Microsoft Entra External ID (formerly Azure AD B2C) alternatives.
Microsoft Entra External ID (formerly Azure AD B2C) is in forced transition: Azure AD B2C entered end-of-sale to new customers and existing tenants are being retired, so every B2C customer is on a migration clock. This page ranks migration targets, split into stay-on-Microsoft and leave-Microsoft, from the same capability matrix, with no vendor money.
Ranked on: migration targets, split into stay on Microsoft vs leave Microsoft
Read the Microsoft Entra External ID profile for the full verdict these pains are drawn from.
Why teams are migrating
- Forced retirement. Azure AD B2C is end-of-sale to new customers and existing tenants are scheduled to retire, so this is migration by deadline, not by preference.
- Custom policy complexity. B2C's Identity Experience Framework custom policies (XML) are powerful but hard to maintain, and few teams want to carry that burden into the next platform.
- Microsoft-platform gravity. Even the in-place successor keeps you in the Microsoft cloud, which is the moment some teams use to leave entirely.
- Mid-market fit. B2C sat awkwardly between consumer simplicity and enterprise depth; the migration is a chance to pick a platform that matches the actual segment you serve.
Migration targets, ranked
Auth0
mid-market default off Azure AD B2CYou want a proven mid-market CIAM and you are leaving Microsoft.
Auth0 wins when you want the most common, well-documented landing spot off Azure AD B2C.
Auth0 is the default destination for teams leaving Azure AD B2C: broad feature coverage, a large connector catalog, and extensive migration tooling and documentation. On the shared matrix it leads Entra on developer-facing breadth. The trade is tiered-MAU pricing that climbs at scale, so size the bill at your real volume.
- Best for
- Mid-market teams that want a proven, well-trodden migration path off B2C.
- Watch out for
- Pricing escalates past 100k MAU; model your TCO before committing.
Read the Auth0 profileSee Auth0 vs Microsoft Entra External ID
Amazon Cognito
hyperscaler-to-hyperscaler moveYou are leaving Microsoft but want to stay hyperscaler-native.
Cognito wins when your infrastructure is shifting to AWS and you want identity in the same cloud.
Cognito is the natural target for a Microsoft-to-AWS move: user pools, OIDC, and integration with the broader AWS account and IAM. The matrix shows Entra ahead on several enterprise axes, so this is a lateral move chosen for cloud alignment, not a capability upgrade. Cognito's developer experience is the known trade.
- Best for
- Teams consolidating on AWS that want identity inside the same cloud bill.
- Watch out for
- On the matrix Entra leads Cognito on several axes; choose this for cloud fit, not features.
Read the Amazon Cognito profileSee Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Entra External ID
Ping Identity
enterprise federation depthYou need deep enterprise federation that B2C never had.
Ping wins when the requirement is heavy enterprise federation and standards depth.
Ping Identity brings mature enterprise federation, standards coverage, and the governance surface large organizations require. On the shared matrix it leads Entra External ID on federation breadth. The trade is that it is an enterprise platform with the procurement and operational weight that implies.
- Best for
- Large enterprises with complex federation and governance requirements.
- Watch out for
- Enterprise-grade weight and cost; overkill for a straightforward consumer app.
Read the Ping Identity profileSee Ping Identity vs Microsoft Entra External ID
Descope
fast migration off B2C custom policiesYou are trapped in B2C custom-policy XML and want out fast.
Descope wins when you want to replace B2C's custom policies with a visual flow builder.
Descope's drag-and-drop flow builder is a direct answer to the maintenance pain of B2C's Identity Experience Framework: journeys become visual rather than XML. For a modern mid-market team, that turns the migration into a rebuild you can actually maintain. It is newer than the incumbents, so validate your specific enterprise connectors.
- Best for
- Modern mid-market teams escaping B2C custom-policy maintenance.
- Watch out for
- Younger platform; confirm the enterprise connectors and compliance attestations you need.
Read the Descope profileSee Microsoft Entra External ID vs Descope
Keycloak
OSS self-host for data sovereigntyYou need data sovereignty and full control, off any vendor cloud.
Keycloak wins when the migration driver is sovereignty and you can run it yourself.
