Microsoft Entra External ID vs Salesforce Identity comparison

Microsoft and Salesforce are both solutions in the Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) category. Microsoft is ranked #5 with an average rating of 7.8, while Salesforce is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.0. Microsoft holds a 3.8% mindshare in CIaA, compared to Salesforce’s 2.4% mindshare. Additionally, 81% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Salesforce users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Entra External ID

Read 17 Microsoft Entra External ID reviews

3,229 Views
1,324 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

Salesforce Identity

Read 6 Salesforce Identity reviews

1,343 Views
873 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Entra External ID

Salesforce Identity

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 3, 2026

Salesforce Identity and Microsoft Entra External ID are major players in the identity and access management market. While Salesforce Identity offers significant cost-effectiveness and support, Microsoft Entra External ID leads with advanced features and robust security, making it a worthwhile investment.

Features: Salesforce Identity provides features like single sign-on, user provisioning, and two-factor authentication, ensuring efficient identity management. Microsoft Entra External ID has robust security features, seamless integration, and flexible access control, highlighting its technology advantage.

Room for Improvement: Salesforce Identity could enhance security features, integration capabilities, and flexibility in access controls. Microsoft Entra External ID might improve setup complexity for certain use cases, broaden integration with older systems, and reduce initial investment.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both platforms offer efficient deployment, yet Microsoft Entra External ID allows faster setup with extensive integrations. Salesforce Identity has reliable customer support, but Microsoft Entra External ID's proactive service enhances tech team operations.

Pricing and ROI: Salesforce Identity often entails lower setup costs, providing good ROI via cost-effective identity solutions. Although Microsoft Entra External ID has higher initial costs, it ensures substantial ROI with its advanced features and security, offering a superior long-term investment for robust identity management.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Entra External ID vs. Salesforce Identity Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra External ID vs. Salesforce Identity

June 2026

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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

Microsoft Entra External ID

Ranking in Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)

5th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

5.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) (10th), Microsoft Security Suite (16th)

Salesforce Identity

Ranking in Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)

10th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Mobile Identity (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Entra External ID is 3.8%, down from 7.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Salesforce Identity is 2.4%, down from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Entra External ID	3.8%
Salesforce Identity	2.4%
Other	93.8%

Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)

Featured Reviews

F. Seki

Consultant at Artifield

Offers strong identity unification but needs better customization

Microsoft Entra External ID can be improved with additional features, specifically customizable flexibility and a customizable user interface for the login dialog. Currently, the login dialog has very limited customization options, which only include font styles, colors, text messages, or brand icons. Last month, Entra ID introduced some customizable features in their login dialog, but this does not apply to Microsoft Entra External ID, indicating a significant gap between the two. In theory, Entra External ID can support many external identity providers where custom login dialogs could be integrated, potentially via SSO feature coordination, although I have not yet confirmed this. Hence, enhanced customizable login options and the ability to use attribute password logins are critical features that are required for Microsoft Entra External ID to gain dominance in the authentication market.

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NavinJacob

Chief Digital Officer at Cipher7

Structured operations and analytics have transformed how my teams manage customers and sales

I see room for improvement regarding financial operations and FinOps. If they are not being controlled correctly, Salesforce billings can get huge. They charge for everything: license costs, storage costs, and transaction costs, and it can really end up blowing budgets if it is not controlled. Those controls should be something that is easy to manage. With Salesforce, it is pretty difficult to manage unless you are a very advanced user. Normal regular users may not be able to keep the costs in control. This ends up resulting in bill shocks where you suddenly receive a bill which you may not be expecting.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Primarily Microsoft Entra External ID SSO is valuable as it works with everything when it comes to integration."

"The positive impact of Microsoft Entra External ID on my organization is that it enhances ease of use for the administrative side."

"The fact that it is quite integrated into the entire Microsoft environment makes it quite easy to use."

"Microsoft Entra External ID is more secure, offering a secure environment."

