Google Cloud Identity vs Microsoft Entra ID comparison

Google and Microsoft are both solutions in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category. Google is ranked #4 with an average rating of 7.5, while Microsoft is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.7. Google holds a 10.9% mindshare in IAMS, compared to Microsoft’s 28.4% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Google users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Google Cloud Identity

Read 23 Google Cloud Identity reviews

3,921 Views
3,386 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Microsoft Entra ID

Read 219 Microsoft Entra ID reviews

10,226 Views
7,551 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Google Cloud Identity

Microsoft Entra ID

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 12, 2025

Microsoft Entra ID and Google Cloud Identity compete in the identity and access management category. Based on the comparison, Microsoft Entra ID appears to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive security features.

Features: Microsoft Entra ID offers seamless integration with Microsoft products, multifactor authentication, and robust conditional access. Google Cloud Identity emphasizes simplicity and ease of use with strong integration within Google Workspace and basic security features.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Entra ID needs improvements in user interface complexity, third-party app integration, and better synchronization between on-premise and cloud environments. Google Cloud Identity could enhance its security features, including more monitoring and advanced user management, while also reducing costs and improving integration with non-Google products.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Entra ID is praised for its deployment, especially in hybrid environments, but customer support experiences vary by region. Google Cloud Identity has a straightforward deployment process with fewer customer service complaints, although users wish for more support options.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Entra ID provides flexible pricing with multiple licensing tiers, viewed as costly but justified due to its features. Google Cloud Identity, packaged with Google Workspace, is seen as cost-effective for small to medium enterprises, though some users feel Microsoft's solution offers better ROI through stronger features.

To learn more, read our detailed Google Cloud Identity vs. Microsoft Entra ID Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Identity vs. Microsoft Entra ID

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Google Cloud Identity

Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

4th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (8th)

Microsoft Entra ID

Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

1st

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

219

Ranking in other categories

Single Sign-On (SSO) (1st), Authentication Systems (1st), Identity Management (IM) (1st), Access Management (1st), Microsoft Security Suite (2nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category, the mindshare of Google Cloud Identity is 10.9%, down from 14.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Entra ID is 28.4%, down from 29.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

Q&A Highlights

Iain Dall

Owner at Brains

May 12, 2020

What are the biggest differences between Google Cloud Identity and Microsoft Azure Active Directory?

Both identity providers have their own pros and cons. Google doesn't have a road map for device management though they have recently announced support for windows 10 & Ubuntu. I would recommend Microsoft Azure Directory for its access control management features. I would like to know your requirement for further inputs.

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Featured Reviews

EkoNugroho

Cloud Support Manager at PointStar

Enhanced security and simplicity in deployment for a holistic protection

The most valuable feature of Google Cloud Identity is its simplicity in deployment. You only need to purchase and assign licenses to users, and there's no need for extensive setup. Another valuable feature is its integration with Google Workspace, which enhances security through context-aware access and allows for geographic and IP-specific restrictions. This ensures secure access to applications and data.

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Aaron Liang

System engineer at a energy/utilities company with 501-1,000 employees

Has significantly improved secure access to applications and resources in our environment

Microsoft Entra ID has helped by simplifying our management of permissions for APIs. We are not directly exposing credentials, as we use tokens instead. It has made management easier and more secure, especially in a multi-user environment. The implementation of Microsoft Entra ID significantly improved secure access to applications and resources in our environment, primarily through the widespread use of single-sign-on. Managing API permissions became much easier, as application registration often involves calling an API to utilize services without directly exposing credentials, relying instead on token-based authentication. This streamlined approach benefits end-users by simplifying access while remaining transparent to them. Ultimately, my role focuses on ensuring a smooth and user-friendly experience, even if the underlying technology remains unseen by the end-users. Our company strongly emphasizes passwordless authentication, primarily through device-bound passkeys in Microsoft Authenticator. While administrators with high-privileged accounts utilize YubiKeys and passwords for tasks like accessing Microsoft Graph, we are actively transitioning all other users towards passwordless methods such as Windows Hello biometrics. This approach streamlines authentication and enhances security. Though initial deployment in 2022 presented challenges due to hardware limitations and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology has significantly improved and provides a simple and effective user experience.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The main control page and the ability to manage all our users from a web-based portal are the most valuable aspects of the solution. That's particularly useful because we're a heterogeneous network."

