OpenID vs OAuth

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

OpenID is a Online Services solution with tags like authentication, identity, login, open-standard.

It boasts features such as 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 pros including Convenience of single sign-on, Fewer passwords to remember, More secure than reusing same password, User has control over identity.

On the other hand, OAuth is a Security & Privacy product tagged with authentication, authorization, access-control.

Its standout features include 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 it shines with pros like 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.

Feature	OpenID	OAuth
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Online Services	Security & Privacy

Product Overview

OpenID

Description: 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.

OAuth

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

OpenID Features

• Decentralized authentication
• Single sign-on across multiple sites
• No need for separate passwords for each site
• User controls identity provider
• Built on open standards

OAuth Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

OpenID

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

OAuth

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

Pricing Comparison

OpenID

• Open Source
• Free

OAuth

• Open Source
• Free