9 Best Microsoft Entra ID Governance Alternatives for 2026

Microsoft Entra ID Governance is a logical starting point for identity governance. It’s already part of your Microsoft stack, integrates natively with M365 and Azure, and handles the basics, such as access reviews, lifecycle workflows, and privileged identity management for Azure resources.

The problem is that most environments aren’t purely Microsoft.

In 2026, most modern organizations run hybrid infrastructure, multiple cloud providers, and dozens of SaaS applications outside the Microsoft ecosystem. Entra’s connectors and workflows weren’t built for that scope, so teams end up with partial visibility or manual processes filling the gaps.

This guide covers 9 alternatives worth evaluating. The research combines review site data, official product pages, and community discussions where security and IT teams share opinions.

Why look for an alternative to Microsoft Entra ID?

Based on G2 reviews and Reddit discussions, these are the most common friction points that users mention:

• Implementation can be resource-intensive: Hybrid setups involving Azure AD Connect and on-prem Active Directory can surface unexpected issues, from sync problems to group policies that don’t translate cleanly. The learning curve is steep without in-house expertise. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Steep learning curve for admins: Microsoft’s portal layout and terminology aren’t always logical, even for admins with Azure experience. Finding the right setting often takes longer than making the change itself. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Customization options are limited: Purpose-built IGA platforms typically offer granular policy controls. Entra ID Governance covers common use cases but doesn’t bend as easily when requirements fall outside standard patterns. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Weak support outside the Microsoft ecosystem: If your environment includes non-Microsoft infrastructure, expect gaps. The platform wasn’t architected for multi-vendor governance at the same level as it handles native Microsoft resources. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Licensing can be hard to untangle: Budgeting accurately means parsing through multiple license tiers and add-ons. The total cost of governance often exceeds initial expectations once all required SKUs are factored in. [Read Full G2 Review]

Key features and functionalities to look for in a Microsoft Entra ID alternative

Not every IGA platform addresses Entra’s limitations equally. When comparing options, these are the features that tend to separate purpose-built governance tools from directory add-ons:

• Vendor-neutral connector ecosystem: Entra integrates deeply with M365 and Azure, but connector support thins out once you move to non-Microsoft SaaS, AWS, GCP, or on-prem systems like Linux servers, mobile device management platforms, or homegrown tools.
• Unified governance for non-human identities: Service accounts, API keys, OAuth tokens, and AI agents will soon outnumber human identities by 20:1 in most organizations. Entra needs separate tools and manual tracking to govern these. Modern platforms manage human and non-human identities from a single console.
• Fast deployment and time to value: Legacy IGA implementations routinely stretch six months to a year, often with professional services that double the initial investment. Modern cloud-native platforms can deploy in days or weeks with lightweight connectors and minimal configuration.
• Just-in-time access with automatic provisioning: Standing privileges undermine zero trust. Platforms with native JIT workflows let you grant access for hours or days instead of indefinitely (without having IT manually provision and remember to revoke).
• AI-driven review recommendations: Manual governance isn’t scalable. Look for platforms that use AI to auto-approve low-risk requests, flag anomalies, and give reviewers the context they need to make real decisions instead of clicking “approve” down the list.

Top alternatives to Microsoft Entra ID governance on the market right now

For teams that live in M365 and Azure, Entra ID Governance provides a logical starting point.

But if you’re managing access across dozens of SaaS applications, multiple cloud service providers, and on-prem systems — or if you need governance for service accounts and API keys alongside human users — these alternatives are worth evaluating.

1. ConductorOne
2. SailPoint
3. Saviynt
4. Okta Identity Governance
5. CyberArk
6. One Identity
7. Pathlock
8. Omada Identity
9. IBM Security Verify Governance

1. ConductorOne

ConductorOne is an AI-native identity governance platform that brings access visibility, automated lifecycle management, and dynamic access controls together in a single console for security and IT teams.

Entra ID Governance works well inside Microsoft’s ecosystem, but leaves gaps outside of it. ConductorOne fills those gaps with 300+ connectors that span cloud providers, SaaS applications, on-prem infrastructure, and homegrown tools.

You also get a powerful policy engine and AI agents that can handle routine access decisions based on your security policies, so your team can focus on exceptions and high-risk cases instead of approvals.