"It's similar to using a Microsoft account to create accounts on other websites. We are also using Microsoft Entra to monitor which applications our guests are using. This allows us to filter, block, or adjust permissions for these applications as needed for our collaborators."

"I have not encountered any stability issues with Microsoft Entra External ID."

"The single sign-on access is the most useful feature we use."

"The most valuable feature for me is the firewall capabilities."

More Microsoft Entra External ID pros

"Salesforce Identity is a very user-friendly solution."

"The most valuable features are the pipeline management, being able to track the pipeline anytime, and the ability to get in touch with our high management team or board members."

"The best features of Salesforce Platform that I appreciate are that it is very configurable and easy for both developers as well as customers to use."

"The user experience was great because it had all the features that the client needed, it was fully customized for the client, and it was very simple, making it the best solution at that time."

"The single sign-on feature of Salesforce Identity enhances our organization's security posture overall."

"The solution is very easy to understand."

Cons

"The only problem that you might face with Microsoft now is their complex licensing model."

"There have been a couple of times when it was unavailable because of Microsoft issues, but other than that, I don't remember any problems."

"The cost is very high."

"I generally find Microsoft solutions expensive, especially in specific offerings."

"Microsoft's pricing is complex and difficult to fathom due to a range of different licensing options."

"As of latest, when it comes to my experience, I am not satisfied."

"The training generally is complicated to understand, leading us to often go through a managed service provider."

"The authentication methods available are very limited, and this presents a weak point."

More Microsoft Entra External ID cons

"The most wanted feature on such platforms nowadays is artificial intelligence, especially for marketing activities. This is also my area of expertise, so it would be very interesting to see AI in these platforms."

"The product is slow."

"Salesforce Identity needs more expertise in the application."

"Salesforce could make it more user-friendly and easier to implement. Currently, there's a lot of coding and technical work required. I would appreciate a more plug-and-play approach where you could set it up without needing a dedicated technical person."

"The interface should be simplified and the dashboard has a lot of options but could be improved."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We don't pay separately for Microsoft Entra External ID as it's part of our Microsoft Exchange subscription."

"I'd recommend Salesforce for larger products where you really need a robust CRM. It's expensive, so for smaller websites or products, it might not be the most cost-effective solution."

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is a very low price and ten is a very high price, I rate Salesforce Identity's pricing a six out of ten."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

21%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	6

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Entra External ID?

Microsoft is flexible in the pricing for the product, so I cannot say that it is expensive, but definitely they are flexible in the price lists and their ways of doing payments.

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What needs improvement with Microsoft Entra External ID?

Not really at the moment, but perhaps when we go deeper into using Microsoft Entra External ID, we may experience some things we may not prefer. However, up to now, we have not encountered anything...

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What is your primary use case for Microsoft Entra External ID?

When I say identity, I mean Microsoft Entra External ID. We have been using Microsoft Entra External ID since the beginning of 2022. I am using it as a client. The purposes for using Microsoft Entr...

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What needs improvement with Salesforce Identity?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Salesforce Identity?

My overall experience in this current field I am working spans different areas. One area is for service management, contact centers, BPOs, and customer relationship management. Others are for sales...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Salesforce Identity?

I have extensive experience with Salesforce Identity, although I have been in the middle of something about Salesforce Identity and cannot speak more about it currently due to customer confidential...

