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Microsoft Entra External ID vs Microsoft Purview Compliance 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:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
4.0
Organizations saved time and costs with Microsoft Entra External ID, despite varied productivity impacts and integration learning curves.
Sentiment score
6.4
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager enhances ROI by reducing costs, process times, and improving security with no extra fees.
It has led to cost savings as well as time savings because I can use a single solution for all applications.
Associate Director Automation at Dubai Holding
Companies can leverage it for setting up external identities without needing to develop their own solutions.
Lead Enterprise Architect at DigyCorp
In terms of return on investment, prior to using this product, our company managed our own mail server with all internal authentication happening on premises, resulting in a ROI in the thousands every year.
Network Security Administrator at a retailer with 51-200 employees
The process is reduced from weeks to a day, showcasing a solid nine for return on investment.
Head of Technology Operations at Pobl Group
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
4.9
Microsoft Entra External ID support experiences are mixed, with praise for knowledgeable staff but concerns about continuity and accessibility.
Sentiment score
5.0
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager's support needs improvement with slow response times, inconsistent support, and insufficient training resources.
Companies without a Microsoft license for Entra ID or Azure portal cannot add Azure AD B2C, creating logistical issues for some of my clients who are unable to evaluate the platform.
Consultant at Artifield
The support for business applications, infrastructure support, and Entra has been mostly positive with highly skilled technicians.
Sales Manager - Program Manger at Altitudo srl
The documentation is very thorough, reducing the need for support.
Cloud Security Consultant at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Since I approach them with more complicated issues, it takes quite a bit of time to get through those two support tiers.
Senior security analyst at MB Cybermode
The support staff, who are often outsourced, seem not adequately equipped to handle issues quickly and efficiently.
Information Technology Auditor at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
The quality of support is affected because most support staff seem focused on obtaining five-star ratings rather than resolving problems thoroughly.
System Administrator at Templars
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.2
Microsoft Entra External ID offers scalability and flexibility but faces latency issues and lacks some authentication methods.
Sentiment score
6.8
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager offers scalable compliance management, adaptable to expanding needs, though policy granularity can sometimes be limited.
This is one of EID's weak points compared to Azure AD B2C, which offers customizable authentication options, including attribute and password combinations.
Consultant at Artifield
End-user workloads experience increased latency in a cloud environment compared to on-premises resources.
Director at iicon ltd
Microsoft Entra External ID is quite scalable, and I would rate its scalability between eight and nine out of ten.
Lead Enterprise Architect at DigyCorp
As services increase, eDiscovery capabilities also increase, allowing easy deployment.
Digital Forensic Investigator at Los Angeles Unified School District
It is straightforward since it scans everything, covering all aspects needed in our operations.
Head of Technology Operations at Pobl Group
While the solution is scalable in terms of user numbers, there are limitations when creating more granular level policies.
Information Technology Auditor at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
5.2
Microsoft Entra External ID is a stable SaaS, rated 8-10/10, with minimal downtime, reliable except for occasional external issues.
Sentiment score
7.8
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager is stable and reliable, though could improve in user-friendliness and competitiveness in eDiscovery tools.
I'd rate the stability of the Microsoft Entra External ID as a 10.
Director of Technology at a hospitality company with 51-200 employees
The stability of this solution is very good.
Associate Director Automation at Dubai Holding
I have not encountered any stability issues with Microsoft Entra External ID.
Lead Enterprise Architect at DigyCorp
Despite stability, it needs to be more user-friendly and competitive compared to other eDiscovery tools.
Digital Forensic Investigator at Los Angeles Unified School District
It is reliable and I can depend on it.
Head of Technology Operations at Pobl Group
In terms of latency, stability is not an issue.
Information Technology Auditor at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Entra External ID needs cost reduction, faster sync, better security, improved SSO, UI, integration, support, and pricing clarity.
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager requires better integration, automation, accessibility, and expanded functionality; users seek improved interface and budget-friendly licensing.
This is particularly challenging during enterprise agreement renewals, as it's difficult for customers to review costs leading to lengthy negotiations.
Sales Manager - Program Manger at Altitudo srl
Enhanced customizable login options and the ability to use attribute password logins are critical features that are required for Microsoft Entra External ID to gain dominance in the authentication market.
Consultant at Artifield
I would like to see a more detailed alert system that provides a summary of why alerts are generated, who is generating them, and the reasons behind it.
Cloud Security Consultant at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Copilot Security converts human language to search queries using its AdLM language model.
Digital Forensic Investigator at Los Angeles Unified School District
The speed and accessibility, particularly in the user interface, require significant work.
Senior security analyst at MB Cybermode
The Purview Compliance Portal's log management could be more user-friendly, making data retrieval, like email logs, challenging.
Information Technology Auditor at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Entra External ID pricing varies, cost-effective for some, expensive for others, challenging cloud transition impacts evaluation.
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager is cost-effective, especially for Microsoft 365 E5 users, offering competitive pricing with strong compliance benefits.
Regarding pricing, the cost seems high for single sign-on, especially for external applications like Oracle.
Associate Director Automation at Dubai Holding
Microsoft's pricing is complex and difficult to fathom due to a range of different licensing options.
Director at iicon ltd
The cost can be a factor for Microsoft Entra External ID, but in general, it offers a scalable and efficient solution compared to deploying individual solutions.
Lead Enterprise Architect at DigyCorp
I rate the pricing as a one since it is included in what I am already paying for, as part of the Microsoft 365 E5 licensing.
Head of Technology Operations at Pobl Group
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager is priced at 60% to 70% compared to some competitors.
Information Technology Auditor at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
It was not excessively expensive.
Systems Engineer at a leisure / travel company with 201-500 employees
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Entra External ID enhances security and efficiency by simplifying identity management and integration without on-premises infrastructure.
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager streamlines compliance with integrated tools, automation, and dashboards, enhancing security and efficiency across platforms.
It is crucial for hybrid environments, especially for integrating existing on-site infrastructures with cloud-based Active Directory, such as in Office 365 implementations.
Director at iicon ltd
EID unifies workforce users with external business partners, which is a very strong feature.
Consultant at Artifield
The detailed monitoring and reporting in Microsoft Entra External ID support compliance efforts effectively.
Manager, Identity & Access Management at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager's eDiscovery is essential for organizations using Outlook as their email service.
Digital Forensic Investigator at Los Angeles Unified School District
The most valuable feature is data classification retention since I deal with terabytes of data, and managing and monitoring it simplifies the process.
Head of Technology Operations at Pobl Group
The best aspect is that it requires little to no time for implementation if I am using all of Microsoft's tools.
Senior security analyst at MB Cybermode
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Entra External ID
Ranking in Microsoft Security Suite
16th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
5.7
Number of Reviews
17
Ranking in other categories
Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) (10th), Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) (5th)
Microsoft Purview Complianc...
Ranking in Microsoft Security Suite
24th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
10
Ranking in other categories
Data Governance (21st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2026, in the Microsoft Security Suite category, the mindshare of Microsoft Entra External ID is 1.8%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager is 1.7%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Microsoft Security Suite Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Entra External ID1.8%
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager1.7%
Other96.5%
Microsoft Security Suite
 

