WorkOS vs Auth0 vs Clerk Enterprise SSO 2026
Enterprise Customers Want SSO — or They Won't Buy
Enterprise procurement teams have a standard requirement list: SOC 2, SSO, SCIM provisioning, and audit logs. If your B2B SaaS can't check those boxes, you lose deals to competitors who can. The SAML SSO requirement — allowing enterprise customers to log in via their Okta, Azure AD, or Google Workspace account — is now a baseline expectation for software selling above $10K/year.
Building SAML SSO from scratch is weeks of engineering work, plus ongoing maintenance as enterprise customers request specific identity provider configurations. SSO-as-a-Service platforms abstract all of that: you integrate once, and every enterprise customer can connect their identity provider through a self-serve admin portal.
In 2026, three platforms dominate B2B SaaS enterprise authentication: WorkOS (the enterprise auth specialist), Auth0 (the comprehensive identity platform), and Clerk (the modern developer auth platform). Each handles SAML, SCIM, and enterprise features differently — and the pricing differences are significant.
TL;DR
WorkOS is the best choice for B2B SaaS companies that need to close enterprise deals — the per-connection pricing ($125/month per enterprise customer) is predictable, the self-serve admin portal lets enterprise IT admins configure SSO without involving your support team, and the SCIM directory sync keeps user lists automatically in sync with customer identity providers. Auth0 covers enterprise SSO but the MAU-based pricing becomes expensive as your enterprise customer base grows. Clerk is the best developer experience for authentication overall but enterprise SSO requires Enterprise plan pricing negotiations.
Key Takeaways
- WorkOS charges $125/month per enterprise SSO connection — predictable, per-connection pricing that maps directly to your enterprise customer count. Volume discounts start at the 16th connection.
- Auth0 enterprise SAML requires the B2B enterprise plan — pricing is MAU-based and can reach $1,500-$34,000+/year depending on monthly active users, not just enterprise customer count.
- Clerk SAML SSO is available on Enterprise plans — requires custom pricing negotiation. The $100/month Pro plan does not include SAML.
- SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) automates user provisioning — when an enterprise customer adds a new employee in Okta, SCIM automatically creates their account in your application. WorkOS and Auth0 both support SCIM; Clerk's SCIM support is on Enterprise.
- Admin Portal is WorkOS's key differentiator — a white-labeled UI that lets your enterprise customers configure their own SSO connection without contacting your support team.
- The "SAML Tax" on Auth0 is real — a one-time blog post by a security engineer calculated that Auth0 charges ~$34K/year just to enable SAML for 2,500 enterprise MAUs. WorkOS at the same scale: $1,500/year (12 connections at $125/month).
- Consumer vs. enterprise auth are different problems — Clerk excels at consumer auth (Google OAuth, magic links, beautiful UI components); WorkOS is purpose-built for B2B enterprise auth.
Pricing Comparison
| Platform | SAML SSO | SCIM | Pricing Model | Enterprise At |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WorkOS | $125/connection/month | $125/connection/month | Per enterprise connection | $125/month |
| Auth0 | Enterprise plan | Enterprise plan | MAU-based | ~$1,500/month |
| Clerk | Enterprise plan | Enterprise plan | Custom negotiation | Custom |
Real-world example: 10 enterprise customers with SSO
- WorkOS: $1,250/month ($15K/year)
- Auth0: $1,500-$5,000+/month (depends on MAU count)
- Clerk: Custom negotiation required
WorkOS
Best for: B2B SaaS selling to enterprises, transparent per-connection pricing, self-serve admin portal
WorkOS is purpose-built for B2B SaaS companies that need to add enterprise features to close deals. The platform offers SAML SSO, SCIM directory sync, an admin portal, magic auth, and audit logs — the exact features enterprises require before signing contracts.
Pricing
| Feature | Cost |
|---|---|
| SAML SSO | $125/connection/month |
| Directory Sync (SCIM) | $125/connection/month |
| SSO + Directory Sync | $200/connection/month |
| Volume discount | Automatic starting at connection 16 |
| Free tier | Up to 1M MAUs for free (non-enterprise features) |
At 20 enterprise connections: ~$2,500-$4,000/month, with volume discounts applied automatically.