Key features

• Just-in-time access: Standing privileges become temporary ones. Employees request elevated access when they need it, get automatic provisioning on approval, and lose access when the window closes.
• Intelligent access reviews: Reviews are fully automated with ConductorOne. Prepare review data in minutes, route tasks to the right reviewers, and employ AI agents to certify routine access, catch anomalies, and provide risk-based recommendations to human reviewers.
• Unified Identity Graph: ConductorOne’s graph-based data model maps who has access to what across your entire environment. Security teams can visualize access paths, identify over-permissioned and orphaned accounts, and proactively fix problems right in the platform.
• Non-human identity governance: NHIs don’t hide anymore. The platform inventories service accounts, API keys, and secrets across cloud and on-prem systems, tracks who owns them, and alerts when credentials go stale.
• Automated lifecycle management: Access follows the employee, not the ticket queue. New hires get provisioned on day one, role changes propagate automatically, and departures trigger secure revocation across every system.
• 300+ prebuilt connectors: The platform connects to 300+ systems out of the box, from major cloud providers to niche SaaS tools to on-prem infrastructure. Custom apps that aren’t in the catalog can be quickly integrated through easy-to-configure no-code connectors.

Why are companies choosing ConductorOne over Microsoft Entra ID?

• Implementation without the long tail: Deployment is fast. ConductorOne gets teams operational in about four weeks. Entra ID Governance deployments, particularly in hybrid setups, can drag on for months and demand dedicated internal resources to manage.
• Governance that covers your full stack, not just Microsoft: Entra ID Governance thins out fast once you leave the Microsoft ecosystem. ConductorOne treats every system equally (AWS, GCP, non-Microsoft SaaS, legacy infrastructure, homegrown apps), all under one governance model.
• One platform for human and machine identities: Entra ID Governance leaves non-human identities to manual tracking and separate tools. ConductorOne discovers service accounts, API keys, tokens, and AI agents automatically and governs them alongside workforce identities.
• AI that reduces manual work: Manual reviews don’t scale, and Entra provides limited automation for governance-heavy workflows. ConductorOne puts AI agents to work on routine decisions so security teams focus on the access changes that carry real risk.
• Intuitive UI instead of buried settings: Managing governance settings in Entra often requires navigating multiple portals and configuration layers. ConductorOne simplifies administration with a clean interface, no-code policy setup, and access requests that flow through tools employees already use.

What real customers are saying about ConductorOne

Access reviews hit infrastructure providers hardest. DigitalOcean spent hundreds of hours every quarter on spreadsheet data collection and manager follow-ups before switching to ConductorOne. The platform processed 1,200 reviews with 85% less effort and helped them hit 100% on-time completion for SOC2 and SOX audits.

Tight compliance timelines make the speed even more valuable. System1 faced a SOX deadline right after going public, with visibility gaps from acquisitions that brought even more complexity. They got ConductorOne running in three weeks and reduced quarterly audit prep from several weeks to one day.

And because the platform works alongside your existing IdP, the switch doesn’t require a full identity overhaul. Zscaler integrated ConductorOne with Okta and saw new hire provisioning drop from weeks to 10 minutes. Plus, a 60% reduction in provisioning-related help desk tickets.

2. SailPoint

SailPoint brings enterprise-grade IGA through two deployment options – IdentityIQ for on-prem environments and Identity Security Cloud for organizations that want SaaS. Both are powered by the Atlas platform, which provides a shared data model, AI/ML capabilities, and a connectivity layer.

The platform targets large, complex environments where governance spans hundreds of applications across hybrid infrastructure.

Key features

• Role mining and access modeling: SailPoint analyzes existing entitlements to recommend optimal role structures. Organizations can move toward role-based access control without building everything manually.
• Separation of duties enforcement: The platform lets you define and enforce SoD policies that prevent end users from holding conflicting access combinations.
• AI-powered access recommendations. SailPoint uses machine learning to analyze access patterns, flag identity outliers, and suggest approval or revocation decisions during certifications. Reviewers get context like peer comparisons and usage history.

