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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)
20th
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)
12th
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 July 2026, in the Identity Management (IM) category, the mindshare of Google Cloud Identity and Access Management is 0.9%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Identity Manager is 2.0%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Identity Management (IM) Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Identity Manager2.0%
Google Cloud Identity and Access Management0.9%
Other97.1%
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."
"Microsoft Identity Manager automates all identities and access on every target system efficiently and quickly."
"The product’s most valuable feature is stability."
"The feature that I find most valuable is the security layer of the identity and access management solution. The ability to secure on-premises and cloud-based workloads and to provide seamless authentication into hybrid workloads, which is also both on-premises and in cloud environments."
"MIM gives a high return on investment."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is the fact that I can use it to track who is sending which email, who is accessing which documents or which files, etc. These tools help me improve security within the enterprise environment."
"The tool's only feature that is generating value for us is the login process for our clients."
"What makes this solution attractive is the licensing model, as Microsoft Identity Manager is included in premium versions of Azure AD and in enterprise agreements such as E3, which makes the solution very attractive to many of our clients who are subscribed to those products."
"The synchronization tool is very powerful and when compared to other vendors the license fees are great - it comes free with the Windows Server license."
 

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."
"All actions require logging in to the server."
"This product was only launched two or three years ago and it is still in the process of becoming stable."
"It would be good if Microsoft Identity Manager Maybe could be integrated with Azure Active Directory directly and made as a cloud platform."
"I haven't explored it deeply enough to identify any areas for enhancement."
"The product could be more friendly for non-native English speakers. It would also be better if it were more intuitive and visually attractive."
"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."
"Some valuable features might go unused because they are not well-documented or connected clearly in user guides."
"It requires a lot of improvements. Microsoft is killing this product and migrating some of the features to Azure AD. The last version of this solution was 2016. If it is going to stay and integrate with Azure AD, its integration needs to be worked on in terms of connectors, etc. It doesn't seem that they are improving it alone. Microsoft wants to integrate it with Azure AD, but the integration is still not complete."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The solution is included in the Microsoft E3 license and premium subscriptions of Azure AD."
"When comparing the cost, Microsoft Identity Manager is the best solution because it is free if you have an Azure P2 license."
"My rating for the pricing of Microsoft Identity Manager is average, neither too expensive nor too cheap."
"The solution is expensive."
"The tool's price is low for my company."
"MIM is free with a Microsoft Azure license."
"The prices can always be improved. I'd rate it a 4 out of 10 in terms of pricing."
"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."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
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 could be improved in several areas. The solution uses a batching process that executes at scheduled times, which differs from other vendor solutions. It is missing capabi...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Identity Manager?
Microsoft Identity Manager is used primarily in the retail business. The implementation is enterprise-level within a national company, specifically at JCPenney, which is a large organization.
 

Also Known As

Google Identity and Access Management, Google Cloud IAM
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: June 2026.
902,988 professionals have used our research since 2012.