Microsoft Entra ID vs Netwrix Auditor comparison

Microsoft and Netwrix are both solutions in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category. Microsoft is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.7, while Netwrix is ranked #19 with an average rating of 9.0. Microsoft holds a 27.7% mindshare in IAMS, compared to Netwrix’s 0.4% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Netwrix users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Entra ID

Read 234 Microsoft Entra ID reviews

8,927 Views
2,402 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Netwrix Auditor

Read 7 Netwrix Auditor reviews

127 Views
16 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Entra ID

Netwrix Auditor

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 2, 2024

Microsoft Entra ID and Netwrix Auditor compete in the security and access management category. Entra ID holds an edge with its integration and authentication features, while Netwrix Auditor excels in auditing and compliance.

Features: Microsoft Entra ID provides centralized management, single sign-on, and multi-factor authentication, ensuring robust security and seamless access control. Netwrix Auditor focuses on detailed auditing, offering extensive monitoring of admin activities and automated alerts for unauthorized access.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Entra ID can improve market penetration of its authenticator, offer better documentation, and enhance support for legacy systems. Netwrix Auditor could expand its features by integrating DNS and DSTP within the active directory license for improved user experience across different server types.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Entra ID is suitable for large-scale deployments with its scalability across public and hybrid clouds, although support experiences vary. Netwrix Auditor provides consistent support but could improve responsiveness and resource availability. Entra ID has a steeper learning curve due to its wide feature set, while Netwrix's setup aligns with stability.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Entra ID's flexible subscription model integrates with Microsoft 365, offering ROI through reduced manual interventions. However, simpler licensing and cost concerns exist for advanced features. Netwrix Auditor offers cost-effective pricing for detailed auditing, with direct purchase benefits focusing on cost savings.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Entra ID vs. Netwrix Auditor Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra ID vs. Netwrix Auditor

June 2025

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Helped 857,585 peers since 2012

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

Microsoft Entra ID

Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

1st

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

234

Ranking in other categories

Single Sign-On (SSO) (1st), Authentication Systems (1st), Identity Management (IM) (2nd), Access Management (1st), Microsoft Security Suite (2nd)

Netwrix Auditor

Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

19th

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

GRC (10th), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) (31st), Active Directory Management (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Entra ID is 27.7%, down from 28.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Netwrix Auditor is 0.4%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

Featured Reviews

Bahram Piri

Chief Executive Officer & Founder at IDmelon Technologies

Security focus and seamless implementation increase platform productivity

Microsoft Entra ID can be improved in many ways, and there's a big wish list.If we're focusing on security, something that I definitely expect is improvement in the UI and UX for frontline workers. This is important, especially for non-tech savvy individuals. It is something Microsoft Entra ID could do to improve for a wider audience. It's important to focus on the frontline workers since they are non-tech savvy individuals. They are not like those back-office engineering C-level employees who are constantly dealing with computers, and we need to build a specific user experience and user interface for them to handle this stuff. That's something I expect Microsoft to focus on more for Microsoft Entra ID.

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Mohamed Tantawy

IT Technical Support Deputy General Manager at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Can track every admin action in large environments and includes AI modules to detect and prevent unauthorized changes

The initial setup of Netwrix Auditor was straightforward. Some functions require agents while others are agentless, simplifying implementation. It consumed minimal server and client resources, and the wizard-based console made it simple to deploy with the help of architectural teams. All required ports were in place, and they covered all critical services and databases effectively. I would rate the easiness of the initial setup as a nine out of ten. The deployment of Netwrix Auditor took around three weeks, mainly due to the preparation of the environment and servers. The deployment process involved actions such as preparing virtual servers and building databases. Once deployed, it took only about a week to complete. Third-party consultants assisted us with deployment. Only one or two engineers were needed for deployment and maintenance, which could be handled remotely with minimal complexity.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The best feature of Microsoft Entra ID is that it provides more granular control over user identities."

"The portal version of the Azure active directory is pretty robust."

"A use case that we did for an end user in a manufacturing organization: We used WVD with biometric authentication because 1,500 processes need to happen in a process. The user didn't want to use a login using their credentials. They wanted to use fingerprinting or tap their ID. That is where we integrated with the authentication. Now, they can process in a couple of hours, and they run those 1,500 processes every day. This changed their login process, which improved the manufacturing process. This helped a lot for their high deployment."

"Microsoft Azure AD is easy to install and is a stable solution."