"Cloud Identity is scalable enough for our needs. It's serving more than 3,000 users in our organization."

"I used it as an administrator without implementing it myself. As for valuable aspects or benefits, the significant point is that it's a straightforward, single solution that just works."

"Google Cloud Identity uses what they call organizational units (OUs) instead of the security groups you'd find in Microsoft's Entra."

"The tool provides a free service that you can integrate for laptop authentication. You also don’t need a separate Active Directory."

"The solution is moderate to difficult to use. I found the approach was practical. Following the steps made it very easy to use."

"The solution is primarily used for single control and single sign which helps with the security and authentication of multiple devices."

"Although we have not looked at the whole product and explored it completely, we find that all the authentication features that we are using now are valuable."

More Google Cloud Identity pros

"The most valuable feature of this solution is that is easy to use."

"I find the conditional access policies to be the most valuable. They provide a lot of granularity in determining where the users can log in from, how they log in, and what they have access to."

"Entra ID enables us to implement security easily and effectively."

"Being able to easily authenticate yourself on the MSA app is valuable. It is easy to use. Rather than receiving a code in an SMS, you can just verify that it is you. You don't have to punch in any password or any six-digit code. That's the feature that I like the most."

"I like Entra's ability to integrate the Active Directory with third-party solutions. It's straightforward. I like the ability to define third-party systems and make the AD the primary identity provider."

"In terms of identity management, it helps to improve security posture. It generally helps in terms cloud security, simplicity, and single sign-on for multiple apps."

"The solution scales well."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to authenticate users using Microsoft Entra ID."

More Microsoft Entra ID pros

Cons

"The interface could be more user-friendly."

"The solution's storage capacity could be increased."

"If I were to suggest enhancements, it would mainly revolve around ensuring compatibility and maximizing integration options with various services."

"I would like to see more integration in future releases."

"There is room for improvement in the configuration of their security policies. It seems quite basic."

"The interface could be improved by simplifying it further."

"The pricing for this solution is a little bit higher than AWS and others, which is something that should be improved."

"Google Cloud Identity should improve its compatibility with other products without any impact, such as Jamf Cloud."

More Google Cloud Identity cons

"The only improvement would be for everything to be instant in terms of applying changes and propagating them to systems."

"There should be guidance on features, especially security features, in Entra ID and whether they are sufficient on their own. The solution could become expensive when paying extra for enhanced security features, so Microsoft needs to offer better clarity on this matter."

"Better deployment management and visibility functionality would be helpful."

"It would be ideal if the solution moved to a passwordless type of environment. It's the future of authentification. It's also more secure and convenient."

"The product takes at least ten minutes to activate privilege identity management roles."

"A recent incident we dealt with took four months to resolve with a seven-day deadline, which was quite frustrating."

"It would be good to have more clarity around licensing."

"I would rate it an eight out of ten. The price plays a factor in the rating."

More Microsoft Entra ID cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We probably spend about $50,000 a year on licensing."

"The fees are paid monthly and there are no additional costs other than the licensing fees."

"When I worked on Cloud Identity, they offered a free or enterprise version. You can synchronize and create up to 100 user identities in the free version. After that, you have to purchase a business or enterprise license. In that model, you'll be charged based on the number of users."

"The product is billed on a monthly basis depending on the number of users."

"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."

"The licensing cost depends on the partners and the relationship between the company and the partners."

"I rate the product price a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."

"The pricing is a bit expensive."

More Google Cloud Identity pricing and cost advice

"The licensing costs are yearly. There is a standard fee per user."

"I feel Microsoft is very costly compared to other products. That is also what management is thinking. But when we consider security and support, Microsoft is better than any other product."

"It is a really nice tool and we have a license for the more complex model."

"The licensing is really not clear unless you are a premium client."

"The basic tier of Azure Active Directory is free, so many users use the service for free. For a small company having the security and compliance that Azure offers is a great benefit. For small companies that are using the basic services, not having to pay for Azure Active Directory is the main asset because they can manage their users and have authentications tools and security."

"Our customers are looking for advanced features and processes for it to be cost-effective for their organizations. They see it as an overpriced product. They are enjoying using Azure Active Directory, but they are looking for better prices."

