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Head-to-head · Auth APIs

Prove vs WorkOS

Prove focuses on identity verification; WorkOS adds enterprise authentication and user management through APIs.

Prove

5.2/10
VS

WorkOS

8.0/10

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Short answer

Most buyers should pick WorkOS.

Choose Prove when your application needs to verify people, businesses or AI agents, or reduce reliance on SMS OTP. Choose WorkOS when you need enterprise SSO, directory sync, user management or access control in a B2B app. WorkOS publishes free usage allowances and per-connection rates; Prove quotes custom pricing based on implementation and transaction volume. We’d compare the products against your identity flows, then confirm SDK coverage and total costs with each vendor.

01Side by side

ProveWorkOS
Pricing modelCustom quote based on implementation and transaction volumeUsage-based pricing or custom Annual Credits
Free tierNo free plan listedUp to 1 million active users free
API and SDKsAPI documentation; client- and server-side SDKsAPIs and building blocks for identity features
CLI and docsAPI documentationDeveloper documentation and API resources
IntegrationsIdentity verification and authentication products20+ enterprise services, including SAML, OIDC and SCIM
PlatformsWebWeb
Limits and scalingLimits unpublished; quote based on transaction volumeFree allowances; connection tiers and volume discounts
Deployment modelIdentity platform; hosting model unpublishedHosted identity APIs and Admin Portal

Choose Prove if

  • Choose Prove if you need identity verification for people, businesses or agents.
  • Choose Prove if account opening depends on verified identity data.
  • Choose Prove if you want to reduce reliance on SMS OTP.

Choose WorkOS if

  • Choose WorkOS if your app needs enterprise SSO through SAML or OIDC.
  • Choose WorkOS if customers need directory sync through SCIM or HRIS.
  • Choose WorkOS if published free allowances and connection rates fit your model.

02Pricing at real usage

Prove has no listed free plan or trial. Its pricing is custom: the vendor bases quotes on implementation and transaction volume, while seat and usage limits and billing terms are not published. Ask for minimum commitments, per-check or per-transaction rates, and overage terms before estimating production cost.

WorkOS offers two usage-based entry points: Pay as you go includes the first 1 million active users free, while AuthKit lists up to 1 million monthly active users free. AuthKit costs $2,500/month per additional 1 million users. Enterprise SSO and Directory Sync cost $125 per connection for connections 1–15, decreasing to $65 for connections 51–100. Radar includes 1,000 free checks, then costs $100/month per 50,000 checks. Audit log streaming costs $125/month per SIEM connection; retention costs $99/month per million events stored.

03API, SDKs and integration

Prove is an identity platform integrated through API documentation and client- and server-side SDKs. Its products cover pre-fill, human verification, account opening, unified authentication and agent verification; KYC checks are optional. The vendor does not name SDK languages or a CLI, so confirm supported runtimes and test tooling before choosing an integration path.

WorkOS exposes identity and enterprise features as APIs and building blocks. One integration connects to SAML or OIDC identity providers; Directory Sync uses SCIM and HRIS integrations. WorkOS lists 20+ enterprise services, including Okta, Entra ID, ADFS, Bamboo and Rippling. Its Admin Portal gives customer IT admins a hosted setup interface, and its developer site links to documentation. Neither vendor names SDK languages or a CLI. Plan around required protocols and product endpoints, then confirm language SDK coverage before implementation.

04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in

Neither vendor publishes an open-source licence or a self-hosting option. Treat both as vendor-operated services unless the vendor confirms a deployment model in writing; do not assume you can run either service in your own environment.

WorkOS documents audit-log streaming and event retention, and Vault EKM can optionally store objects. Those features do not establish a general customer-data export path. Prove's integration details describe APIs and SDKs, not a data-export mechanism. Ask each vendor which identity attributes, verification decisions, audit events and configuration you can export, in what format, and whether export remains available after contract termination. WorkOS Annual Credits includes guided migration and onboarding, but that is not a documented exit process. For either product, migration effort will depend on replacing application calls and remapping stored identity state.

Questions people ask

Is Prove or WorkOS better for enterprise SSO?

WorkOS is the closer fit for enterprise SSO. It connects to SAML or OIDC identity providers through a single integration and also offers Directory Sync for SCIM and HRIS integrations. Prove focuses on identity verification and authentication rather than published enterprise directory and SSO integrations.

How much does WorkOS cost compared with Prove?

WorkOS lists free allowances for active users and Radar checks, plus per-connection prices for SSO and Directory Sync. Prove uses custom pricing based on implementation and transaction volume. Because Prove does not publish rates or limits, ask its sales team for a quote using your expected verification volume.

Do Prove and WorkOS publish SDKs for my programming language?

Prove lists client- and server-side SDKs, but does not name the supported languages. WorkOS describes APIs and developer documentation, but does not name SDK languages. Confirm language support and the specific endpoints you need with each vendor before committing to an implementation.

Can I self-host Prove or WorkOS?

Neither vendor publishes a self-hosting option or an open-source licence. WorkOS provides hosted APIs and an Admin Portal; Prove describes an identity platform with API integration. Ask vendors about deployment, data export and termination procedures if those are requirements for your system.