Auth0 or WSO2 Identity Server: when each fits B2B and B2C customer identity
The decision turns on who will operate the identity platform. Teams usually look at WSO2 Identity Server because a renewal or a monthly active user bill grows with every new customer, or because customer login data must stay in their own infrastructure. Auth0 suits a team that wants a managed tenant and no identity platform team, since Auth0 runs the service and its upgrades. WSO2 Identity Server suits an organization that has, or is willing to build, a team to run Java services, a supported relational database and Kubernetes, virtual machines or bare metal. Before comparing features, a platform owner should be able to name who handles patching, scaling, backups and incident response for the login service.
WSO2 fits B2B programs that need organization hierarchies, delegated administration for customer tenants and per-customer login options, along with FAPI support for API security. Those capabilities are listed in the WSO2 Identity Server README, so the reader should confirm how each maps to the Auth0 Organizations model they use today and test it against a real customer scenario. Plan the database early. WSO2 requires a JDK compliant with Java 21 or Java 25 and supports Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server, while the embedded H2 database is for development and testing only. User stores can be a relational database, LDAP or Active Directory, or a custom store, so the reader should check where existing customer records sit.
The cost question has a component WSO2 does not hide. The Apache-2.0 source code is free to download, but the unsupported GitHub distribution offers no supported updates, and commercial deployments get enhancements, fixes, performance updates and expert support through a WSO2 subscription. Ask WSO2 for the subscription terms and what they cover, then compare that recurring fee with Auth0's plan costs, the engineering hours to run the platform, and the hosting bill. Asgardeo, WSO2's SaaS built on the same core, is an option if data location allows it. Confirm where Asgardeo stores data before assuming it meets a residency requirement.
Which option fits each scenario
This table maps common buyer scenarios to the platform that usually fits better, with the conditions that decide it. Read each row as a question about your own constraints: the reason column names what must be true for the recommendation to hold.
| Scenario | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| B2C login at high user counts | Depends on MAU pricing | Auth0 fits only if per-MAU pricing at your volume and its data location are acceptable. WSO2 Identity Server fits only if your team can run a JDK, a clustered database and the servers behind it. |
| B2B customers needing their own admins and login rules | WSO2 Identity Server | WSO2 lists delegated administration, per-customer login options and organization hierarchies as B2B CIAM features. Confirm the exact tenant and admin model against the current documentation for your design. |
| Data must stay in a named datacenter | WSO2 Identity Server | Self-hosting on your own Kubernetes, VMs or bare metal keeps identity data where you place it. Auth0 fits only if one of its regions or a private deployment meets your residency rule. Confirm with the vendor. |
| No in-house Java operations | Auth0 | WSO2 needs a JDK compliant with Java 21 or Java 25, a production database and clustered nodes, so someone must patch and operate them. Auth0 removes that operating load, though its MAU pricing applies. |
| Existing SAML and OIDC applications | Either, with a standards check | Both platforms support SAML and OpenID Connect. WSO2 also lists WS-Federation and SCIM. Verify each application's specific library and claim requirements in a test tenant. |
| SaaS preferred | Auth0 or Asgardeo | Asgardeo is WSO2's SaaS built on the same core, which may suit teams that want WSO2 features without running servers. Compare its terms, region and pricing directly with Auth0 before deciding. |
How Auth0 Organizations and WSO2 organization hierarchies model B2B tenants
Auth0 Organizations give each B2B customer a container for its members, roles and login connection, so an application can route a user to the right enterprise identity provider and apply the right roles based on the organization context in the login request. WSO2 Identity Server's README lists organization hierarchies, delegated administration and per-customer login options as B2B CIAM features, which means the tenant model is built around nested organizations and administrators who manage a subset of users. The main difference for application teams is where the boundary sits: in Auth0 the organization is a flat tenant object inside one Auth0 tenant, while WSO2 describes a hierarchy in which a customer can own child organizations. Confirm in each product's current documentation whether members can belong to more than one organization, how many levels of nesting are supported, and which roles can be assigned at each level.
If a customer later needs sub-organizations, such as regional business units with their own login policies, the application will need to carry the organization identifier in the token and in its authorization checks. Ask each vendor how the organization claim appears in access and ID tokens for a nested structure, and whether the parent organization can read or change child settings. Delegated administration also changes the application's own code: an administrator from a customer should be able to manage members within their scope without receiving tenant-wide rights. Test this with a dedicated customer administrator account in a non-production environment before you commit to a design, and record which actions the delegated role can perform.
