Complete Guide to AWS Cognito: How It Works, Pricing, and 4 Alternatives

What Is AWS Cognito? 

AWS Cognito is an identity management service provided by Amazon Web Services. It offers developers a secure way to add user sign-up, sign-in, and access control to web and mobile applications. Integrating directly with AWS’s ecosystem, Cognito simplifies the authentication, authorization, and user management processes.

The service supports various identity providers including social media platforms like Facebook, Google, and Amazon, as well as enterprise identity providers via SAML 2.0. This flexibility enables developers to create seamless authentication experiences for their users across multiple platforms without managing backend infrastructure for handling user data.

In this article:

Amazon Cognito Features 

Cognito offers the following key features:

• User authentication: Ensures secure access to applications by verifying user identities. Supports standard authentication mechanisms such as username and password, as well as multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security. MFA requires users to provide two or more verification factors, which significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

• Identity management: Provides a secure and scalable user directory that can handle millions of users. Allows for integration with external identity providers, including social identity providers like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, and SAML-based identity providers. This ensures a unified sign-in experience across platforms, while developers manage user profiles, authentication, and access controls in one place.
• Access control: Enables developers to define and manage permissions for users accessing their applications. Ensures that authenticated users have the appropriate level of access to resources, based on their roles or attributes. This is achieved through the use of identity pools, which grant temporary AWS credentials to access other AWS services.
• Security features: Includes mechanisms such as risk-based adaptive authentication, which evaluates the risk associated with a sign-in attempt based on factors like location and device used. If a sign-in attempt is deemed risky, Cognito can prompt for additional verification or block the attempt altogether. It also checks user credentials against a continuously updated database of compromised credentials, alerting users if their credentials have been exposed.

Related Content: Read Our AWS Cognito Tutorial

Understanding How Amazon Cognito Works 

Cognito operates through a combination of user pools and identity pools, enabling authentication and authorization processes. 

User pools are user directories that provide sign-up and sign-in options for app users. When a user registers or signs in, Cognito generates tokens (JSON Web Tokens – JWTs) that contain claims about the identity of the user. These tokens can then be used to access other AWS services or backend resources securely.

Identity pools allow developers to grant users temporary AWS credentials to access AWS services directly from the client side. This is particularly useful for scenarios where an application needs to allow users to access resources like Amazon S3 buckets or DynamoDB tables without exposing AWS keys.  

Amazon Cognito Pricing 

Cognito operates on a pay-as-you-go pricing model, ensuring costs are directly aligned with usage without any minimum fees or upfront commitments. 

The service offers a free tier for user pools, which remains available beyond the initial 12-month AWS Free Tier term. This free tier includes 50,000 Monthly Active Users (MAUs) for accounts using direct sign-in or social identity providers and 50 MAUs for those using SAML 2.0 or OpenID Connect (OIDC) identity providers.

For usage beyond the free tier, pricing is based on the number of MAUs, distinguishing between those signing in directly and those through enterprise directories with SAML federation. Additional charges apply for enabling advanced security features such as compromised credentials protection and adaptive authentication. 

For example, enabling these features for a user pool with 100,000 MAUs would incur $275 for the base active users plus $4,250 for advanced security features, totaling $4,525 monthly. Charges also apply separately for SMS messages used in MFA and email messages sent via Amazon SES for user verification purposes.

Learn more in our detailed guide to AWS Cognito pricing 

Tutorial: Getting Started with Amazon Cognito Identity Pools 

Creating an identity pool in Amazon Cognito involves several steps to configure and customize the pool to meet your application’s needs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Start by signing in to your AWS account and navigating to the Amazon Cognito console. Select Identity pools from the options.

2. Click on Create identity pool to start the setup process.

3. Decide whether you want to set up the identity pool for authenticated access, guest access, or both. If you choose authenticated access, you will need to select the identity types for authentication. Note that if you configure a custom developer provider, this cannot be modified later.

4. Choose the IAM roles for authenticated and guest users. You can either create new IAM roles or use existing ones. If creating new roles, give them a descriptive name and review the policy document to understand the permissions being assigned.

5. Enter details for the identity providers you selected. You may need to provide OAuth app client information, choose an Amazon Cognito user pool, select an IAM IdP, or enter a custom identifier for a developer provider.

6. Assign roles to users from each identity provider. You can choose the default role, set roles with rules, or use preferred roles with tokens for Amazon Cognito user pools.

7. Map user claims to principal tags for access control. Choose whether to apply no tags, use default mappings, or create custom mappings based on user attributes.

8. Name your identity pool and configure any additional settings such as basic authentication flow and tags.

9. Review all configurations and settings. Make any necessary adjustments, and then select Create identity pool to finalize the setup.