Integration
// WorkOS — initiate SSO login for enterprise user
import WorkOS from "@workos-inc/node";
const workos = new WorkOS(process.env.WORKOS_API_KEY);
// Step 1: Get the SSO authorization URL for the customer's organization
app.get("/auth/sso", async (req, res) => {
const { organizationId } = req.query; // Your customer's WorkOS org ID
const authorizationUrl = workos.sso.getAuthorizationURL({
organizationId,
redirectURI: "https://your-app.com/auth/callback",
state: JSON.stringify({ returnTo: "/dashboard" }),
});
res.redirect(authorizationUrl);
});
// Step 2: Handle the callback and exchange code for profile
app.get("/auth/callback", async (req, res) => {
const { code, state } = req.query;
const { profile, accessToken } = await workos.sso.getProfileAndToken({
code,
clientID: process.env.WORKOS_CLIENT_ID,
});
// profile contains: id, email, firstName, lastName, organizationId, connectionType
// connectionType: "OktaSAML", "AzureSAML", "GoogleSAML", etc.
const user = await findOrCreateUser({
email: profile.email,
name: `${profile.firstName} ${profile.lastName}`,
organizationId: profile.organizationId,
});
req.session.userId = user.id;
res.redirect(JSON.parse(state).returnTo || "/");
});
SCIM Directory Sync
// Handle SCIM webhooks — user provisioning from Okta/Azure AD
app.post("/webhooks/workos", async (req, res) => {
const payload = workos.webhooks.constructEvent(
req.body,
req.headers["workos-signature"],
process.env.WORKOS_WEBHOOK_SECRET
);
switch (payload.event) {
case "dsync.user.created":
// New user added in customer's Okta — auto-provision in your app
await createUser({
email: payload.data.emails[0].value,
name: `${payload.data.first_name} ${payload.data.last_name}`,
organizationId: payload.data.organization_id,
});
break;
case "dsync.user.deleted":
// User removed from Okta — deactivate in your app
await deactivateUser(payload.data.emails[0].value);
break;
case "dsync.user.updated":
// User attributes changed — sync to your app
await updateUser({
email: payload.data.emails[0].value,
name: `${payload.data.first_name} ${payload.data.last_name}`,
});
break;
}
res.json({ success: true });
});
Admin Portal
WorkOS Admin Portal is a hosted, white-labeled UI that your enterprise customers access to configure their own SSO connection — without contacting your support team:
// Generate a portal link for your customer's IT admin
const { link } = await workos.portal.generateLink({
organization: organizationId,
intent: "sso", // "sso" | "dsync" | "audit_logs"
returnURL: "https://your-app.com/settings",
});
// Redirect the customer's admin to this link
// They see a branded portal where they can configure Okta, Azure AD, etc.
res.redirect(link);
The admin portal supports 30+ identity providers including Okta, Azure Active Directory, Google Workspace, OneLogin, Ping Identity, JumpCloud, and others — all configured by the customer without your engineers' involvement.
When to Choose WorkOS
B2B SaaS companies with enterprise customers requiring SAML SSO, teams that need predictable enterprise auth pricing that scales with customer count (not MAU count), or organizations where the self-serve admin portal reduces enterprise customer onboarding friction.
Auth0
Best for: Comprehensive identity platform, consumer + enterprise auth, extensive customization
Auth0 is the broadest identity platform — supporting both consumer authentication (social login, passwordless, MFA) and enterprise authentication (SAML, SCIM, enterprise connections). The platform's strength is flexibility: Auth0's rules, actions, and extensibility points allow deep customization of authentication flows.
Pricing (Enterprise Features)
Auth0's pricing is MAU-based, which makes enterprise SSO pricing significantly less predictable than WorkOS's per-connection model:
| Plan | Starting Cost | SAML SSO | SCIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | No | No |
| Essentials | $23/month | No | No |
| Professional | $240/month | No | No |
| Enterprise | Custom | Yes | Yes |
SAML SSO is only available on Auth0's Enterprise plan, which requires a sales conversation. Industry estimates for SAML SSO support: $1,500-$34,000+/year depending on MAU count. A security researcher's analysis found Auth0 charges ~$34K/year for 2,500 enterprise MAUs with SAML — a significant cost at scale.
Integration
// Auth0 — enterprise SAML connection
import { ManagementClient } from "auth0";
const management = new ManagementClient({
domain: process.env.AUTH0_DOMAIN,
clientId: process.env.AUTH0_MANAGEMENT_CLIENT_ID,
clientSecret: process.env.AUTH0_MANAGEMENT_CLIENT_SECRET,
});
// Create enterprise SAML connection for a customer
const connection = await management.connections.create({
name: `enterprise-${customerSlug}-saml`,
strategy: "samlp",
options: {
signInEndpoint: customerSamlEndpoint,
signingCert: customerSigningCert,
user_id_attribute: "email",
},
enabled_clients: [process.env.AUTH0_CLIENT_ID],
});
// Auth0 Rules — customize token claims for enterprise users
// runs after authentication, before token issued
function addEnterpriseContext(user, context, callback) {
if (context.connection === `enterprise-${user.tenant}-saml`) {
context.idToken['https://your-app.com/role'] = 'enterprise_admin';
context.idToken['https://your-app.com/tenant'] = user.tenant;
}
callback(null, user, context);
}
When to Choose Auth0
Applications that need both consumer and enterprise authentication in one platform, teams with complex authentication flows requiring custom rules/actions, or organizations already using Auth0 for consumer auth that are adding enterprise features and want to keep a single identity vendor.