Limitations

• New functionality takes time to arrive: The pace of feature delivery doesn’t always match customer expectations. This can stall projects or force teams to build workarounds while waiting for native functionality. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Global deployments may hit configuration gaps: Global organizations may run into friction with processes that need to account for local time zones or region-specific rules. The platform doesn’t offer deep flexibility here out of the box. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Customization creates a long-term maintenance burden: Deep customization is possible, but it’s easy to accumulate technical debt that makes future upgrades painful. Teams that over-tailor the platform may find themselves locked into configurations that are hard to unwind. [Read Full G2 Review]

Pricing

SailPoint doesn’t publish pricing. The platform uses a suite-based model (Standard, Business, Business Plus) with per-user licensing, and total cost depends on identity volume, modules, and deployment type.

The new “Navigators” pricing option provides flexibility for customers who want to reallocate spend as their program matures.

Learn more → 10 Best SailPoint Alternatives (Rated by User Reviews) - ConductorOne

3. Saviynt

Saviynt is a converged identity platform that combines IGA, PAM, application access governance, and cloud entitlement management in a single cloud-native product.

The platform has earned Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice recognition for IGA for four consecutive years, with particular traction in enterprises that need granular controls over ERP systems applications.

Key features

• Converged identity and privileged access: While many platforms treat IGA and PAM as separate products, Saviynt unifies them. You can govern standard user access and privileged accounts from the same console.
• AI-driven recommendations and automation: SaviAI, the platform’s AI layer, provides access recommendations, automates review decisions, and can onboard applications using natural language interactions.
• Non-human identity governance: The platform extends governance to service accounts, API keys, workloads, and AI agents. Recent updates added discovery and contextual insights for NHIs across cloud and on-prem environments.

Limitations

• Technical expertise required to some degree: Advanced configurations aren’t plug-and-play. Smaller teams without dedicated identity experts may find themselves dependent on consultants or extended implementation timelines. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Localization can be difficult to manage: Localization isn’t a strong point. Users report that configuring and maintaining support for different languages adds administrative overhead, especially in multinational deployments. [Read Full G2 Review]
• No native SSO/MFA: The platform doesn’t include single sign-on or multi-factor authentication. Organizations looking for an all-in-one solution will need to pair Saviynt with an IdP like Okta or Entra ID for the authentication layer. [Read Full G2 Review]

Pricing

You’ll need to contact sales for a quote. Licensing is typically based on user count or connected applications, and the standard initial contract is three years. Saviynt is also available through AWS Marketplace.

4. Okta Identity Governance (OIG)

For organizations already running Okta for SSO and MFA, OIG is a natural next step into governance. You don’t have to buy a separate IGA tool because you get access certifications, self-service requests, and lifecycle automation built directly into the platform you’re already using.

OIG bundles three components — Lifecycle Management, Workflows, and Access Governance — into a unified product that shares the same data model and admin experience as core Okta.

Key features

• Governance Analyzer with AI recommendations: OIG uses risk signals to make recommendations during access reviews and requests. Reviewers get context like sign-in frequency and last-accessed dates.
• Separation of duties enforcement: SoD policies let organizations define and enforce rules that prevent users from accumulating conflicting access combinations.
• 600+ native integrations through the Okta Integration Network: OIG uses Okta’s existing connector library for provisioning and governance. If an app already integrates with Okta for SSO, extending governance to it is typically straightforward.

Limitations

• Custom reporting is limited: Built-in reports handle standard compliance and audit needs, but creating custom analytics or tailored dashboards is harder than expected. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Configuration complexity takes time to master: OIG packs a lot of functionality, which means administrators need time to learn how everything works. Teams new to Okta should budget for a learning curve before they’re productive with advanced configurations. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Admin console can feel cluttered: The admin dashboard spreads settings across multiple menus without a clear organizational logic. Finding what you need often takes longer than it should, especially for less frequently used configurations. [Read Full G2 Review]

Pricing

Identity governance from Okta comes bundled in the Essentials Suite at $17/user/month (annual billing required). The package also covers access governance, lifecycle management, and 50 pre-built workflows.

You can’t get identity governance as a separate product, and the minimum spend starts at $1,500 per year.

