AuthSec vs WorkOS: Unified Runtime vs SSO Primitives
WorkOS gives you workforce SSO building blocks. AuthSec ships a complete identity runtime — authentication, RBAC authorization, trust delegation, and workload identity in a single deployable service.
Open-Source Control
Deploy AuthSec on your own infrastructure under Apache 2.0. Audit the code, fork it, extend it — no vendor lock-in.
Trust Delegation Built In
User-to-agent delegated tokens with scoped, least-privilege access. Not possible with SSO-only infrastructure.
Workload Identity Native
SPIFFE/SPIRE workload identity with cloud token exchange for AWS, Azure, and GCP — out of the box.
Architecture-level detail
Deep Technical Comparison
Two different approaches — SSO-first primitives vs. a unified identity runtime.
WorkOS Approach
The SSO Toolkit
A set of workforce SSO primitives — SAML connectors, SCIM hooks, and directory sync. Designed for enterprise portal logins.
- ✕Strong SAML / SCIM foundation
- ✕No trust delegation model
- ✕No workload identity support
AuthSec Approach
The Unified Runtime
Auth, authz, federation, trust delegation, and workload identity — one binary, one API surface, one deployment.
- ✓Auth + RBAC + federation in one service
- ✓Trust delegation for autonomous agents
- ✓SPIFFE workload identity + cloud federation
WorkOS Federation
Portal-centric SSO
Focused on human user SSO flows for SaaS applications. No headless, device, or agent auth support.
- ✕No device auth grant (RFC 8628)
- ✕No CIBA backchannel auth
AuthSec Federation
Full-Spectrum Auth
Covers human SSO, device flows, backchannel auth (CIBA), voice authentication, and headless agent auth.
- ✓Device, CIBA, and voice auth flows
- ✓Headless auth without browser redirects
- ✓Agent-native token issuance
Where WorkOS hits a ceiling
WorkOS works for traditional workforce SSO but struggles when your product needs to issue tokens for AI agents, workloads, or non-browser environments.
No Agent Identity Story
WorkOS has no native concept of workload identity. Your AI agents can't authenticate through WorkOS without custom stitching.
Trust Delegation Gap
Need users to delegate scoped access to an AI agent? WorkOS doesn't support delegated token issuance — you'd build it yourself.
Closed-Source Lock-In
WorkOS is fully proprietary. No self-hosting, no source auditing, no forking for custom compliance requirements.
Enterprise readiness, day one.
All the features you'd typically upgrade for are included from the start.
Enterprise SSO
Unlimited SAML & OIDC connections with zero per-connection pricing.
SOC2 & ISO Ready
Compliance-grade audit logs, encryption at rest, and data residency controls.
MFA & RBAC
Multi-factor auth and role-based access control ship in the free tier.
SIEM & Audit
Stream events to your SIEM. 30-day built-in retention on all tiers.
Transparent Pricing vs. Enterprise Quotes.
WorkOS requires custom quotes for most enterprise features and per-connection SSO pricing. AuthSec ships transparent, flat-fee tiers that include all enterprise tooling from day one — no sales calls required.
100%
Open-source. Inspect, audit, and deploy the entire platform on your own infrastructure.
0$
Per-connection SSO fees. Unlimited SAML & OIDC connections on every plan.
Go beyond workforce SSO.
Ship a unified identity runtime that handles humans, agents, and workloads — without stitching together separate products.