Clerk
Best for: Modern developer experience, consumer auth, B2C applications with some B2B needs
Clerk is the most developer-friendly authentication platform — beautiful pre-built UI components, comprehensive Next.js and React integration, and the fastest path from "no auth" to "production auth." For B2C applications or early-stage B2B SaaS, Clerk is often the right first choice. Enterprise SSO is available but requires Enterprise plan negotiation.
Pricing
| Plan | Cost | SAML SSO | SCIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | No | No |
| Pro | $25/month | No | No |
| Enterprise | Custom | Yes | Yes |
Enterprise plan pricing is not published — requires sales conversation. SAML SSO is not available on the $25/month Pro plan.
Integration (Next.js)
// Clerk — Next.js App Router middleware
// middleware.ts
import { clerkMiddleware, createRouteMatcher } from "@clerk/nextjs/server";
const isPublicRoute = createRouteMatcher(["/", "/sign-in(.*)", "/sign-up(.*)"]);
export default clerkMiddleware((auth, request) => {
if (!isPublicRoute(request)) {
auth().protect();
}
});
export const config = {
matcher: ["/((?!.+\\.[\\w]+$|_next).*)", "/", "/(api|trpc)(.*)"],
};
// Clerk — organization-based access (multi-tenant)
import { auth } from "@clerk/nextjs/server";
export async function GET() {
const { userId, orgId, orgRole } = auth();
if (!userId) {
return new Response("Unauthorized", { status: 401 });
}
// orgId is the customer's organization
// orgRole is "admin" or "member"
const data = await db.query(
"SELECT * FROM resources WHERE org_id = $1",
[orgId]
);
return Response.json(data);
}
Clerk Organizations (Multi-Tenant B2B)
// Clerk Organizations for B2B multi-tenancy
// Each customer gets an Organization; users are members
// Create organization for new enterprise customer
import { clerkClient } from "@clerk/nextjs/server";
const organization = await clerkClient().organizations.createOrganization({
name: "Acme Corp",
createdBy: adminUserId,
});
// Invite enterprise users to the organization
await clerkClient().organizations.createOrganizationInvitation({
organizationId: organization.id,
emailAddress: "user@acme.com",
role: "org:member",
inviterUserId: adminUserId,
redirectUrl: "https://your-app.com/accept-invite",
});
When to Choose Clerk
Early-stage B2B SaaS that needs auth quickly with excellent developer experience, consumer-facing applications (where Clerk's UI components and social login shine), or applications built on Next.js / React where Clerk's deep framework integration reduces boilerplate. If enterprise SSO is required soon, evaluate whether Enterprise plan costs are acceptable.
Side-by-Side: SAML Implementation Comparison
| Dimension | WorkOS | Auth0 | Clerk |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAML SSO availability | $125/connection | Enterprise plan (custom) | Enterprise plan (custom) |
| SCIM provisioning | $125/connection | Enterprise plan (custom) | Enterprise plan (custom) |
| Admin portal (self-serve) | Yes (built-in) | No (custom build) | Partial |
| Identity providers supported | 30+ | 30+ | 15+ |
| Time to first SSO connection | Hours | Days | Days (Enterprise) |
| Pricing model | Per-connection | MAU-based | Custom |
| Pricing predictability | High | Low | Low |
Decision Framework
| Scenario | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Selling to enterprises, need SSO fast | WorkOS |
| Predictable enterprise pricing | WorkOS |
| Both consumer + enterprise auth | Auth0 |
| Next.js/React developer experience | Clerk |
| Self-serve admin portal for customers | WorkOS |
| Already using Auth0 | Auth0 (stay) |
| Early-stage, no enterprise deals yet | Clerk or Auth0 |
| SCIM directory sync | WorkOS or Auth0 |
| 100+ enterprise connections | WorkOS (volume discounts) |
Verdict
WorkOS is the right choice for B2B SaaS companies that need enterprise SSO as a sales enabler. The per-connection pricing model is transparent and predictable — you know exactly what enterprise auth will cost as you close deals. The admin portal is a genuine differentiator: enterprise IT admins configure their own SSO without your support team's involvement.
Auth0 is justified when you need a single platform for both consumer and enterprise authentication. The flexibility and customization options are unmatched, but the MAU-based pricing for enterprise features can become very expensive and unpredictable as scale increases.
Clerk delivers the best developer experience for authentication overall, but enterprise SSO requires negotiating an Enterprise plan. For early-stage B2B SaaS without imminent enterprise deals, Clerk is an excellent starting point that you may eventually supplement with WorkOS for enterprise-specific features.
Compare enterprise SSO platform pricing, identity provider support, and integration documentation at APIScout — find the right enterprise auth solution for your B2B SaaS.