OpenAthens vs Shibboleth

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

OpenAthens is a Education & Reference solution with tags like single-signon, access-management, education, research.

It boasts features such as Single sign-on access to subscribed resources, Integration with existing organizational credentials and authentication systems, Support for SAML, OpenID Connect, OAuth, Shibboleth, Access management and entitlements, Usage reporting and statistics, Branding and customization options, APIs for integration with other systems and pros including Simplified access for users, Reduced administration for organizations, Cost savings from centralized authentication, Improved security through single sign-on, Better user experience.

On the other hand, Shibboleth is a Security & Privacy product tagged with single-signon, federated-identity, access-control.

Its standout features include Federated identity management, Single sign-on, Access control, Standards-based (SAML, OpenID Connect), Integrates with LDAP and Active Directory, Supports multi-factor authentication, Customizable login and error pages, Auditing and logging capabilities, and it shines with pros like Increased security, Simplified login process, Reduced IT costs, Standards compliance, Open source with community support, Highly customizable and extensible.

Feature	OpenAthens	Shibboleth
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Education & Reference	Security & Privacy

Product Overview

OpenAthens

Description: OpenAthens is an access management system that provides single sign-on to resources including publications, databases, and other online services, especially for the education and research sectors. It allows users to access subscribed resources using existing credentials from their organization.

Shibboleth

Description: Shibboleth is an open source single sign-on system that enables secure access to resources across organizational boundaries. It allows users to sign in once with their institutional credentials to gain access to multiple resources.

Key Features Comparison

OpenAthens Features

• Single sign-on access to subscribed resources
• Integration with existing organizational credentials and authentication systems
• Support for SAML, OpenID Connect, OAuth, Shibboleth
• Access management and entitlements
• Usage reporting and statistics
• Branding and customization options
• APIs for integration with other systems

Shibboleth Features

• Federated identity management
• Single sign-on
• Access control
• Standards-based (SAML, OpenID Connect)
• Integrates with LDAP and Active Directory
• Supports multi-factor authentication
• Customizable login and error pages
• Auditing and logging capabilities

Pros & Cons Analysis

OpenAthens

Pros

• Simplified access for users
• Reduced administration for organizations
• Cost savings from centralized authentication
• Improved security through single sign-on
• Better user experience

Cons

• Dependency on vendor
• Integration can be complex
• May not support all required authentication protocols
• Limited customization options in some cases

Shibboleth

Pros

• Increased security
• Simplified login process
• Reduced IT costs
• Standards compliance
• Open source with community support
• Highly customizable and extensible

Cons

• Complex installation and configuration
• Requires coordination between identity providers and service providers
• Ongoing maintenance overhead
• Limited native end-user account management
• Steep learning curve

Pricing Comparison

OpenAthens

• Subscription-Based

Shibboleth

• Open Source