"The product is relatively affordable, especially compared to Okta, a pricey solution."

"The pricing for Azure Active Directory is affordable; I would rate the cost a six out of ten."

More Microsoft Entra ID pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

33%

Computer Software Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

How does Google Cloud Identity compare with Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune offers not only an easy-to-deploy data protection and productivity management solution, but also access to both Microsoft’s user community as well as around-the-clock customer s...

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What do you like most about Google Cloud Identity?

The most valuable feature of Google Cloud Identity is its stability.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Cloud Identity?

It's crucial to monitor costs carefully, as there can be unexpected charges. I have been charged even when there was supposed to be free credit.

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How does Duo Security compare with Microsoft Authenticator?

We switched to Duo Security for identity verification. We’d been using a competitor but got the chance to evaluate Duo for 30 days, and we could not be happier. Duo Security is easy to configure a...

See all answers

What do you like most about Azure Active Directory?

It is very simple. The Active Directory functions are very easy for us. Its integration with anything is very easy. We can easily do third-party multifactor authentication.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Active Directory?

Microsoft Entra ID is reportedly quite expensive for each user regarding security features. The renewal cost is particularly high according to the teams managing purchases.

See all answers

Comparisons

Okta Workforce Identity vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 15% of the time

Microsoft Intune vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 8% of the time

JumpCloud vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 3% of the time

SailPoint Identity Security Cloud vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 2% of the time

SOTI MobiControl vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 1% of the time

More Google Cloud Identity Competitors

Microsoft Intune vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 11% of the time

Okta Workforce Identity vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 9% of the time

Auth0 vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 6% of the time

Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 5% of the time

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 4% of the time

More Microsoft Entra ID Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Identity

March 2025

Download Google Cloud Identity product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra ID

March 2025

Download Microsoft Entra ID product report

Also Known As

Cloud Identity, Cloud Identity Premium

Azure AD, Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Authenticator

Interactive Demo

Demo not available

Google

Microsoft

Overview

Cloud Identity is an Identity as a Service (IDaaS) and enterprise mobility management (EMM) product. It offers the identity services and endpoint administration that are available in G Suite as a stand-alone product. As an administrator, you can use Cloud Identity to manage your users, apps, and devices from a central location - the Google Admin console.

Google

Microsoft Entra ID is used for extending on-premises Active Directory to the cloud, managing application access, enabling multi-factor authentication, and single sign-on. It facilitates policy enforcement and secure access, ensuring centralized identity management across cloud and on-premises resources.

Organizations utilize Microsoft Entra ID for robust user and group management, identity synchronization, and conditional access. Its seamless integration with third-party apps, scalability, and support for remote work make it a preferred choice. The admin center streamlines identity and access tasks, enhancing efficiency and security with features like privileged identity management and audit logs.

What are the key features of Microsoft Entra ID?

Single Sign-On: Simplifies user access to multiple applications with one login.
Multifactor Authentication: Enhances security by requiring additional verification.
Conditional Access: Establishes policies that determine how users' access cloud apps.
Integration: Easily integrates with various third-party applications.
User Identity Protection: Safeguards user identities from threats.
Privileged Identity Management: Manages elevated access to sensitive resources.
Audit Logs: Provides thorough activity logs for oversight and compliance.

What benefits should users look for in Microsoft Entra ID reviews?

Enhanced Security: Offers strong multifactor authentication and identity protection.
Administrative Efficiency: Simplifies identity and access management tasks.
Scalability: Supports growing user bases and remote work environments.
Integration Capabilities: Compatible with numerous third-party applications.
User-Friendly Interface: Makes managing user identities straightforward.

Microsoft Entra ID implementation varies across industries. Tech firms leverage it for secure, scalable access management, while healthcare organizations utilize its identity protection features to safeguard patient data. Educational institutions adopt Entra ID for streamlined user management and policy enforcement, ensuring secure access for students and staff across on-premises and cloud resources.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

ExtraHop Networks, HealthChannels

Microsoft Entre ID is trusted by companies of all sizes and industries including Walmart, Zscaler, Uniper, Amtrak, monday.com, and more.

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Identity vs. Microsoft Entra ID

March 2025

Free Report: Google Cloud Identity vs. Microsoft Entra ID

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