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Google Cloud Identity and Access Management vs Microsoft Identity Manager comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Google Cloud Identity and A...
Ranking in Identity Management (IM)
23rd
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Microsoft Identity Manager
Ranking in Identity Management (IM)
11th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
25
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Identity Management (IM) category, the mindshare of Google Cloud Identity and Access Management is 0.3%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Identity Manager is 2.3%, down from 4.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Identity Management (IM) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Microsoft Identity Manager2.3%
Google Cloud Identity and Access Management0.3%
Other97.4%
Identity Management (IM)
 

Featured Reviews

NB
Hybrid Cloud Engineer at RealPage
Seamless integration with cloud identity enhances access management and simplifies task management
The most valuable features in Google Cloud Identity and Access Management include Smart Access control, which automatically detects permissions, and rightsizing. Cloud Identity facilitates access to Google Cloud, and the governance policies are good. I also find the programmatic command line features, such as the G Cloud command-line tool, valuable as it simplifies tasks and makes them easy to manage.
RameshKumar9 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at IOM - UN Migration
Supports reliable identity management and custom policy design
Microsoft Identity Manager can be improved by integrating it with Entra ID as a SaaS application or by having a cloud-based connector, as it is currently limited to on-prem scenarios, and a combination of both would be a great solution compared to competitors such as SailPoint or One Identity Manager. While the initial setup of Microsoft Identity Manager is not completely complex, migrating or upgrading to a new version can be complex and requires multiple backups to ensure it goes smoothly.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable features in Google Cloud Identity and Access Management include Smart Access control, which automatically detects permissions, and rightsizing."
"Overall, I rate the solution at ten out of ten."
"The product’s simplicity and integration are valuable."
"The most valuable and most interesting feature is the conditional access."
"Microsoft Identity Manager's documentation is good, and its end-user portal is user-friendly."
"Its interface and the fact that it's integrated with everything in the Microsoft ecosystem are the most valuable features."
"The self-service password reset feature is a very important aspect because it reduces the workload of other employees, and it's a very interesting and often-used feature."
"It is a stable product. You will experience some issues with it, but it's a good product."
"Microsoft integration products are strong. That is what I like about the product."
"I appreciate how Microsoft keeps adding new features to Microsoft Identity Manager."
 

Cons

"I find Google Cloud Identity and Access Management's pricing to be on the expensive side, rating it as seven out of ten. However, if the price could be made cheaper as more clients are included, it would be beneficial."
"I find Google Cloud Identity and Access Management's pricing to be on the expensive side"
"Microsoft Identity Manager could be improved in several areas."
"All actions require logging in to the server."
"The prices can always be improved, and the integration with the software from other vendors could use an improvement, especially if you are using something like Oracle for a database, SAP for ERP, or something like that."
"The security could be slightly improved."
"Microsoft Identity Manager has shown a strong focus on cloud solutions, but it could improve its support for legacy products and on-premise infrastructure. Legacy applications or solutions are often not fully supported, which can be a limitation for customers with existing on-premise setups. The emphasis on cloud-based solutions is beneficial for modernization as it is crucial to address customers' needs relying on legacy systems. Microsoft should address the gap in support for legacy products to ensure a more comprehensive and inclusive approach."
"In terms of the identity and access management solution for on-premises environment, I think Microsoft needs to eliminate or minimize the number of workloads for the solution to run in on-premises environment."
"The documentation could be better."
"I haven't explored it deeply enough to identify any areas for enhancement."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The prices can always be improved. I'd rate it a 4 out of 10 in terms of pricing."
"MIM is free with a Microsoft Azure license."
"The solution is included in the Microsoft E3 license and premium subscriptions of Azure AD."
"The solution is expensive."
"Microsoft Identity Manager comes with the premium or community license. If the customer doesn't have a premium license, the reseller who sells the licenses of Microsoft to the enterprise can extend the license for the client."
"The tool's price is low for my company."
"It is an expensive tool."
"When comparing the cost, Microsoft Identity Manager is the best solution because it is free if you have an Azure P2 license."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Government
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business13
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise11
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Cloud Identity and Access Management?
I find Google Cloud Identity and Access Management's pricing to be on the expensive side, rating it as seven out of ten. However, if the price could be made cheaper as more clients are included, it...
What needs improvement with Google Cloud Identity and Access Management?
As of now, I did not find anything that needs improvement. Google's solution started four years ago, and I've only been working more comprehensively with it for two years. It's not bad, it is actua...
What is your primary use case for Google Cloud Identity and Access Management?
We have a tool called CyberArk. From CyberArk, I take the link and open it from this solution. It links to AD, the domain controller, enabling us to connect to Google Cloud Platform.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Identity Manager?
Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing of Microsoft Identity Manager, it has a couple of cloud connectors that can sync directly with the O365 admin center, which is good enough, but Entra I...
What needs improvement with Microsoft Identity Manager?
Microsoft Identity Manager can be improved by integrating it with Entra ID as a SaaS application or by having a cloud-based connector, as it is currently limited to on-prem scenarios, and a combina...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Identity Manager?
The typical use case for Microsoft Identity Manager is to automate Active Directory, where it is responsible for onboarding new employees to on-premises AD or to the cloud based on certain criteria.
 

Also Known As

No data available
MIM, Forefront Identity Manager, FIM, MS Identity Manager
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

1. Atlassian2. Cisco3. Coca-Cola4. Dell5. Equinix6. GE7. Google8. IBM9. Intel10. JPMorgan Chase11. LinkedIn12. Microsoft13. Netflix14. Oracle15. PayPal16. SAP17. Siemens18. Spotify19. Tesla20. Toyota21. Twitter22. Visa23. Walt Disney24. WeWork25. World Bank26. Xerox27. Zynga
Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Whole Foods Market
Find out what your peers are saying about Google Cloud Identity and Access Management vs. Microsoft Identity Manager and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.