"It enhanced our end user experience quite a bit. Instead of the days of having to contact the service desk with challenges for choosing their password, users can go in and do it themselves locally, regardless of where they are in the world. This has certainly made it a better experience accessing their applications. Previously, a lot of times, they had to remember multiple usernames and passwords for different systems. This solution brings it all together, using a single sign-on experience."

"We haven't implemented permission identity management, but we plan to use it. Entitlement management and dynamic grouping of Microsoft 365 groups are features I enjoy. From an administrative perspective, we can now manage users from a single pane of glass, which enhances efficiency. MFA will improve the user experience and increase organizational efficiency."

"I like Intune's MDM and MI."

"The most valuable feature for me is enterprise applications. This functionality allows the building of applications that are tied into APIs that we can grant specific permissions and limit the scope of access."

More Microsoft Entra ID pros

"What I find the most valuable about Netwrix Auditor is the way it shows risk. The reports are very clear."

"The most valuable features of Netwrix Auditor are its affordability compared to similar products and its comprehensive monitoring of admin activities."

"Netwrix provides features that no other solution on the market does."

"I am impressed with the tool's reporting feature and notifications."

"The most valuable feature is the real-time monitoring."

"I have found user behavior analysis and the ability to run risk assessments important features. Additionally, the interface and online documentation are very good."

"It maintains audit logs for the duration of time that you wish, as long as you have the storage capacity to do so."

Cons

"They can combine conditional access for user actions and application filtering. Currently, they are separated, and we cannot mix the two. I do not know how it would be possible, but it would be interesting."

"Compared to what we can do on-prem, Azure AD lacks a feature for multiple hierarchical groups. For example, Group A is part of group B. Group B is part of group C. Then, if I put someone into group A, which is part of already B, they get access to any system that group B has access to, and that provisioning is automatically there."

"Its integration with open-source applications can be improved. I know that they are working on open-source authentication methods for integration with open-source applications, but they can make it more open."

"The documentation, and the way that people are notified of updates, are things that can be improved. I'm a big fan of Microsoft products but the way they document is not that great."

"The transition from on-prem Active Directory to the Azure Cloud was difficult because there aren't group policy objectives. This is handled differently in the Azure cloud environment."

"I want better integration between Azure AD and the on-prem environment because there are currently limitations that can hamper employee experience. We use a feature called password writeback, that can be challenging to implement in a hybrid environment. Employees can change their passwords using a self-service password reset (SSPR) feature, which reflects from the cloud to the on-prem identity, but not the other way around. Currently, there is no way to reflect passwords from on-prem identities to the cloud."

"Entra ID needs to improve its application credentials and use of ID permissions. There are challenges with the management layer. We want to create access down to the Graph level while invoking some management logic. That also means that if an application comes in, we cannot send that to the Graph because we would need an ID on behalf of the cloud hook."

"Microsoft Entra ID's impact on access and identity management is relatively limited."

More Microsoft Entra ID cons

"If you buy direct, there is a minimum of 150 licenses that must be procured. The price point and barrier of entry is a little bit higher than it would be if you purchased the solution from an authorized reseller partner, rather than buying it and managing yourself."

"There is room for improvements when it comes to the licensing."

"The solution lacks self-service on password reset. It also needs to improve its scalability."

"When there are issues I would like remediation to be in one place."

"There is room for improvement with the introduction of AI functionality."

"I expect usability features to become more refined over time. I'm interested to see how it evolves and continues to improve."

"The Linux compatibility of this solution could be improved."

"An improvement would be if there was an another way to manage the logs besides email because it's not so practical."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"As a nonprofit, we have A5 licenses for nonprofits in education, so we at least have some reduced costs."

"Azure AD comes with Office 365, so we are just paying for the Office 365 license."

"The price is good, and we have no complaints."

"Licensing fees are paid on a monthly basis and the cost depends on the number of users."

"I would advise implementing the solution to VIPs and admins; it's affordable, effective, and efficient. I would say training staff on properly using the tool is also essential."

"We are working with the Premium P2 licenses, which are reasonable. If you invest in the on-premises environment setup, then it costs so much. However, on-prem AD gives you the ability to manage your organization in a very organized manner, where you can create a group policy."

"If you're on Azure, it can be free or it's incorporated, at no extra cost, or it can become extremely complicated."

"The licensing cost is a bit prohibitive."

More Microsoft Entra ID pricing and cost advice

"The tool's price is fair."

"This solution is reasonably priced. I would rate it a nine out of ten."

