Comparisons13 min read

Azure AD vs Google Cloud Identity: Which Identity Platform Is Right for Your Business?

Feature-by-feature comparison of the two leading identity management platforms. Understand SSO, MFA, conditional access, device management, and pricing.

May 9, 202613 min readEnterprise Analysis

Identity and access management (IAM) is the foundation of modern IT security. Both Microsoft and Google offer robust IAM solutions — but they are optimized for different ecosystems. This guide compares Azure AD (Microsoft Entra ID) and Google Cloud Identity across every major feature so you can choose the right platform.

Azure AD

features won

Best for Microsoft 365 + Windows

Cloud Identity

features won

Best for Google Workspace + Chrome

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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature	Azure AD (Microsoft Entra ID)	Google Cloud Identity	Winner
Single Sign-On (SSO)	3,000+ pre-integrated apps	2,000+ pre-integrated apps	Azure
Multi-Factor Authentication	Included (authenticator, SMS, hardware keys)	Included (authenticator, SMS, hardware keys)	Tie
Conditional Access	Full conditional access policies	Context-aware access	Azure
Device Management	Microsoft Intune (MDM + MAM)	Google Endpoint Management	Azure
Identity Protection	Risk-based policies, anomaly detection	Basic anomaly detection	Azure
Privileged Access	Privileged Identity Management (PIM)	Limited admin role controls	Azure
Passwordless Authentication	FIDO2, Windows Hello, phone sign-in	FIDO2, Titan Security Key	Tie
User Lifecycle Management	Dynamic groups, automated provisioning	Basic provisioning	Azure
B2B Collaboration	Azure AD B2B (external guest access)	Google Workspace sharing	Tie
Pricing	Free with M365, $6 for Plan 1, $9 for Plan 2	Free with GWS, $6 for Premium	Tie
Integration with Productivity Suite	Native Microsoft 365 integration	Native Google Workspace integration	Tie

Azure AD vs Cloud Identity: Pricing Comparison

Azure AD (Microsoft Entra ID)

Free$0

Basic SSO, MFA, user/group management

Included in all Microsoft 365

Plan 1$6/user/mo

Conditional access, dynamic groups, SSPR

Included in Business Premium+

Plan 2$9/user/mo

Identity Protection, PIM, Access Reviews

Included in E5 only

Google Cloud Identity

Free$0

Basic SSO, MFA, 2-step verification

Included in all Google Workspace

Premium$6/user/mo

Advanced mobile management, context-aware access, audit logs

Included in Business Plus+

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Frequently Asked Questions

QWhat is the difference between Azure AD and Google Cloud Identity?

Azure AD (now Microsoft Entra ID) is Microsoft's identity and access management service, included with Microsoft 365. It manages user identities, provides single sign-on (SSO), conditional access, and device management. Google Cloud Identity is Google's equivalent, included with Google Workspace Business Plus and Enterprise. Both provide core IAM functions but are optimized for their respective ecosystems — Azure AD for Microsoft 365 and Windows environments, Cloud Identity for Google Workspace and Chrome OS environments.

QIs Azure AD included in Microsoft 365?

Yes — Azure AD Free is included with all Microsoft 365 plans. Azure AD Plan 1 (with advanced features like conditional access, dynamic groups, and self-service password reset) is included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3, and E5. Azure AD Plan 2 (with Identity Protection and Privileged Identity Management) is included with Microsoft 365 E5 only. For lower-tier plans, you can add Azure AD Plan 1 for $6/user/month or Plan 2 for $9/user/month as a standalone license.

QWhich has better single sign-on: Azure AD or Google Cloud Identity?

Both support thousands of SSO applications via SAML and OIDC. Azure AD has a larger pre-integrated app gallery (over 3,000 apps) with one-click configuration for most major SaaS platforms. Google Cloud Identity has fewer pre-integrated apps but supports any SAML/OIDC application. For businesses using Microsoft 365, Azure AD's SSO integration is seamless — users sign in once and access Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and hundreds of connected apps without re-authenticating.

QCan I use Azure AD with Google Workspace or vice versa?

Yes, both support third-party SSO federation. You can configure Azure AD as the identity provider for Google Workspace, or Google Cloud Identity as the identity provider for Microsoft 365. However, this adds complexity and some features (like conditional access policies) work best when the identity provider matches the productivity suite. For most businesses, using the native identity provider is the simpler, more reliable choice.

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