Plan for the operational side before you choose. Organization settings, per-customer identity providers and delegated roles are usually created through an admin API or console, so the work to automate onboarding of a new customer is an integration task your team owns in either product. Auth0 Organizations and its enterprise connection limits are described in Auth0's documentation, while WSO2's organization and per-customer login features need checking against the installation of the version you intend to run, such as the 7.3.0 documentation. Write down the limits you confirm, including maximum organizations, nesting depth and administrator roles, because they determine whether a migration of existing Auth0 Organizations maps one to one.
Capabilities side by side: protocols, B2B features, FAPI and deployment
This table compares Auth0 and WSO2 Identity Server on protocols, B2B customer identity features, FAPI, user stores and deployment. Where the supplied facts do not cover an Auth0 capability, the cell tells you what to confirm with Auth0 before you decide. Use it as a checklist against your own B2B and B2C requirements, not as a complete feature inventory.
| Capability | Auth0 | WSO2 Identity Server |
|---|---|---|
| SAML and OpenID Connect | Confirm current protocol coverage for SAML and OIDC in Auth0's documentation for your plan | SAML, OpenID Connect, SCIM and WS-Federation supported |
| SCIM and WS-Federation | Confirm SCIM and WS-Federation support with Auth0 for your plan | SCIM and WS-Federation both listed as supported |
| B2B organization model | Organizations feature for grouping members per customer | Organization hierarchies listed as a B2B CIAM feature |
| Delegated administration | Confirm how tenant and organization admin roles are delegated with Auth0 | Delegated administration listed as a B2B CIAM feature |
| Per-customer login options | Confirm per-organization connection options with Auth0 | Per-customer login options listed as a B2B CIAM feature |
| FAPI support for API security | Confirm FAPI conformance and profile support with Auth0 directly | FAPI support listed in the product README |
| User stores | Auth0 hosted user database; confirm options for external stores with Auth0 | Relational database, LDAP such as OpenLDAP, Active Directory or a custom user store |
| Deployment and licensing | Managed SaaS; subscription pricing and tenant region chosen by Auth0 | Apache-2.0 source; self-host on Kubernetes, Docker, VMs or bare metal; paid subscription for supported updates |
Where customer identity data lives and who controls it
Auth0 and WSO2 Identity Server put customer identity data in very different places and under different operators. The cards below cover the decisions that follow from that split: where the data sits, who can reach it, what evidence you can produce, and who holds the keys.
Hosting model and operator
Auth0 runs customer identity as a managed tenant on Okta's infrastructure, so the platform operator, patching and uptime sit with the vendor. WSO2 Identity Server can run on Kubernetes, Docker, virtual machines or bare metal in your own accounts or data centers, which moves those duties to your team or your implementation partner. WSO2 also sells Asgardeo, a SaaS identity cloud built on the same core, which is a third option with its own operator. Confirm which of these three models your workloads need before comparing anything else.
Data location and residency
With a self-hosted WSO2 deployment, you choose the region and facility that store user records, credentials and session data. With Auth0, data location depends on the tenant region and plan, so confirm the tenant's region in writing. For Asgardeo, the data location is not something this page can state, so ask WSO2 directly where tenant data is stored, where backups go and whether any processing happens outside that region.
Administrative and support access
Ask who can open the data. In a managed service, the vendor's operations and support staff may have access paths that you do not control. In a self-hosted WSO2 deployment, access is governed by your own administrator accounts, network controls and the support access you grant during a subscription engagement. Document each path, who approves it and how it is logged, and ask Auth0 and WSO2 for their support access policies in writing.
Audit logs and compliance evidence
Identity audit logs record sign-ins, failed logins, administrative changes and token issuance. Decide where these logs are stored, how long they are kept and who can export them to your SIEM. With WSO2, the log destinations are part of your deployment design. With Auth0, confirm the log retention and export options for your plan. DeployOpen prepares controls and collects evidence for assessments, but independent auditors issue the reports and certifications.
Key custody and encryption
Identity platforms hold signing keys for tokens, encryption keys for stored secrets and the database credentials that protect user records. In a self-hosted WSO2 deployment, your team decides where keys live, whether they sit in a hardware security module or a cloud key service, and how rotation works. Ask Auth0 and WSO2 which keys they hold, which ones you can bring, and how key rotation affects existing sessions and integrations.
What drives the cost of each option
Auth0 charges a recurring subscription that scales with usage, while WSO2 Identity Server is free to download under Apache-2.0 but pairs with a paid subscription for supported updates. Self-hosting moves cost into infrastructure, database operations, staff time and the implementation itself, so each card below names who is paid for what and what to request in a written quote.