5. CyberArk

CyberArk is one of the most popular names in privileged access management, and the company has been steadily expanding into broader identity security. The Zilla Security acquisition in early 2025 brought modern IGA to the platform, including AI-powered access reviews, lifecycle automation, and fast SaaS deployments.

Organizations can now manage privileged accounts and workforce governance through the same platform, with 1,000+ integrations that span cloud, SaaS, and on-prem systems.

Key features

• Just-in-time access with zero standing privileges: The platform supports JIT access across applications and infrastructure, and grants temporary elevated access with automatic revocation.
• AI Profiles for automated role management: Zilla’s AI Profiles capability uses machine learning to analyze users, applications, and entitlements, then automatically defines and maintains job-appropriate access profiles.
• Fast deployment compared to legacy IGA: Zilla customers reported deployments five times faster than legacy IGA implementations, with 60% fewer ITSM tickets during provisioning.

Limitations

• Web application credential rotation has gaps: Passwords stored in browsers and login credentials for web-based access don’t rotate as reliably as other credential types. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Interface feels dated, and it’s not very user-friendly: The classic UI hasn’t kept pace with modern design standards. Admins report that the user experience looks and feels old-fashioned compared to newer platforms, which can slow down routine tasks. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Redundancy and failover need manual intervention: High-availability setups can be difficult to manage. Some users report needing to manually bring systems back online after failures rather than relying on automatic recovery. [Read Full G2 Review]

Pricing

No public pricing. The platform sits at the higher end of the market and costs scale based on which modules you need, how many identities you’re governing, and whether you’re deploying cloud or hybrid.

6. One Identity

One Identity is an enterprise IGA platform that brings users, applications, data, and privileged accounts under a single governance framework, the company calls “One Identity Fabric.”

Compared to Entra ID Governance, One Identity offers more mature AD/Entra ID management through unified governance that extends to privileged accounts and broader connector coverage for non-Microsoft systems.

Key features

• Unified governance for standard and privileged accounts: One Identity bridges the gap between workforce IGA and PAM. Organizations can manage access requests and provisioning for both regular users and privileged accounts through the same platform.
• Data access governance: Apart from application access, One Identity also brings governance to unstructured data like files, folders, and shares across NTFS, NAS device management, and SharePoint.
• Flexible deployment options: One Identity offers both on-prem (Identity Manager) and SaaS (Identity Manager On Demand) deployment models.

Limitations

• Reporting on the dashboard feels limited: Teams that want detailed log analysis or custom reporting often find the built-in dashboards don’t go deep enough. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Interface takes time to learn: The UI isn’t particularly intuitive for newcomers, though it gets easier once you’ve spent time with it. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Uneven documentation quality: Some modules aren’t documented as thoroughly as others, which can slow down implementation and troubleshooting. [Read Full G2 Review]

Pricing

One Identity uses per-user licensing with optional modules for things like data governance and privileged access. Pricing isn’t public, so you’ll need to contact sales.

7. Pathlock

Pathlock is a cloud-native IGA platform designed for organizations running ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, Workday, and Salesforce.

Where Entra ID Governance lacks the fine-grained SoD controls or cross-application visibility needed for complex ERP environments, Pathlock fills that gap.

Key features

• Cross-application risk management: Provides unified SoD and risk analysis across SAP, Oracle, Workday, Salesforce, and other ERP/SaaS applications.
• Access reviews with contextual intelligence: Includes HR data, usage history, and risk context in review campaigns, which Pathlock says drives 20-30% revocation rates compared to the 2-3% typical of reviews that only show role assignments.
• Elevated access management: Handles emergency and privileged access requests with built-in workflows, automatic time-based revocation, and full audit trails of all activity performed during elevated sessions.

Limitations

• Financial data integration could be stronger: Users have noted that connecting financial data for forecasting and risk analysis isn’t as seamless as it could be. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Manual validation needed after upgrades: The platform doesn’t include automated testing for new releases, so teams need to manually verify that updates haven’t introduced issues. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Interface terminology can be confusing: Some acronyms and labels in the software aren’t immediately clear, which can confuse users who are still learning the platform. [Read Full G2 Review]

Pricing

Pricing isn’t published. Licensing is modular and scales with the number of connected systems, users, and the specific capabilities you need.

