Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

IdentityServer VS ASP.NET SAML

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

IdentityServer logo IdentityServer

An open-source, standards-compliant, and flexible OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.x framework for ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET SAML logo 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.
  • IdentityServer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-03
  • ASP.NET SAML Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-04

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 SAML features and specs

  • Interoperability
    ASP.NET SAML allows for seamless integration across different platforms and identity providers, which is crucial for applications that need to communicate with diverse systems.
  • Enhanced Security
    SAML provides secure mechanisms for exchanging authentication and authorization data, reducing the risk of password theft since no passwords are transmitted.
  • Single Sign-On (SSO)
    SAML enables Single Sign-On capabilities, allowing users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications, enhancing the user experience.
  • Standard Protocol
    SAML is a widely-adopted industry standard, ensuring consistent implementation and support across various platforms.
  • Decoupled Authentication
    By separating authentication from application logic, developers can focus on building features without worrying about the complexities of user authentication processes.

Possible disadvantages of ASP.NET SAML

  • Complexity
    Implementing SAML can be complex and challenging, especially for developers who are new to the protocol or have limited experience with identity management systems.
  • Performance Overhead
    The added security and protocol layers can result in increased latency or resource usage compared to simpler authentication methods.
  • Initial Setup Time
    The setup and configuration of SAML can be time-consuming, requiring detailed attention to ensure all components work correctly together.
  • Limited Debugging Tools
    There are fewer tools available specifically for debugging SAML implementations, which can make troubleshooting more difficult.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    While SAML aims for interoperability, mismatches between different implementations or versions can sometimes lead to compatibility problems that require extra effort to resolve.

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

ASP.NET SAML videos

ASP.NET SAML Single Sign On (SSO) using Azure AD as IDP | Azure AD Login

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to IdentityServer and ASP.NET SAML)
Identity And Access Management
Network & Admin
43 43%
57% 57
Identity Provider
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

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...

ASP.NET SAML Reviews

We have no reviews of ASP.NET SAML yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, IdentityServer should be more popular than ASP.NET SAML. 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.

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: almost 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 / almost 3 years ago
View more

ASP.NET SAML mentions (1)

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

BugMeNot - BugMeNot is a free Internet service that provides usernames and passwords to allow users to bypass the registration process for websites.