Google Cloud Identity

Overview

Google Cloud Identity is a cloud service for centrally managing organizational users and groups. It is best suited to businesses connecting Google identities with cloud apps, devices or an existing Microsoft directory. Its appeal is the breadth of identity and endpoint controls; the trade-off is that several enterprise capabilities require Premium.

Key features

Identity, app access and authentication

Cloud Identity can federate identities between Google and Active Directory or Microsoft Entra ID, which makes it relevant to organizations bridging cloud and established directory environments. Directory Sync extends Microsoft Active Directory users to the cloud, while Secure LDAP supports access to traditional apps and infrastructure.

Single sign-on covers thousands of SaaS applications, including Salesforce, SAP SuccessFactors and Google Workspace. Hundreds of cloud apps integrate out of the box, and pre-integrated applications can use SAML 2.0 or OpenID Connect. That breadth can simplify access across a varied app estate, though it is most compelling when an organization wants centralized identity rather than customer-facing authentication.

MFA options include Google Prompt, security keys, Google Authenticator and other TOTP generators, backup codes, SMS, voice calls and passkeys. Cloud Identity also includes context-aware access, account takeover protection and threat investigation through Security Center. These controls give administrators several ways to strengthen sign-in, with context-aware access and other enterprise security features included in Premium.

Provisioning and device management

Automated provisioning can create, update or delete user profile information in third-party cloud apps from one place. The Cloud Identity API supports provisioning and management of identity resources, making the service relevant to organizations that need to manage identity programmatically as well as through its central service.

A unified console manages Android, iOS and Windows devices. Administrators can enforce policies, wipe company data, deploy apps and view reports. Premium adds advanced endpoint management, so organizations that need deeper device controls should budget for the paid edition rather than assume the Free edition covers the same requirements.

Pricing

Cloud Identity is freemium. Cloud Identity Free costs nothing and starts with 50 user licenses; additional free licenses can be requested at no cost. That makes it a practical starting point for organizations that need centralized identity without a per-user charge, but Premium is the tier for automated provisioning, context-aware access and advanced endpoint management.

Cloud Identity Premium — Annual/Fixed-Term Plan costs $6 a month, billed annually. It includes enterprise security features, automated user provisioning, context-aware access, advanced endpoint management and 15 GB pooled storage per end user. The annual commitment brings the lowest stated per-user price, but is a poorer fit for organizations that need month-to-month flexibility.

Cloud Identity Premium — Flexible Plan costs $7.20 a month, billed monthly. It includes monthly per-user billing, no annual commitment, enterprise security features, automated user provisioning and context-aware access. It costs more than the annual plan and the plan details do not include the advanced endpoint management or pooled storage described for the annual option.

Cloud Identity Premium is also priced at $7.20 a month per user when billed as part of a Google Workspace subscription, adding enterprise security, application management and device management features. Premium includes 24x7 chat and email support and a 99.9% SLA; Free includes Google Cloud Communities support. Organizations should choose the plan based on both commitment and the specific controls they need, not just the entry price.

Platforms

Cloud Identity supports Android, iOS, web and Windows, as well as an API for identity resource provisioning and management. Its stated device controls cover Android, iOS and Windows, while the API gives teams a route to manage identity resources in their own workflows.

Who it's for

Cloud Identity is a strong fit for organizations managing employee identities across Google, Microsoft directory infrastructure and cloud applications, especially those that also want centralized device administration. The Free edition is worth considering when the default 50 licenses are sufficient or additional free licenses can be requested. Premium is better suited to teams that need automated provisioning, context-aware access, advanced endpoint management, enterprise security features or its listed support and SLA. It is less directly suited to developers seeking customer identity tooling: its central purpose is managing organizational users and groups.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Federation, Directory Sync and Secure LDAP support organizations with both cloud services and traditional directory infrastructure.
• Pro: Broad SaaS SSO and multiple MFA methods give administrators several options for centralized sign-in and stronger authentication.
• Pro: The Free edition starts with 50 licenses and permits requests for more at no cost.
• Con: Automated provisioning, context-aware access and advanced endpoint management are Premium capabilities, so the Free edition is not a substitute for the full enterprise control set.
• Con: The lower $6 a month price requires annual billing; the flexible monthly plan costs $7.20 a month.

Alternatives

For a customer identity focus, cidaas has a free customer IAM plan with 500 registered users, core authentication functions and community support, plus a 30-day trial period. FusionAuth is an alternative with a free, self-hosted Community plan offering unlimited use and core authentication features. Okta Customer Identity Cloud offers an Essentials plan at $35 a month for up to 500 monthly active users, 10 organizations and standard support.

Ory offers a production plan at $770 a year; its Developer tier is also an option. Supabase has a free plan with 50,000 monthly active users, 500 MB database per project, 5 GB egress and 1 GB file storage. Authgear is an open-source alternative that says users can self-host, migrate or switch to any OIDC-compliant provider. Authio Lobby has a free Developer plan for projects under 10,000 monthly active users, with no SSO or SCIM. Clerk has a free Hobby plan with 50,000 monthly retained users per app, up to three dashboard seats, five user impersonations and three social connections.

Readers comparing categories can also browse Passkey Authentication Software, Single Sign-On Software, Customer Identity and Access Management Software and Identity and Access Management Software.

Verdict

Choose Google Cloud Identity if you need one service to manage workforce identities across Google, Microsoft directories, SaaS applications and supported devices. Its main advantage is the combination of federation, SSO, provisioning and endpoint controls, with a free entry point. Look elsewhere if your priority is customer identity, or if Premium's paid tiers and annual commitment do not suit your budget or purchasing needs.