Related Content: Read Our AWS Cognito React Guide

AWS Cognito Limitations 

When evaluating Cognito, you should be aware of its limitations. The following limitations were reported by users on the G2 platform:

• Complexity of configuration and setup: Cognit’s complex options for authentication, federation, and access control require a deep understanding to correctly implement. This complexity is compounded when integrating Cognito with other AWS services or third-party providers, where misconfigurations can lead to security vulnerabilities or functionality issues.
• Token expiration management: This is critical for maintaining application security and ensuring user sessions remain active only for an appropriate duration. Cognito issues JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) for authentication, which include an expiration time indicating when the token will no longer be valid. By default, Amazon Cognito sets a one-hour expiration time for access tokens and a 30-day expiration for refresh tokens. However, these values can be adjusted within certain limits.
• Limited customization of login screens: While Cognito provides a default, hosted web UI that is quick to deploy and integrates with user pools for authentication, the options for customization are constrained. Developers can modify basic elements such as logo, CSS, and choice fields, but deeper changes to the UI layout or advanced functionalities are not directly supported.

Notable AWS Cognito Alternatives

1. Frontegg 

Frontegg’s end-to-end CIAM solution, which is multi-tenant by design, is fully self-served and helps create a frictionless experience for its customers and users. 

Key features include:

• Smooth login capabilities with multiple customizable parameters.
• Strong authentication flows with a micro-frontend approach
• Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) can be baked in based on your requirements.
• Dedicated admin portal, providing granular roles and permissions management with user management capabilities
• Full multi-tenancy—view, edit, and remove users or tenants with just a few clicks. 
• Advanced webhook features to further customize your user experience and backend functionality. 
• Compliance with multiple privacy regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and more.

Limitations include:

• Product maturity is still a work in progress like in any scaleup SaaS company.
• Integration with certain third-party tools can sometimes be less seamless than desired.

2. Okta Customer Identity 

Okta Customer Identity provides secure user management for customer-facing applications. It provides a range of authentication and user management features which simplify the login process, improve security measures, and ensure smooth user sign-up.

Features of Okta Customer Identity

• Universal login: Offers a customizable login experience that can be tailored without writing new code. 
• Passwordless authentication: Enables users to log in without passwords, using alternative methods such as biometrics or email links. 
• Adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA): Provides intelligent access control by adjusting authentication requirements based on the risk profile of each login attempt. 
• Bot detection with machine learning: Uses algorithms to identify and mitigate bot attacks, protecting against automated threats and ensuring genuine user interactions.

Actions and extensibility for custom flows: Allows for the customization of identity flows through a visual interface or APIs.

Limitations of Okta Customer Identity (reported on the G2 platform)

• Integration complexity: Integrating Okta Customer Identity into existing systems can be complex, requiring technical expertise and potentially leading to longer implementation times. 
• Cost considerations: Okta’s pricing model may pose challenges for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. 
• Customization limits: There are several use cases or desired functionalities that fall outside its configurable capabilities without custom development work.

Source: Okta

3. Microsoft Entra ID 

Microsoft Entra ID is Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management solution, which aims to secure access to applications and resources for internal and external users. It speeds up the process of user authentication, authorization, and management across a range of applications including Microsoft 365, Azure portal, and other SaaS offerings.

Features of Microsoft Entra ID 

• Cloud-based identity management: Centralizes the management of user identities in a cloud environment, simplifying access to various resources.
• MFA: Enhances security by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access to sensitive information or critical functions.
• Single sign-on (SSO): Allows users to sign in once and gain access to multiple applications without needing to re-authenticate, improving user convenience.
• Flexible integration: Integrates with SaaS applications and internal resources, ensuring compatibility across diverse IT environments.

Limitations of Microsoft Entra ID (reported on the G2 platform)

• Complex setup for new users: Setting up Microsoft Entra ID can be complex for those unfamiliar with Microsoft’s ecosystem or identity management principles. The initial configuration might require a steep learning curve.
• Dependency on the Microsoft ecosystem: While offering extensive integration capabilities within its ecosystem, organizations heavily invested in non-Microsoft products may find integration more challenging.
• Cost implications: Depending on the scale of deployment and the features required, costs can accumulate. Organizations need to carefully consider their needs against the pricing structure.

Source: Microsoft

4. Auth0 

Auth0 provides an adaptable platform for authentication and authorization, ensuring secure access for a range of applications. It aims to simplify identity management across various platforms, offering developers the tools to integrate user authentication workflows into their applications.

Features of Auth0

• Universal login: Enables a single login experience across different applications, reducing development time and enhancing user experience.
• MFA: Adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access.
• Social login integration: Allows users to sign in using their existing social media accounts, streamlining the registration process and improving conversion rates.
• SSO: Provides users with the ability to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials, improving usability and security.

Limitations of Auth0 (reported on the G2 platform)

• Complex configuration: While offering extensive customization options, setting up Auth0 can be complex and may require a steep learning curve for new users.
• Pricing structure: As organizations grow and their user base expands, the cost associated with using Auth0 can increase significantly.
• Limited support for custom UIs: While Auth0 offers customization options for login pages, there are limitations in how much the UI can be customized to fully match certain brand requirements.

Source: Auth0

Related Content: Read Our Cognito SSO Guide

Conclusion

While AWS Cognito offers a robust and flexible solution for user authentication and authorization, it has some notable limitations, such as complexity in setup and configuration, limited customization options for login screens, and challenges with token expiration management. These constraints can make it less suitable for some use cases, particularly those requiring highly customized authentication experiences or simpler integration processes. Understanding these limitations is crucial for making an informed decision when considering AWS Cognito for your identity management needs.

Learn more about Frontegg for authentication and user management