Auth0 subscription and MAU metering
Auth0 bills a recurring plan fee that rises with monthly active users, and enterprise features such as Organizations and enterprise connections sit in higher tiers or add-ons. Your largest recurring line is the vendor invoice, so model it at your projected user growth and at the number of tenant customers you expect to onboard. Ask the vendor which plan includes each B2B feature you need, how overage and add-ons are billed, and whether the password hash export carries any charge on your plan.
WSO2 subscription for supported updates
The WSO2 Identity Server source is Apache-2.0, so there is no license fee for the code itself. A WSO2 on-prem subscription is what buys expert support, continuous product updates, vulnerability monitoring and access to the licensed distribution for commercial use, and that fee recurs for each year you run it. Ask WSO2 which subscription tier covers your deployment size and environments, what the update cadence and support hours are, and whether Asgardeo would be priced differently for the same workload.
Infrastructure and high availability
Self-hosted WSO2 runs on Kubernetes, Docker, virtual machines or bare metal, so you pay for compute, load balancing, storage and at least two nodes for availability in each environment. Production, staging and disaster recovery each multiply that footprint. Ask your team to size a development, test and production topology, and check whether the infrastructure run cost sits in your existing cloud commitment or is a new line item.
Database and JDK operations
WSO2 Identity Server needs a JDK that is Java 21 or Java 25 and a production database such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server. The embedded H2 database is for development and testing only, so a managed or licensed production database is a cost you must count. Database licenses, backup storage, failover configuration and JDK patching recur, and they rise with user counts and audit log retention. Ask whether the quote includes database sizing and whether your database engine carries a commercial license.
Staff who patch, back up and upgrade
The largest hidden cost is people. Someone must apply WSO2 updates, rehearse upgrades, test login flows after each change, maintain backups and respond to security advisories around the clock for production customer identity. Those hours recur every month and grow with the number of tenants, identity providers and custom user store integrations. Ask the implementation partner to document a runbook and state which tasks your staff will own after handover, and whether ongoing support is quoted as a retainer.
One-time implementation effort
Migration and configuration are one-time costs: exporting users and tenant settings, mapping Auth0 Organizations to WSO2 organization hierarchies, rebuilding per-customer login options, recreating social and enterprise connections, and testing FAPI-aligned API security. Costs rise with the number of applications, custom Auth0 Actions to port and the depth of your delegated administration model. Most engagements are fixed-scope, so ask for a written scope with deliverables, timelines and acceptance tests before any work starts.
What the Apache-2.0 code does not include: the WSO2 subscription explained
The WSO2 Identity Server source code is licensed under Apache-2.0, so the code itself can be read, built and run without a license fee. What the license does not cover is supported maintenance. WSO2 publishes an unsupported open source distribution on GitHub for do-it-yourself builds. Your team would own building it, tracking fixes, and deciding when to upgrade, including security patches. Commercial deployments instead receive updates for enhancements, fixes and performance, along with expert support from WSO2. Before you treat the free distribution as a production option, have your security team decide whether it can carry the patching and vulnerability response obligations your regulator or customers expect.
The on-prem product subscription bundles four things: expert support, continuous product updates, vulnerability monitoring, and access to the licensed distribution for commercial use. The vulnerability monitoring and licensed distribution are the parts most often misread as already included in the source code. Ask WSO2 in writing which distribution build, which product version line and which support hours the subscription covers, how fast vulnerability notices arrive, and whether the subscription extends to your staging and disaster recovery environments. Also ask how Asgardeo, WSO2's SaaS built on the same core, is priced and licensed, since it is a separate commercial route rather than a free tier of the on-prem product.
Subscription terms, scope, per-deployment or per-core basis, and renewal conditions are set by WSO2 and can change, so confirm them directly with WSO2 rather than relying on this page. When you compare the total with Auth0, put the subscription beside the other recurring costs: the infrastructure to run the Java and database tiers, the staff time to upgrade and monitor, and the support you would need if you did not buy the subscription. Compare that total against Auth0's plan and add-on pricing for the same user volumes and the same number of tenants or organizations, using a written quote from each vendor.
How a move from Auth0 to WSO2 Identity Server works at a high level
The sequence takes customer identity from an Auth0 tenant to a self-hosted WSO2 Identity Server deployment, with each step producing a checkable output before the next one starts.
Inventory tenants, applications, organizations and connections
Your identity team lists every Auth0 tenant, application, API, Organization, enterprise connection, social connection and Action or Rule in use. Application owners confirm which customers depend on each Organization and which login options each customer has configured. The output is a written inventory that maps each Auth0 object to a WSO2 target, such as an organization hierarchy, a per-customer login option or an identity provider. You know this step is done when every application and customer-facing login path appears in the inventory with an owner.