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Entra ID vs Microsoft Entra External ID

Compared 13% of the time

Auth0 Platform vs Microsoft Entra External ID

Compared 12% of the time

Okta Platform vs Microsoft Entra External ID

Compared 10% of the time

Google Cloud Identity vs Microsoft Entra External ID

Compared 6% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Identity vs Microsoft Entra External ID

Compared 6% of the time

More Microsoft Entra External ID Competitors

Okta Platform vs Salesforce Identity

Compared 24% of the time

Auth0 Platform vs Salesforce Identity

Compared 16% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID vs Salesforce Identity

Compared 10% of the time

MicroStrategy Usher vs Salesforce Identity

Compared 8% of the time

SAP Customer Identity and Access Management vs Salesforce Identity

Compared 7% of the time

More Salesforce Identity Competitors

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Also Known As

Azure Active Directory External Identities

No data available

Overview

Microsoft Entra External ID provides streamlined identity management with features like Active Directory integration, multi-factor authentication, and centralized user management, supporting both B2C and B2E needs. It's designed to enhance security while simplifying access management across applications.

Microsoft Entra External ID enhances identity management by offering easy setup, robust monitoring, and centralized user management. It supports compliance with comprehensive reporting and integrates seamlessly with Azure. While it facilitates cross-company collaboration, user lifecycle management, and B2B guest access, users note the need for improved technical support, faster synchronization speeds, and more customizable interfaces. Integration with open-source software, legacy tools, and ERP systems is advised along with a more predictable pricing model and improved federated login security. Current licensing complexity and the need for more user-friendly interfaces are areas for development.

What are the most important features?

Ease of Setup: Quick installation process enhances efficiency for IT teams.
Active Directory Integration: Seamless connection with existing Microsoft infrastructure for streamlined operations.
Multi-Factor Authentication: Adds an extra layer of security for enhanced user protection.
Centralized User Management: Efficiently manage identities from a single platform.
Single Sign-On and Adaptive Authentication: Simplifies access while enhancing security.
Unified B2C and B2E Functionality: Maximizes identity management for internal and external users.

What benefits should users look for?

Cost Savings: Reduces infrastructure needs, lowering operational expenses.
Enhanced Security: Provides robust protection with adaptive authentication and monitoring.
Compliance Support: Detailed reporting ensures adherence to regulatory standards.
Integration Capability: Seamlessly connects with Azure and other platforms for efficient workflow.
User Lifecycle Management: Streamlines the processes of provisioning and de-provisioning.

In sectors like IT, finance, and healthcare, Microsoft Entra External ID is utilized for managing complex access needs and compliance requirements, supporting projects involving Active Directory, Microsoft Teams, and cloud-based infrastructures. These industries leverage its capabilities for managing identities and improving secure collaboration while ensuring alignment with existing on-premises systems.

Microsoft

Salesforce Identity offers seamless integration within Salesforce, providing user-friendly features and strong security benefits. It supports developers and customers with data integration and analytics tools.

Salesforce Identity delivers configurability that enhances data integration and automated workflows, while analytics and pipeline management improve operational effectiveness. Offering free learning resources on Trailhead, it ensures users enjoy a tailored and effective experience. Yet, some users seek better ease of implementation and simplified billing management. Suggestions for AI integration raise expectations for potential enhanced marketing capabilities.

What are the key features of Salesforce Identity?

User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design integrated within Salesforce.
Security and Compliance: Strong measures ensuring secure operations.
Configurability: Supports extensive customization for developers and customers.
Data Integration: Seamless integration with automated workflows.
Analytics and Pipeline Management: Tools for tracking and management communication.
Learning Resources: Free tutorials on Trailhead to boost learning.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Enhanced Security: Secure, compliant user authentication.
Improved Integration: Streamlined workflows and process management.
Configurable Customization: Flexibility for diverse operational needs.
Effective Analytics: Tools for better tracking and communication.

Salesforce Identity is widely used in B2C sectors for customer registration and centralizing user authentication. It acts as an identity provider for portals on other technologies and supports industries like aviation, banking, e-commerce, and more. Companies rely on Salesforce Identity for service management, sales, and lead tracking.

Salesforce

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

SAP, Microsoft, Workday, Servicenow, ADP, Google Apps, box, Oracle

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra External ID vs. Salesforce Identity

June 2026

Free Report: Microsoft Entra External ID vs. Salesforce Identity

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