Okta vs AWS Amplify

The identity glue that holds your SaaS sprawl together, if you can afford the sticker shock meets aws's 'easy button' for full-stack apps that works great until you need to escape its walled garden. Here's our take.

Okta

Nice Pick

The identity glue that holds your SaaS sprawl together, if you can afford the sticker shock.

Pros

• Seamless SSO integration with thousands of apps
• Robust MFA and security policies out of the box
• Great for managing user lifecycles in hybrid environments

Cons

• Pricing can make CFOs weep
• Admin console feels like navigating a maze

AWS Amplify

AWS's 'easy button' for full-stack apps that works great until you need to escape its walled garden.

Pros

• Tight integration with AWS services like Cognito, AppSync, and S3 out of the box
• CLI and UI that simplify deployment, hosting, and backend setup for React, Next.js, and other frameworks
• Built-in CI/CD pipelines and environment management for rapid prototyping
• Generous free tier for small projects and startups

Cons

• Vendor lock-in: migrating away from Amplify often requires rewriting chunks of your backend
• Limited customization for complex use cases—you'll hit walls if you need fine-grained control over infrastructure

The Verdict

Use Okta if: You want seamless sso integration with thousands of apps and can live with pricing can make cfos weep.

Use AWS Amplify if: You prioritize tight integration with aws services like cognito, appsync, and s3 out of the box over what Okta offers.

The Bottom Line

Okta wins

The identity glue that holds your SaaS sprawl together, if you can afford the sticker shock.