"There is a license for this solution and we are on an annual license. The price is reasonable."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

19%

Computer Software Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

How does Duo Security compare with Microsoft Authenticator?

We switched to Duo Security for identity verification. We’d been using a competitor but got the chance to evaluate Duo for 30 days, and we could not be happier. Duo Security is easy to configure a...

See all answers

What do you like most about Azure Active Directory?

It is very simple. The Active Directory functions are very easy for us. Its integration with anything is very easy. We can easily do third-party multifactor authentication.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Active Directory?

Our experience with the pricing, setup costs, and licensing of Microsoft Entra ID involves leveraging Microsoft 365 E5 licensing, so it's included. Being included in Microsoft licensing makes it mu...

See all answers

What do you like most about Netwrix Auditor?

The most valuable features of Netwrix Auditor are its affordability compared to similar products and its comprehensive monitoring of admin activities.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Netwrix Auditor?

The pricing of Netwrix Auditor varies based on the number of users and devices in our environment, but it is generally very cost-effective compared to other solutions. We don't pay for licenses sep...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Netwrix Auditor?

The solution currently meets my needs, but there is room for improvement with the introduction of AI functionality as suggested by the vendor. Additionally, expanding capabilities like database act...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 11% of the time

Microsoft Intune vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 9% of the time

Okta Workforce Identity vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 7% of the time

Auth0 vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 5% of the time

Amazon Cognito vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 5% of the time

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Quest Change Auditor for Active Directory vs Netwrix Auditor

Compared 19% of the time

ManageEngine ADAudit Plus vs Netwrix Auditor

Compared 14% of the time

Lepide vs Netwrix Auditor

Compared 13% of the time

SolarWinds Access Rights Manager vs Netwrix Auditor

Compared 12% of the time

Wazuh vs Netwrix Auditor

Compared 9% of the time

More Netwrix Auditor Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra ID

May 2025

Download Microsoft Entra ID product report

Buyer's Guide

Netwrix Auditor

May 2025

Download Netwrix Auditor product report

Also Known As

Azure AD, Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Authenticator

No data available

Interactive Demo

Microsoft

Demo not available

Netwrix

Overview

Microsoft Entra ID is used for extending on-premises Active Directory to the cloud, managing application access, enabling multi-factor authentication, and single sign-on. It facilitates policy enforcement and secure access, ensuring centralized identity management across cloud and on-premises resources.

Organizations utilize Microsoft Entra ID for robust user and group management, identity synchronization, and conditional access. Its seamless integration with third-party apps, scalability, and support for remote work make it a preferred choice. The admin center streamlines identity and access tasks, enhancing efficiency and security with features like privileged identity management and audit logs.

What are the key features of Microsoft Entra ID?

Single Sign-On: Simplifies user access to multiple applications with one login.
Multifactor Authentication: Enhances security by requiring additional verification.
Conditional Access: Establishes policies that determine how users' access cloud apps.
Integration: Easily integrates with various third-party applications.
User Identity Protection: Safeguards user identities from threats.
Privileged Identity Management: Manages elevated access to sensitive resources.
Audit Logs: Provides thorough activity logs for oversight and compliance.

What benefits should users look for in Microsoft Entra ID reviews?

Enhanced Security: Offers strong multifactor authentication and identity protection.
Administrative Efficiency: Simplifies identity and access management tasks.
Scalability: Supports growing user bases and remote work environments.
Integration Capabilities: Compatible with numerous third-party applications.
User-Friendly Interface: Makes managing user identities straightforward.

Microsoft Entra ID implementation varies across industries. Tech firms leverage it for secure, scalable access management, while healthcare organizations utilize its identity protection features to safeguard patient data. Educational institutions adopt Entra ID for streamlined user management and policy enforcement, ensuring secure access for students and staff across on-premises and cloud resources.

Microsoft

Netwrix Auditor is a security-focused solution that monitors IT environments by tracking changes, ensuring compliance, and enhancing visibility into user activities. It offers detailed auditing, real-time alerts, and robust reporting tools. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive features boost efficiency, productivity, and organizational growth.

Netwrix

Sample Customers

Microsoft Entre ID is trusted by companies of all sizes and industries including Walmart, Zscaler, Uniper, Amtrak, monday.com, and more.

AT&T, SanDisk, Siemens, Verizon, Electrolux, Allianz, Societe Generale

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra ID vs. Netwrix Auditor

June 2025

Free Report: Microsoft Entra ID vs. Netwrix Auditor

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Entra ID vs. Netwrix Auditor and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

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