offers passwordless, privileged identity management and governance in higher tiers, with a free tier and P1 and P2 plans, and Microsoft 365 inclusion. Its Microsoft integration, conditional access and bundling are its defining advantages.
Entra ID has a free tier (basic identity, included with Azure and Microsoft 365 subscriptions), with premium P1 around 6 US dollars per user a month (conditional access, advanced features) and P2 around 9 (identity protection, privileged identity management, governance), and P1 or P2 are included in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 respectively. So many Microsoft organisations already have it. Pricing is favourable within the Microsoft stack. Confirm details via the Entra pricing page.
Entra ID integrates natively with Microsoft 365, Azure and the Microsoft ecosystem, plus thousands of third party apps via its gallery, and supports standards (SAML, OIDC). Its deep Microsoft integration, which makes it the identity layer for Microsoft 365 and Azure, plus broad app support, is a signature strength and the core reason Microsoft organisations use it.
Microsoft integration and bundling are the signature strength: Entra ID is the identity backbone of Microsoft 365 and Azure, with SSO, MFA, conditional access and identity protection, and is included in Microsoft 365 plans, so Microsoft organisations get strong identity within their environment, often already owned. For them, this is the main reason to choose Entra ID.
Entra ID is well rated for Microsoft integration, conditional access, security and value within the Microsoft stack, with Microsoft support, though its breadth and Azure admin experience take learning. Its G2 reviews praise Microsoft integration, conditional access and bundling, with complexity and Microsoft focus the main considerations.
For organisations on Microsoft 365 and Azure that want identity deeply integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, with SSO, MFA, conditional access and identity protection, often already included, Entra ID is a leading, cost effective choice. The main caution is that heterogeneous environments may prefer vendor neutral Okta, Google shops Google Cloud Identity, and SMBs JumpCloud, but for the Microsoft ecosystem Entra ID leads.
These identity & access management tools come up most often against Microsoft Entra ID.
Leading cloud identity and access management
Enterprise identity and access management
Cloud directory and identity platform