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ASP.NET Identity VS IdentityServer

Compare ASP.NET Identity VS IdentityServer and see what are their differences

ASP.NET Identity logo ASP.NET Identity

ASP.NET Identity is a membership-based software system designed for the authentication and authorization of the users via building an ASP.NET application.

IdentityServer logo IdentityServer

An open-source, standards-compliant, and flexible OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.x framework for ASP.NET Core
  • ASP.NET Identity Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-07
  • IdentityServer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-03

ASP.NET Identity features and specs

  • Integrated with ASP.NET Framework
    ASP.NET Identity is seamlessly integrated into the ASP.NET framework, making it easier to implement authentication and authorization in ASP.NET applications.
  • Supports Multiple Authentication Methods
    It supports various authentication methods, including two-factor authentication, social logins (such as Facebook, Google), and traditional username/password combinations.
  • Customizable
    Developers have the flexibility to customize the identity system according to their needs, for example, by extending user information and roles.
  • Role and Claim-based Authorization
    ASP.NET Identity supports role-based and claims-based authorization, allowing for fine-grained access control.
  • Entity Framework Integration
    Built with Entity Framework, making it easy to persist identity data in a database and leverage Entity Framework's capabilities for ORM.
  • Ease of Use
    Designed to be straightforward to set up and use, with many features working out of the box with minimal configuration.

Possible disadvantages of ASP.NET Identity

  • Complexity for Small Applications
    For small applications with simple authentication needs, ASP.NET Identity might be overly complex and result in unnecessary overhead.
  • Database Dependency
    The default setup requires a database to store user and role information, which may not be suitable for applications where a database-less solution is preferred.
  • Learning Curve
    There can be a learning curve for newcomers to fully understand its architecture and how to implement advanced features.
  • Performance Overhead
    The flexible and feature-rich design of ASP.NET Identity might introduce performance overhead, especially if not properly optimized.
  • Migration Challenges
    Migrating existing applications from older identity systems to ASP.NET Identity can be challenging and time-consuming.

IdentityServer features and specs

  • Open Source Foundation
    IdentityServer is built on an open-source foundation. It has been widely used and developed by a community, ensuring transparency, reliability, and continuous improvements.
  • Comprehensive Protocol Support
    It supports industry standards such as OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0, which are essential for authentication and authorization processes.
  • Customizability
    IdentityServer offers high levels of customizability, allowing developers to tailor authentication and authorization features to specific application needs.
  • Enterprise-Ready
    Designed to handle complex enterprise scenarios with robust performance and scalability options suitable for large-scale applications.
  • Strong Security Features
    Includes several security mechanisms to protect sensitive data, such as secure token storage and advanced encryption options.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    Provides extensive documentation and resources, helping developers to implement and troubleshoot the server effectively in their systems.

Possible disadvantages of IdentityServer

  • Licensing Cost
    Since its transition from IdentityServer4 to a non-OSS model under Duende Software, organizations need to purchase a license for commercial use, impacting budget-conscious projects.
  • Complexity
    Can be complex to set up and configure properly, especially for teams that are new to security protocols like OAuth and OpenID Connect.
  • Maintenance Overhead
    Requires ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure security and compatibility with evolving protocols, which can be resource-intensive.
  • Potential Overhead for Small Projects
    May be overkill for smaller projects or teams that do not require robust authentication systems, where simpler solutions might suffice.
  • Community vs. Commercial Transition
    The switch from a community-driven open-source project to a commercial product may alienate previous users who relied on its open-source nature.

ASP.NET Identity videos

Understand ASP.NET Identity Core

IdentityServer videos

Federated Identity: An intro to OAuth2, Open Id Connect & Duende IdentityServer 5 | Anthony Nguyen

More videos:

  • Review - There's an IdentityServer in my API project - Anders Abel

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ASP.NET Identity and IdentityServer)
Network & Admin
58 58%
42% 42
Identity Provider
0 0%
100% 100
Identity And Access Management
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ASP.NET Identity and IdentityServer

ASP.NET Identity Reviews

We have no reviews of ASP.NET Identity yet.
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IdentityServer Reviews

10+ Open-source Single-Sign On (SSO) Solutions
If you are looking for a certified and complaint system to OpenID Foundation, with .Net technologies, then IdentityServer is your answer.
Source: medevel.com
Top 5 Open Source Single Sign-On Software In the Year 2021
IdentityServer is an open source free single sign-on software. It is a cross-platform framework based on OpenID Connect and OAuth 2. Further, this open source software provides central authentication and authorization capabilities for multiple applications. It supports federated identities, multiple flows, and API authorization. Moreover, this self hosting software enables...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, IdentityServer seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ASP.NET Identity mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ASP.NET Identity yet. Tracking of ASP.NET Identity recommendations started around Jul 2021.

IdentityServer mentions (7)

  • Identity server 4
    Its deprecated in favor of Duende Identityserver which introduced a license model. Source: over 1 year ago
  • How does cookie based authentication work?
    Tokens usually have a lifetime and they are separate from the user's authentication principals like username and password. Unless you are rolling your own form of token provider (not something that would be recommended) the token creation is handled for you. Take a look at https://identityserver4.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ or if your organization makes under 1M in income a year the free version of what Identity... Source: over 2 years ago
  • ImageSharp leaving the .NET Foundation due to licensing change
    I think Duende (Identity Server) handled the situation pretty well. https://duendesoftware.com/products/identityserver > Standard License Pricing. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Why is authentication such a sh*t show with .NET 6?
    He's referring to IdentityServer 3/4, which was open sourced, and was not owned by Microsoft. That 3rd party is commercializing their work (and to be fair, it's a lot of work) as https://duendesoftware.com/products/identityserver , and has a different commercial licensing model. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Show HN: Open-Source Identity Server Written in Go (Ory Kratos)
    I think "Identity Provider" is more correct, no? "IdentityServer" is the name of a specific IdP implemented in .NET (formerly OSS as https://identityserver4.readthedocs.io/en/latest, and now as a more commercial form as Duende IdentityServer: https://duendesoftware.com/products/identityserver). - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ASP.NET Identity and IdentityServer, you can also consider the following products

DotNetOpenAuth - DotNetOpenAuth is a free-to-use compiled library that comes with the real support to your site visitor to login with the help of openIDs via getting control of the ASP.NET control onto the page.

Keycloak - Open Source Identity and Access Management for modern Applications and Services.

ASP.NET SAML - ASP.NET SAML is an open-source authentication utility that has been used for exchanging authentication and authorization data between the channels.

PwdLess - PwdLess is an open-source and reliable authentication server that legitimizes you to register or login users without the need for a password.

Auth0 - Auth0 is a program for people to get authentication and authorization services for their own business use.

Okta Workforce Identity - Okta Workforce Identity is utility software for enterprises that provides a new way of work that enable your employees, contractors, and partners to use technology on any device.