Cognito vs Ory: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Cognito and Ory side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Ory leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Cognito
Streamline global customer onboarding with seamless ID verification and compliance
Best for you if:
- • You want optimized for high conversion rates during customer onboarding
Ory
Open-source identity infrastructure
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Cognito | Ory |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan, paid from $29/mo, billed monthly Growth plan |
Category | Identity & Access Security | Identity & Access Security |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 6 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 50 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Overage fees for users beyond Growth tier's included amount |
Choose Cognito or Ory?
Choose Cognito if
- You want optimized for high conversion rates during customer onboarding
- You want supports a vast number of countries and ID document types
Choose Ory if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want open source identity
- You want self-hostable
In-Depth Analysis
Cognito
Streamline global customer onboarding with seamless ID verification and compliance
Strengths
- Pro: Optimized for high conversion rates during customer onboarding.
- Pro: Supports a vast number of countries and ID document types.
- Pro: Reduces manual review efforts with smart false-positive reduction in screening.
- Pro: Offers comprehensive compliance features with audit trails and ongoing monitoring.
- Pro: Designed for developers with extensive documentation and flexible integration.
Weaknesses
- Con: Specific pricing details are not publicly available, requiring contact with sales.
- Con: Requires integration into existing systems, which may involve development effort depending on the chosen method.
Key features
Ory
Open-source identity infrastructure
Ory's pricing is quite fair, offering a generous Free tier for up to 25,000 users, which is significantly higher than many competitors.
Watch out
Overage fees for users beyond Growth tier's included amount
Strengths
- Pro: Open source identity
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Good documentation
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Cloud option
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Setup complexity
- Con: Enterprise features paid
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Multiple products confusing
Key features
Plans and prices: Cognito vs Ory
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cognito | No plan prices on file | cognitohq.com |
| Ory |
| ory.sh/pricing read Oct 27, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Cognito pricing and Ory pricing.
Key Takeaways
Cognito
- Choose if you want streamline global customer onboarding with seamless ID verification and compliance
Ory
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Ory leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 6 reviews for Cognito, 4.5/5 from 50 reviews for Ory; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Ory starts at $29/mo, billed monthly; Cognito has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Ory has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Cognito and Ory compare in 2026?
On the data below, Ory leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 6 reviews for Cognito, 4.5/5 from 50 reviews for Ory; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Ory starts at $29/mo, billed monthly; Cognito has no public paid plan price on file. Only Ory has a free plan.
What are Cognito and Ory used for?
Cognito: Streamline global customer onboarding with seamless ID verification and compliance. Ory: Open-source identity infrastructure.
What does Cognito cost vs Ory?
Cognito has no public paid-plan price on file. Ory's cheapest paid plan is Growth at $29/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 27, 2026.
What's the main difference between Cognito and Ory?
Cognito's main strength: optimized for high conversion rates during customer onboarding. Ory's main strength: open source identity.