Export users and request password hashes
Run the bulk user export job in Auth0 through the Dashboard or the Management API, in NDJSON or CSV format. Standard exports do not include password hashes. On paid plans, your Auth0 account owner requests the password hash export through a support ticket, and Auth0 does not guarantee a delivery date, so start this request early and confirm the plan level with Auth0 before you rely on it. The output is a complete user file and, if delivered, a hash file. If hashes are not delivered, plan for users to reset passwords on first login.
Build the WSO2 deployment on a supported database and JDK
Your platform team deploys WSO2 Identity Server on Kubernetes, Docker, virtual machines or bare metal, using a JDK that WSO2 supports for the release you choose. Use a production database such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server, since the embedded H2 database is for development and testing only. Decide whether users stay in a relational user store or sit in an LDAP directory such as Active Directory or OpenLDAP. Confirm the JDK, database and release combination against the WSO2 installation documentation. The output is a non-production environment that starts, serves an admin console and passes a basic OpenID Connect login test.
Recreate organizations, login options and identity providers
Using the inventory, your identity engineers rebuild the organization hierarchy, delegated administration roles and per-customer login options in WSO2. Each enterprise connection becomes an identity provider configuration that the customer's own administrators can maintain where your design allows it. Confirm with each customer which domains, certificates and attribute mappings they expect, because these are not carried over automatically. The output is a configuration review signed off by your product owners, with a test login for one representative customer per connection type.
Port Actions logic and switch to standard protocols
Developers rewrite each Auth0 Action or Rule as application code, token customization or an equivalent WSO2 flow, and document which claims each one added. Application teams replace Auth0 SDKs with standard OpenID Connect or SAML libraries so the application no longer depends on Auth0 endpoints. Security engineers review token contents, scopes and API authorization, including whether the FAPI profile your APIs need is configured. The output is a list of ported logic with test cases, and each application runs its login flow against WSO2 in a staging environment.
Import users and run a pilot
Import the user file into WSO2 and, if you received them, the password hashes, then confirm that a sample of users can sign in with their existing passwords. Choose a small group of customers or internal users for a pilot, and measure login success, token errors, support tickets and any user-visible differences. Record each failure, fix the configuration, and repeat until the pilot group runs without open defects. The output is a pilot report that your product, security and support leads accept in writing before cutover.
Cut over and retire the Auth0 tenant
Schedule the cutover with each customer where login changes, switch application configuration to the WSO2 endpoints, and keep the Auth0 tenant read-only for a rollback window your team sets in advance. Monitor sign-ins, error rates and help desk volume during the window. Once the rollback window closes with no open incidents, remove Auth0 application settings and cancel the subscription after confirming the contract terms with your Auth0 account team. The output is a closed cutover record, a decommissioned tenant and a current runbook for WSO2 operations.
Questions buyers ask before switching from Auth0 to WSO2
How much does moving from Auth0 to WSO2 Identity Server cost?
The cost is driven by the work and the running platform, not by a single license line, because the WSO2 Identity Server source is Apache-2.0. Expect one-time costs for design, configuration of organizations and login options, migration of users and applications, testing and cutover. Recurring costs cover the infrastructure (Kubernetes, VMs or bare metal), databases, monitoring, backups, staff time and any WSO2 on-prem subscription you choose for supported updates and expert support. Ask for the subscription price in writing, along with the terms for vulnerability monitoring and which distribution it covers. Ask any implementation partner for a fixed-scope quote that lists each component separately, including what is excluded.
How long does an Auth0 to WSO2 migration take?
The duration depends on how many organizations, connections, applications, custom login flows and user stores you have, and on how much of your Auth0 logic must be rebuilt rather than mapped. A tenant with few applications and standard login usually moves faster than one with many B2B organizations, custom Actions and enterprise connections. Plan separate phases for a proof of concept, a staging environment with production-like data, parallel running and cutover. Ask any partner for a timeline with milestones and the assumptions behind it, and confirm which items are in scope in the written agreement.
Can our own team migrate from Auth0 to WSO2 without outside help?
A team can do it without outside help if it already runs Java-based or container-based services in production, has experience with OpenID Connect and SAML, and can own a database, a directory and an upgrade process. The main gaps are usually B2B organization design, delegated administration policies, FAPI configuration and the rewrite of Auth0 Actions. Teams without these skills should decide early whether to train staff, hire contractors or use a fixed-scope implementation engagement. DeployOpen plans, implements, integrates, hardens and documents self-hosted platforms in your own infrastructure, and support can be bought as a retainer after go-live.