Featured Reviews

FS
Consultant at Artifield
Offers strong identity unification but needs better customization
Microsoft Entra External ID can be improved with additional features, specifically customizable flexibility and a customizable user interface for the login dialog. Currently, the login dialog has very limited customization options, which only include font styles, colors, text messages, or brand icons. Last month, Entra ID introduced some customizable features in their login dialog, but this does not apply to Microsoft Entra External ID, indicating a significant gap between the two. In theory, Entra External ID can support many external identity providers where custom login dialogs could be integrated, potentially via SSO feature coordination, although I have not yet confirmed this. Hence, enhanced customizable login options and the ability to use attribute password logins are critical features that are required for Microsoft Entra External ID to gain dominance in the authentication market.
reviewer2797275 - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems Engineer at a leisure / travel company with 201-500 employees
Compliance reporting has provided governance insights and now needs faster expert support access
I would rate Microsoft Support a six or seven on a scale of one to ten, depending on who you get. Microsoft could potentially improve by being able to reach the right people immediately instead of having to deal with lower-level support staff. As an enterprise customer, having that enterprise liaison is beneficial. I have a single point of contact for issues. Previously, when this was first set up without that liaison, calling support meant getting level one support who could not help, then level two support who also could not help, and finally reaching someone who could actually assist. Having a designated Microsoft representative or support person is definitely key.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
14%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Outsourcing Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Computer Software Company
8%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise6
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise4
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Entra External ID?
Microsoft is flexible in the pricing for the product, so I cannot say that it is expensive, but definitely they are flexible in the price lists and their ways of doing payments.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Entra External ID?
Not really at the moment, but perhaps when we go deeper into using Microsoft Entra External ID, we may experience some things we may not prefer. However, up to now, we have not encountered anything...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Entra External ID?
When I say identity, I mean Microsoft Entra External ID. We have been using Microsoft Entra External ID since the beginning of 2022. I am using it as a client. The purposes for using Microsoft Entr...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager?
The pricing and setup cost is comparable to everything else that would be available regarding licensing. It was not excessively expensive. It is another expense to manage, but paying for the soluti...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager?
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager is used for governance and checking to ensure that what is being put out there is correct and is not violating any corporate policies. We use it for data classi...
What advice do you have for others considering Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager?
I have experience with IronScales by chance or other similar products. It was not purchased through AWS Marketplace but was purchased through a vendor. We do deal with Intune with Microsoft. I have...
 

Also Known As

Azure Active Directory External Identities
Microsoft Compliance Manager
 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Entra External ID vs. Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.
902,894 professionals have used our research since 2012.