A free tier exists for SAP customers that includes vulnerability scanning and code analysis, but IGA features require a paid subscription.

8. Omada Identity

Omada Identity is a cloud-based IGA platform focused on faster deployment and stronger automation than legacy tools. The company guarantees 12-week implementations through its IdentityPROCESS+ accelerator framework.

For teams where Entra ID Governance isn’t keeping up with complex user provisioning or multi-platform governance, Omada offers more configurability and automation out of the box.

Key features

• AI assistant embedded in Microsoft Teams: Javi (Omada’s AI assistant launched in 2025) lets users request access, approve requests, and run compliance queries directly within Teams using natural language.
• No-code configuration: Workflows, policies, and integrations can be built and modified without writing code. This makes both the initial implementation and ongoing maintenance much simpler.
• Pre-built connector library: Omada connects to common enterprise systems, including Active Directory platform, Entra ID, SAP, ServiceNow, and Workday.

Limitations

• Feature discovery isn’t straightforward: Some users report that certain features are tucked under menu labels that don’t obviously describe what they do. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Heavier lift during setup: Expect a more involved implementation than with some competitors. Early-stage performance can also lag before the system is fully tuned. [Read Full G2 Review]
• UI hasn’t kept up visually: The functionality is there, but the interface looks dated compared to newer IGA platforms. It works, but it doesn’t feel modern. [Read Full G2 Review]

Pricing

Omada licenses per managed user annually, with costs scaling based on identity volume and the modules you’re using.

Some third-party sources claim that the cloud version (Omada Identity Cloud) is priced noticeably higher than on-prem, though discounts through negotiation seem to be standard.

9. IBM Security Verify Governance

IBM Security Verify Governance is an enterprise IGA platform that’s part of IBM’s broader Verify identity suite. It’s built around a business-activity-based approach to identity governance.

Where Entra ID Governance can’t provide the compliance depth or hybrid deployment options you need, IBM Verify Governance brings enterprise-grade controls backed by IBM’s long history in identity.

Key features

• Business-activity-based SoD modeling: Maps separation of duties to actual business activities (not just roles), which makes compliance policies easier for auditors and risk managers to understand and verify.
• Flexible deployment options: Available as SaaS, on-prem, virtual appliance, or hybrid. Organizations that need to keep identity data in specific locations or want to avoid cloud-only dependencies have options here.
• Low-code workflow configuration: Access request approvals and provisioning workflows can be customized without heavy development work, using built-in workflow tools.

Limitations

• Some integrations need extra work: Connecting certain applications takes more configuration and documentation work than expected. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Steep ramp-up for teams new to IBM: If your organization doesn’t have prior experience with IBM’s identity tools, expect the setup and configuration process to take longer than it might with other platforms. [Read Full G2 Review]
• Licensing is on the pricier side: Costs are consistently described as higher than those of many competitors, which can be a problem for organizations with tighter budgets. [Read Full G2 Review]

Pricing

IBM Security Verify operates on a resource unit (RU) model based on real-time usage. Annual RU purchases scale according to your user base, feature set, and login volume.

For a 5,000-user organization, rough estimates are approximately $1.81/user/month each for SSO and MFA, with lifecycle management at $2.13/user/month.

How to choose the right Microsoft Entra ID alternative

Nine alternatives are a lot to evaluate, and feature lists only tell part of the story. The right choice depends on where you’re starting, what you’re trying to fix, and how much complexity your team can absorb.

Here’s how to narrow it down:

Define your primary goal: are you replacing the IdP or the IGA?

These two layers do different jobs. The IdP (identity provider) handles the directory, authentication, and access — the core identity and access management (IAM) functions. It’s where user accounts are stored and how people log in via SSO and MFA.

The IGA (identity governance and administration) layer governs what those users can access and how that access changes over time. This includes access reviews, lifecycle workflows, compliance reporting, and provisioning logic.

In many cases, you don’t need to rip out Entra ID. You keep it as your directory and authentication layer, and then bring in an IGA platform that can govern access across your full stack, including the systems Entra doesn’t reach.

That said, both scenarios exist. Here’s how to tell which one you’re in.

If you’re replacing the core IdP

This applies when the directory and authentication layer are the problem. Maybe you’re moving away from Microsoft entirely, or you need an IdP that handles non-Microsoft environments more naturally.

