OAuth vs OpenID

Struggling to choose between OAuth and OpenID? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

OAuth is a Security & Privacy solution with tags like authentication, authorization, access-control.

It boasts features such as Allows users to grant limited access to their resources without exposing credentials, Decouples authentication from authorization, Enables authorization flows for web, mobile and desktop apps, Standardized protocol supported by major platforms and providers, Allows access revocation without changing credentials and pros including Improved security over sharing credentials, Fine-grained control over access, Easy integration with major platforms, Wide industry adoption and support, Flexibility in implementing customized authorization flows.

On the other hand, OpenID is a Online Services product tagged with authentication, identity, login, open-standard.

Its standout features include Decentralized authentication, Single sign-on across multiple sites, No need for separate passwords for each site, User controls identity provider, Built on open standards, and it shines with pros like Convenience of single sign-on, Fewer passwords to remember, More secure than reusing same password, User has control over identity.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

OAuth

OAuth

OAuth is an open standard authorization protocol that allows users to grant third-party access to their web resources without sharing their passwords. It allows access delegation without giving away full credentials.

Categories:
authentication authorization access-control

OAuth Features

  1. Allows users to grant limited access to their resources without exposing credentials
  2. Decouples authentication from authorization
  3. Enables authorization flows for web, mobile and desktop apps
  4. Standardized protocol supported by major platforms and providers
  5. Allows access revocation without changing credentials

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Improved security over sharing credentials

Fine-grained control over access

Easy integration with major platforms

Wide industry adoption and support

Flexibility in implementing customized authorization flows

Cons

Complexity in implementing and managing OAuth flows

Additional integration effort required

Risk of improperly implemented OAuth exposing vulnerabilities

Requires user interaction and consent for authorization

Access token expiration requires refresh flows


OpenID

OpenID

OpenID is an open standard and decentralized authentication protocol that allows users to log into different websites using the same digital identity. It eliminates the need for separate usernames and passwords for each site.

Categories:
authentication identity login open-standard

OpenID Features

  1. Decentralized authentication
  2. Single sign-on across multiple sites
  3. No need for separate passwords for each site
  4. User controls identity provider
  5. Built on open standards

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Convenience of single sign-on

Fewer passwords to remember

More secure than reusing same password

User has control over identity

Cons

Relies on third-party identity providers

Not universally adopted

Additional steps compared to standard login

Privacy concerns around data sharing