Microsoft Entra ID vs Descope pricing: which is cheaper for your team?
Microsoft Entra ID's cheapest paid tier (Entra ID P1) lists at $6/user/month, which beats the other on entry pricing. Mid-tier and enterprise math can flip the answer — use the per-tier table below to see the real cost for your team size at each tier.
Calculate the cost for your team
Microsoft Entra ID pricing tiers
| Tier | Monthly | Annual (eq) | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entra ID Free | $0 | $0 | month | Included with Azure and Microsoft 365 subscriptions |
| Entra ID P1 | $6 | $6 | user/month | Standalone or bundled with M365 E3 and Business Premium |
| Entra ID P2 | $9 | $9 | user/month | Standalone or bundled with M365 E5 |
| Entra Suite | $12 | $12 | user/month | Requires P1 subscription; special pricing for P2 and M365 E5 customers |
Descope pricing tiers
| Tier | Monthly | Annual (eq) | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Forever | $0 | $0 | month | 7,500 MAUs, 10 tenants, 3 SSO connections |
| Pro | $249 | $249 | month | 10,000 MAUs, 35 tenants, 5 SSO connections |
| Growth | $799 | $799 | month | 25,000 MAUs, 100 tenants, 10 SSO connections |
Feature by feature
The non-pricing differences that drive the real decision.
| Capability | Microsoft Entra ID | Descope |
|---|---|---|
| Billing model | user/month | month |
| Pricing model | Per-user/month annual | Tiered MAU and connection allowances |
| Cheapest paid tier | Entra ID P1 at $6/user/month | Pro at $249/month |
| Mid-tier benchmark | Entra ID P2 at $9/user/month | Growth at $799/month |
| Total paid tiers published | 3 | 2 |
| Last verified | 2026-05-17 | 2026-05-17 |
Best for…
Hand-picked use cases mapped to the winner.
| Use case | Winner |
|---|---|
| Lowest entry price (10-person team) | Microsoft Entra ID Entra ID P1 |
| Most pricing tiers (room to grow) | Microsoft Entra ID (3 tiers) |
| Predictable per-seat billing | Microsoft Entra ID |
| Most recently verified pricing | Microsoft Entra ID |
Choose Microsoft Entra ID when
- Workforce identity bundled with most Microsoft 365 plans.
- Entry tier (Entra ID P1) at $6/user/month is your budget ceiling.
- Entra Suite combines ID Governance, Verified ID, Internet Access, and Private Access. Volume discounts via Microsoft EA.
Choose Descope when
- Tier-based CIAM with included MAU, tenant, and SSO connection allowances.
- Entry tier (Pro) at $249/month is your budget ceiling.
- Enterprise includes custom MAU/tenant/connection limits, bot protection, SCIM provisioning, custom deployments, and unlimited test users. Tiered volume discounts.
Switching considerations
Watch the hidden fees on both sides. Microsoft Entra ID: All published prices require annual commitment Descope: Usage-based overages on MAUs above tier allowance Always confirm with the vendor before purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for a 10-person team, Microsoft Entra ID or Descope?
At entry tier and 10 seats on annual billing: Microsoft Entra ID Entra ID P1 comes to $60/mo; Descope Pro comes to $249/mo. Microsoft Entra ID is the cheaper entry-tier choice at this team size.
Does Microsoft Entra ID have more pricing tiers than Descope?
Microsoft Entra ID publishes more paid tiers (3 vs 2). More tiers usually means more granular ways to grow without re-platforming.
Which pricing was verified more recently?
Microsoft Entra ID's pricing was last verified 2026-05-17; Descope's on 2026-05-17. Both pages link to the vendor's official pricing source so you can re-check before committing.