A few platforms from this list fit that scenario:

• Okta (including Auth0), OneLogin, and Ping Identity are common destinations for organizations that want a vendor-neutral IdP with strong SaaS integration.
• JumpCloud fits teams that need cross-platform directory services spanning Windows, Mac, and Linux endpoints.
• CyberArk makes sense if privileged access is the primary driver and you want PAM and workforce identity in one platform.
• One Identity works for enterprises that need flexible deployment options and unified AD/Entra management.

Keep in mind that replacing the IdP usually means replacing the governance layer too, since most IGA platforms depend on the directory underneath them.

If you’re replacing the governance layer

This is the more common scenario. Entra ID stays in place for directory and authentication, and you bring in a dedicated IGA platform to handle access reviews, certifications, and lifecycle automation.

If that’s your path, you have more options to work with:

• ConductorOne, SailPoint, and Saviynt all integrate with Entra ID and layer governance on top.
• Pathlock and Omada fit here too, especially if ERP governance or fast deployment are priorities.

The trade-off is managing two systems, but most organizations find that preferable to fighting Entra’s limitations on the governance side.

Assess your full technology ecosystem

The right IGA platform depends on what you need to govern. Before comparing features, get a clear picture of your environment.

These questions will narrow the field:

Different environments need different platforms. If you’re 80% Microsoft with a clean footprint, your options look different than if you’re managing multi-cloud, 200+ SaaS apps, and on-prem systems you can’t sunset.

The more complex your environment, the more connector coverage matters. ConductorOne, SailPoint, and Saviynt handle multi-vendor sprawl well. If your stack is cleaner and mostly Microsoft or mostly one cloud provider, a simpler platform with faster deployment may serve you better.

Prioritize automation over manual auditing

Manual access reviews don’t scale. Reviewers see a wall of names and entitlements, approve down the list, and move on. The review technically happened, but revocation rates hover around 2-3%. Nothing changes, and access creep continues.

That’s compliance theater. The audit box gets checked, but access creep continues in the background. The platforms worth evaluating automate the work that humans shouldn’t be doing manually:

• AI-driven review recommendations: Reviewers get context instead of a wall of entitlements. Anomalies and unused access get flagged automatically.
• Automated provisioning and deprovisioning: No more waiting on tickets. Access follows role, department, and policy automatically as people join, move, or leave.
• Just-in-time access: Elevated permissions expire after hours or days. No one needs to remember to revoke.
• Auto-revocation based on signals: Unused access gets cleaned up without a review cycle. Contractor access ends when the contract does.

ConductorOne, Saviynt, and SailPoint all invest heavily in this area. Okta and CyberArk have made progress here through Governance Analyzer and Zilla.

When evaluating, ask vendors how much of the governance workflow can run without human intervention and what the exception-handling process looks like when automation flags something unusual.

ConductorOne – The Ideal Microsoft Entra ID Alternative

Entra ID Governance covers the Microsoft stack well, but most environments don’t stop there. ConductorOne closes these gaps with full-stack coverage, AI-powered automation, and deployment timelines that won’t stall your roadmap.

Here’s exactly what you get with ConductorOne:

• AI-powered access reviews that process routine decisions based on your access policies so human reviewers can focus on high-risk exceptions with AI-driven recommendations to guide decision-making.
• Just-in-time access replaces always-on privileges with temporary, scoped permissions that provision automatically and expire without anyone needing to remember to revoke.
• Unified Identity Graph that pulls identity and permissions data from every connected system into a single view, where security teams can trace access paths and remediate risks.
• Non-human identity governance that discovers service accounts, API keys, tokens, and AI agents across your environment and governs them alongside workforce identities.
• Automated lifecycle management that provisions access on day one, adjusts permissions when roles change, and revokes everything immediately when someone leaves.
• 300+ pre-built connectors for cloud, SaaS, on-prem, and legacy applications, with no-code configuration and an open-source SDK when you need something custom.

ConductorOne works alongside your existing IdP, so you’re not ripping out infrastructure to get better governance.

If Entra ID Governance isn’t keeping up with your environment, book a demo and see how the platform handles what Microsoft can’t.