Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SimpleSAMLphp VS Shibboleth

Compare SimpleSAMLphp VS Shibboleth and see what are their differences

SimpleSAMLphp logo SimpleSAMLphp

SimpleSAMLphp is an OAuth authentication application written in native PHP.

Shibboleth logo Shibboleth

standards based, open source software for web single sign-on across or within organizational...
  • SimpleSAMLphp Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-07
  • Shibboleth Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-27

SimpleSAMLphp features and specs

  • Interoperability
    SimpleSAMLphp offers broad compatibility with different identity providers and service providers, making it an ideal choice for implementing SAML-based single sign-on (SSO) solutions across diverse systems.
  • Extensibility
    The platform supports custom modules and extensions, allowing developers to enhance its functionality and tailor it to specific authentication or integration requirements.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source solution, SimpleSAMLphp allows organizations to implement and customize the software without licensing costs, fostering a collaborative improvement environment through user contributions.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    The software is well-documented, which facilitates easier implementation, configuration, and maintenance for administrators and developers.
  • Wide Adoption
    SimpleSAMLphp is widely adopted within the community, which means there is a wealth of community support and resources available for troubleshooting and best practice sharing.

Possible disadvantages of SimpleSAMLphp

  • Complex Configuration
    Setting up SimpleSAMLphp can be complex, particularly for users who are new to SAML or do not possess extensive experience with PHP, potentially leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Security Management
    Administrators must be diligent about applying security updates and configuring the system correctly, as improper setup could introduce vulnerabilities in the authentication process.
  • Performance Overheads
    The software can introduce performance overheads, especially in high-traffic environments, necessitating careful consideration of system resources and optimization practices.
  • Limited Protocol Support
    While it excels at SAML, SimpleSAMLphp has limited support for other authentication protocols such as OpenID Connect or OAuth2, which might be a limitation for some use cases.
  • PHP Dependence
    Being PHP-dependent, the platform may face limitations related to PHP's scalability and performance in large-scale enterprise environments, compared to other languages.

Shibboleth features and specs

  • Open Source
    Shibboleth is an open-source identity provider, which means it is free to use and has a community-driven development approach. This can lead to more transparency and adaptability for organizations.
  • Interoperability
    Shibboleth supports various protocols such as SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), allowing for seamless integration with many identity and access management systems and services.
  • Scalability
    Designed to handle large numbers of users and complex federated identity deployments, Shibboleth can scale to meet the needs of large organizations or academic institutions.
  • Federated Identity Management
    Shibboleth enables the sharing of identity information across different organizations, which is particularly beneficial for educational institutions and research organizations that collaborate frequently.
  • Community Support
    A strong user community provides substantial support, documentation, and shared experiences, which can aid in troubleshooting and optimizing deployments.

Possible disadvantages of Shibboleth

  • Complex Configuration
    The initial setup and configuration of Shibboleth can be complex and may require a steep learning curve, especially for those not familiar with identity and access management concepts.
  • Resource Intensive
    Due to its comprehensive feature set and capabilities, Shibboleth may require more resources (such as server capacity and administrative effort) compared to simpler solutions.
  • Limited User Interface
    Shibboleth is primarily back-end software and lacks a modern, user-friendly interface, which can make administration and management more challenging for less technical users.
  • Dependency on Community
    Being open-source and community-driven, updates and feature enhancements depend on community contributions, which may not be as predictable or frequent as with commercial products.
  • Niche Use Case
    Shibboleth is primarily targeted towards academic institutions and research communities, which might make it less appealing or overkill for smaller organizations or those outside these sectors.

SimpleSAMLphp videos

No SimpleSAMLphp videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Shibboleth videos

Shibboleth Review

More videos:

  • Review - Shibboleth - Testimonials from Dalton, GA
  • Review - Bower's Game Corner #515: Shibboleth Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SimpleSAMLphp and Shibboleth)
Identity Provider
35 35%
65% 65
SSO
42 42%
58% 58
Identity And Access Management
Monitoring Tools
34 34%
66% 66

User comments

Share your experience with using SimpleSAMLphp and Shibboleth. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SimpleSAMLphp seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 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.

SimpleSAMLphp mentions (4)

  • Weekly "ask anything" thread
    Https://simplesamlphp.org and you can use azure oauth2 or saml2. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How to connect PHPBB forum to existing database
    IDP - Identity Provider - A small program that attaches to your current user database. This is what gets your software to talk with other SAML2 systems. Simplesamlphp is a good plugin. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Why I'm working on Open Source full time
    I've long been impressed by https://simplesamlphp.org/ which is led by UNINETT, a state-owned company responsible for Norway's National Research and Education Network. It's a serious competitor to Shibboleth in the SAML space. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Are there PHP-based SSO / OAuth / SAML / CAS providers that I can easily self-host and manage graphically on cPanel shared hosting ?
    I only know SimpleSAMLphp, which is written in PHP. I personally use Keycloak because it is incredibly powerful, extensible and easy to manage. As for your services, you always have to check if they support OAuth 2 / OpenID Connect or SAML 2.0. But that should not be a problem for most of them. Source: about 4 years ago

Shibboleth mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Shibboleth yet. Tracking of Shibboleth recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SimpleSAMLphp and Shibboleth, you can also consider the following products

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

CAS - Apereo CAS - Enterprise Single Sign On for the Web

Webroot - Webroot delivers multi-vector protection for endpoints and networks and threat intelligence services to protect businesses and individuals in a connected world.

VIPRE - Keep your data safe with VIPRE. We offer industry leading, top-rated antivirus software and cyber security protection for personal and business use.

DbProtect - Trustwave DbProtect is a highly scalable database security platform that helps organizations secure their relational databases and big data stores, both on premises and in the cloud.

Connect2id Server - Flexible enough to meet the most demanding business and production requirements. Engineered for 100% uptime, distributed operation and low TCO.