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.

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.

OpenAthens

OpenAthens

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.

Categories:
Education & Reference Academic Resources
single-signon access-management education research

OpenAthens Features

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

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based

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

Shibboleth

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.

Categories:
Security & Privacy Identity & Access Management
single-signon federated-identity access-control

Shibboleth Features

  1. Federated identity management
  2. Single sign-on
  3. Access control
  4. Standards-based (SAML, OpenID Connect)
  5. Integrates with LDAP and Active Directory
  6. Supports multi-factor authentication
  7. Customizable login and error pages
  8. Auditing and logging capabilities

Pricing

  • Open Source

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