Obelisk vs WorkOS, honestly
WorkOS is purpose-built to make B2B SaaS enterprise-ready fast — SSO, SCIM directory sync, and audit logs behind a clean developer API. Obelisk is a passkey-first identity and security plane built around one idea: security you can prove, not just promise. This page compares the two fairly — WorkOS is a genuinely good product for B2B SaaS teams who need to sell into the enterprise with SSO and SCIM quickly, and we say so plainly below.
The short version: if your priority is provable security on the login itself — a live Rating, tamper-evident receipts, passkey-first by default, and zero secrets in your own app — Obelisk is built for exactly that. See the full field →
Where WorkOS shines
WorkOS is excellent at exactly what it targets: turning "the enterprise prospect needs SAML SSO and SCIM" into a few API calls. Clean abstractions over messy enterprise directory protocols, strong docs, and a model designed around B2B SaaS go-to-market. If your immediate need is checking the enterprise-readiness boxes for sales, WorkOS is a great fit.
Side-by-side: Obelisk vs WorkOS
Obelisk's column is stated as fact — these are shipped, live features. WorkOS's column reflects its public positioning as of 2026; vendor capabilities and pricing change, so verify the latest from their docs.
| Dimension | Obelisk | WorkOS |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Full identity plane — end-user auth + federation | Enterprise SSO/SCIM connectivity for B2B SaaS |
| Default end-user auth | Passkey-first / passwordless by default | Brings your enterprise customers' IdPs; AuthKit adds hosted auth, as of 2026 |
| Live security score on login | Yes — the Obelisk Rating on the login surface | Not a feature, based on public positioning |
| SAML 2.0 IdP (issues assertions) | Yes — Obelisk is itself a SAML IdP and OIDC provider | Connects to customers' SAML/OIDC IdPs (SP-side focus), per public docs |
| Tamper-evident receipts | Hash-chained, signed receipts for every action | Audit-log product, based on public docs |
| Project-side secrets | Zero — apps hold no credentials | App holds a WorkOS API key, per public docs |
| Risk engine | The Warden — 11-dimension real-time decisioning | Not publicly positioned as a core feature, as of 2026 |
| Pricing model | Pay per audited passage | Per-connection / per-feature, based on public pricing |
| Post-quantum readiness | Documented PQC migration path in receipts | Not publicly positioned, as of 2026 |
Why teams choose Obelisk
The differences below aren't cosmetic — they're structural choices that move security from "trust us" to "verify it."
- Passkey-first by default. Passwordless via WebAuthn/FIDO2 is the default path, not an add-on — the secret half of the credential never leaves the device, so it can't be phished, stuffed, or stolen from a database.
- A live security Rating on the login itself. The Obelisk Rating is a real-time 0–100 security score shown on the sign-in surface — verifiable and continuously scored. No other identity provider renders a live security score on the login.
- Both an OIDC provider and a SAML 2.0 IdP. Obelisk is a full OpenID Connect provider and a SAML 2.0 identity provider that issues signed assertions — one front door for both modern and enterprise federation.
- Tamper-evident, hash-chained receipts. Every sign-in, token, and grant emits a signed, hash-chained receipt. The chain can't be quietly rewritten, so the audit trail is something you can verify, not just trust.
- Zero project-side secrets — one-DB model. Relying-party apps hold no credentials. Your app stores no password hashes, MFA seeds, or reset tokens, because Obelisk hands you a verified identity. You can't leak what you don't store.
- The Obelisk Warden risk engine. A real-time risk engine scores every sign-in across 11 dimensions and decides allow / step-up / deny — adaptive security built in, not bolted on.
Together these make the login the strongest part of your stack, with a posture anyone can check. See the full trust case →
Frequently asked questions
Is Obelisk a WorkOS alternative?
Partly — they overlap, but their centers differ. WorkOS centers on connecting your B2B SaaS to your customers' existing enterprise IdPs (SSO/SCIM). Obelisk is a full identity plane that can be the IdP — passkey-first end-user auth, an OIDC provider, and a SAML 2.0 IdP that issues signed assertions. If you need to be the identity provider (not just connect to others), Obelisk fits where WorkOS's SP-side focus doesn't.
Can I use Obelisk for enterprise SSO like WorkOS?
Yes. Obelisk is both an OIDC provider and a SAML 2.0 IdP, so it can act as the federation front door for your stack. The emphasis differs from WorkOS's customer-directory-sync model, so the right choice depends on whether you primarily need to be an IdP or to consume your customers' IdPs.
Does Obelisk do passkeys, unlike a pure SSO layer?
Yes — passkey-first passwordless auth is Obelisk's default, with a live security Rating, the Warden risk engine, and tamper-evident receipts on top. That's a different layer of the stack from enterprise directory connectivity.
See it for yourself
Ready to compare in practice? Integrate Obelisk · See the Gate Toll pricing · Add the verified seal · Create your account.
Still weighing options? Head back to the full comparison hub to see Obelisk against every major provider at a glance.