Keycloak is the open-source, self-hosted route: Apache 2.0, no per-MAU cost, and full control over where data lives, which is often the actual driver behind leaving a hyperscaler identity service. It is the most sovereign option on the list. The cost is operations: you own deployment, scaling, and upgrades. See the open source CIAM page for the full self-hosted comparison.
- Best for
- Teams with ops capacity whose migration is driven by data sovereignty or cost.
- Watch out for
- You own the operational burden; this trades a vendor bill for engineering time.
Pain to pick
Map your specific problem to the pick that removes it.
| If your situation is | What fixes it |
|---|---|
| Stay on Microsoft, in-place successor | Microsoft Entra External ID |
| Leave Microsoft, proven mid-market default | Auth0 |
| Moving infrastructure to AWS | Amazon Cognito |
| Need deep enterprise federation | Ping Identity |
| Escape B2C custom-policy XML fast | Descope |
| Data sovereignty and self-host | Keycloak |
Comparison table
Pulled from each vendor's capability matrix. Last verified 2026-06-06.
| Capability | Microsoft Entra External ID | Auth0 | Amazon Cognito | Ping Identity | Descope | Keycloak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment | cloud SaaS | cloud SaaS | cloud SaaS | cloud SaaS, on prem, hybrid | cloud SaaS | self hosted, on prem, hybrid |
| Segment fit | B2C, B2B SaaS, enterprise | B2C, B2B SaaS, enterprise | B2C, B2B SaaS, enterprise | enterprise, public sector | B2C, B2B SaaS | B2C, B2B SaaS, enterprise, public sector |
| Pricing model | tiered MAU | tiered MAU | tiered MAU | enterprise quote | tiered MAU | free open source |
| Native passkeys | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| B2B Orgs / Enterprise SSO | Orgs ~ · SSO ✓ | Orgs ✓ · SSO ✓ | Orgs ✕ · SSO ✓ | Orgs ✓ · SSO ✓ | Orgs ✓ · SSO ✓ | Orgs ~ · SSO ✓ |
| FedRAMP | High | High (via Okta) | High | High | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Fine-grained authz | ~ Partial | ✓ Yes | ~ Partial | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free-tier ceiling | 50k MAU | 25k MAU | 50k MAU | None | 7.5k MAU | Yes |
How to choose
- If you are staying in the Microsoft cloud, migrate in place to Entra External ID, the named successor.
- If you are leaving Microsoft for mid-market breadth, Auth0 is the most documented landing spot.
- If the driver is data sovereignty, self-host Keycloak for full control.
- If you are unsure where you land, answer six questions in the vendor selector.
FAQ
- What is the best alternative to Microsoft Entra External ID?
- If you stay in the Microsoft cloud, Entra External ID is the in-place successor to Azure AD B2C. If you leave Microsoft, Auth0 is the mid-market default, Amazon Cognito is the hyperscaler-to-hyperscaler move, Ping Identity offers enterprise federation depth, Descope replaces B2C custom policies with a visual builder, and Keycloak is the open-source self-host route for data sovereignty.
- When is Azure AD B2C being retired?
- Azure AD B2C entered end-of-sale to new customers on 2025-05-01 and existing tenants are scheduled to retire on 2026-03-15. Treat both dates as a migration deadline and re-verify them against the Microsoft Entra External ID profile before planning, since Microsoft can adjust the timeline.
- Is there a free or open source alternative to Azure AD B2C?
- Yes. Keycloak (Apache 2.0) is the de-facto open source self-hosted option with no per-MAU cost and full data-sovereignty control, which is often the reason teams leave a hyperscaler identity service. FusionAuth and Zitadel are other self-hostable options. See the open source CIAM page for the full comparison.
- Do I have to rewrite my B2C custom policies when I migrate?
- Yes. Azure AD B2C custom policies (Identity Experience Framework XML) have no direct equivalent on other platforms and must be re-implemented. This is a chance to move to a maintainable model: Descope and the modern platforms replace XML policies with visual or code-first flow builders.
Further reading from the blog
Longer-form analysis on guptadeepak.com that pairs with this switching guide.
Keep reading
Editorial note
This page ranks on one stated axis and nothing else. Every vendor is scored on the same matrix, every pick links to its internal profile, and we take no vendor money, no affiliate links, no paid placement. If you believe a claim is inaccurate or out of date, see the disclaimer for how to reach the editorial team. Last verified 2026-06-06.