What skills and staff time does running WSO2 Identity Server require?
Running WSO2 Identity Server needs people who can operate a Java 21 or Java 25 runtime, a supported production database, and the deployment platform you choose. The installation documentation says the embedded H2 database is for development and testing only, so production needs a proper database from day one. Staff also need to manage certificates, keys, backups, patching and monitoring, and to review the logs that security teams depend on. Name an owner for identity configuration, a second person for on-call, and a change process for tenants, organizations and login policies before you start.
Can password hashes move from Auth0 to WSO2 so users keep their passwords?
Password hashes can move only if Auth0 provides them and the target can verify them, so confirm both before you commit to the design. Auth0 does not include password hashes in standard user exports, and paid plans request the password hash export through a support ticket. Auth0 does not guarantee a delivery date, and the option is not available on the Free tier. Ask WSO2 and your implementation partner, in writing, which hash algorithms and user store setup they will import, and plan a fallback where users reset passwords if the hash export is not delivered or cannot be verified.
Does Asgardeo keep the same model as self-hosted WSO2 Identity Server?
Asgardeo is WSO2's SaaS option built on the same core as WSO2 Identity Server, so the identity model and protocols are closely related. Confirm in writing which features, connectors, B2B organization capabilities, FAPI configuration and administrative controls are available in Asgardeo and in the self-hosted product, and whether the two versions are kept in step. Also confirm where data is hosted, how tenants are isolated and what operational control you keep. The answer decides whether a SaaS option is an alternative to self-hosting or a stepping stone to it.
What does the WSO2 subscription add beyond the open-source code?
The Apache-2.0 source is free to use, and WSO2 offers an unsupported open-source distribution on GitHub for do-it-yourself builds. A commercial WSO2 on-prem subscription adds expert support, continuous product updates for enhancements, fixes and performance, vulnerability monitoring, and access to the licensed distribution for commercial use. Compare the subscription against the cost of staff time, emergency response and internal patch testing that you would otherwise carry. Ask WSO2 for the subscription terms, the support hours, the update policy and whether the distribution you would run is the licensed one.
What should we confirm before choosing WSO2 over another self-hosted option?
Confirm that your B2B requirements, such as organization hierarchies, delegated administration, per-customer login options and FAPI support, are met in the version you plan to run, which is 7.3.0 at the time of writing according to the release page. Check your user store needs, since WSO2 supports relational databases and LDAP directories such as Active Directory and OpenLDAP. Then compare the total cost of the subscription and staff with the alternatives in your shortlist. Put the answers in a written scope so the decision rests on evidence from your own environment.
How DeployOpen helps evaluate and implement WSO2 Identity Server
DeployOpen plans, implements, integrates, hardens and documents self-hosted open-source platforms inside your own cloud accounts, data centers or air-gapped networks. For Auth0 vs WSO2 Identity Server, we start by testing the B2B and B2C requirements you actually have against the product, then build and hand over only what your written scope covers.
How we scope
- Confirm which B2B and B2C login patterns your applications need, including organization hierarchies and per-customer login options.
- Decide with you whether WSO2 Identity Server's FAPI support matches your API security requirements, and what must be confirmed with WSO2.
- Agree the written scope, deliverables and timeline before work starts, since most engagements are fixed-scope.
- Define which decisions depend on the paid WSO2 subscription for supported updates, and record those in the scope.
How we build
- Deploy WSO2 Identity Server on Kubernetes, Docker, virtual machines or bare metal, matching your infrastructure standards.
- Connect the chosen user store, whether a relational database, LDAP directory or custom implementation, with the required JDK and database versions.
- Rebuild application login flows, delegated administration and per-customer login options, then test them against your applications.
- Run security testing on the login flows and APIs before handover, as part of the agreed scope.
How we hand over
- Document the configuration, organization model, user store links and operational runbooks in a form your team can maintain.
- Provide a migration plan covering user export, password handling and application SDK changes, with the steps you approve in writing.
- Prepare controls and evidence for compliance assessments, while independent auditors remain responsible for any formal audit or certification.
- Train your platform and identity staff on daily administration, upgrades and incident steps for your environment.
How we support
- Ongoing support, upgrades and continuous testing are available as retainers after handover.
- Plan version upgrades, such as moves between WSO2 Identity Server releases, as separate written work with testing included.
- Ask your WSO2 contact to confirm which subscription terms, update channels and support levels apply to your deployment.
- Request a quote based on the written scope, since DeployOpen does not publish a price list.
