Which CIAM Handles Passwordless And Passkeys: Complete Top 5
Passwordless authentication is becoming an important capability in customer identity and access management (CIAM). Instead of asking customers to remember and enter passwords, modern CIAM platforms can authenticate users through passkeys, WebAuthn, biometrics, security keys, email links, one-time codes, or other passwordless methods.
Among these approaches, passkeys are particularly important because they use public-key cryptography and the WebAuthn standard to provide phishing-resistant authentication without requiring users to remember a password.
But which CIAM platforms actually support passwordless authentication and passkeys?
Several leading platforms now provide passkey capabilities, including Auth0, Okta, Microsoft Entra External ID, Amazon Cognito, and PingOne for Customers. However, their implementation models, supported authentication flows, configuration requirements, and customer-management capabilities differ.
This guide compares these CIAM platforms and explains what to look for when choosing a passwordless CIAM solution.
What Is Passwordless Authentication in CIAM?
Passwordless authentication means authenticating a customer without requiring a traditional password.
The term covers several authentication methods. These can include:
- Passkeys
- WebAuthn credentials
- Security keys
- Biometrics
- Email authentication
- Magic links
- One-time passwords
- Mobile push authentication
Not every passwordless method provides the same security properties.
For example, an email or SMS one-time code removes the need for a password, but it still depends on a secret being transmitted through another channel. Passkeys use public-key cryptography instead. The private key remains with the authenticator while the CIAM platform stores the corresponding public key.
Auth0 describes passwordless authentication as an approach that can use devices, biometrics, one-time codes, and other mechanisms instead of passwords. Its documentation also distinguishes WebAuthn and passkeys as cryptographic approaches to passwordless authentication.
For organizations evaluating CIAM, this distinction matters. A platform advertising “passwordless authentication” does not necessarily mean that it provides passkeys.
What Are Passkeys?
Passkeys are credentials based on the Web Authentication API, commonly known as WebAuthn, and the broader FIDO authentication ecosystem.
During registration, an authenticator creates a cryptographic key pair. The private key stays with the user’s authenticator, while the service receives the public key.
During authentication, the service sends a challenge to the user’s device. The authenticator signs the challenge, and the CIAM platform verifies the response using the registered public key.
This approach means that the user does not have to send a password to the CIAM platform.
Passkeys can also support user verification through a device PIN, fingerprint, facial recognition, or another local mechanism. Depending on the implementation, passkeys can be synchronized across a user’s devices or bound to a particular authenticator.
Okta, for example, describes passkeys as discoverable WebAuthn credentials based on the FIDO2 Web Authentication standard and distinguishes synchronized, multi-device passkeys from credentials bound to a single authenticator.
Passwordless Authentication vs. Passkeys
These terms are related but should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Passwordless authentication | Any authentication approach that does not require a traditional password |
| WebAuthn | A web standard for public-key authentication |
| FIDO2 | A set of specifications supporting strong, phishing-resistant authentication |
| Passkey | A user-friendly WebAuthn credential designed for passwordless sign-in |
| MFA | An authentication requirement involving multiple factors |
A CIAM platform can therefore support passwordless authentication without necessarily supporting passkeys.
For a modern customer identity deployment, it is useful to ask specifically:
Does the CIAM platform support passkeys through WebAuthn/FIDO2, or does “passwordless” only mean email, SMS, OTP, or magic-link authentication?
Which CIAM Platforms Support Passwordless Authentication and Passkeys?
The following platforms have documented capabilities relevant to passwordless authentication and passkeys.
| CIAM platform | Passwordless authentication | Passkeys / WebAuthn | Important implementation detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auth0 | Yes | Yes | Passkeys are available through Auth0 authentication flows and Universal Login |
| Okta Customer Identity | Yes | Yes | Passkey authentication is implemented through the Passkey (FIDO2 WebAuthn) authenticator |
| Microsoft Entra External ID | Yes | Yes | External tenants support passkeys for passwordless sign-in and MFA |
| Amazon Cognito | Yes | Yes | User pools support WebAuthn passkeys alongside other authentication methods |
| PingOne for Customers | Yes | Yes / passwordless workflows | Ping provides customer passwordless solutions and configurable authentication flows |
The exact capabilities available can depend on the product edition, authentication flow, application type, deployment model, and current product configuration.
Auth0
Auth0 supports passwordless authentication and passkeys.
Auth0 documents passwordless authentication methods including email and SMS, while its passkey capabilities are based on FIDO and W3C WebAuthn specifications.
Auth0 also announced general availability for passkeys in the Okta Customer Identity Cloud in January 2024.
The implementation has some configuration requirements. Auth0’s current documentation describes passkey support through its Universal Login experience and database connections. Its documentation also identifies requirements such as the Identifier First login flow and the newer Universal Login experience.
This makes Auth0 a relevant option for organizations that want to introduce passkeys while continuing to support other customer authentication methods.
Okta Customer Identity
Okta supports WebAuthn-based passkey authentication.
Okta’s documentation describes the Passkey (FIDO2 WebAuthn) authenticator as a way to provide phishing-resistant, passwordless authentication. Developers can integrate WebAuthn authentication into applications using Okta’s embedded SDK.
Okta also documents passkey configuration for applications using its authentication policies. Passkeys can be used across devices and operating-system platforms, depending on the credential and authenticator configuration.
An important implementation consideration is the Relying Party ID (RP ID). Passkeys are cryptographically associated with a domain, so organizations operating multiple domains need to plan their domain and authentication architecture carefully. Okta documents approaches for using passkeys across multiple domains through a unified RP ID and related configuration.
Microsoft Entra External ID
Microsoft provides CIAM functionality through Microsoft Entra External ID.
Microsoft describes External ID as its CIAM solution for applications serving consumer and business customers. It provides capabilities such as customer registration, customized sign-in experiences, and customer account management.
External tenants support Passkey (FIDO2) authentication. Microsoft documents two relevant scenarios:
- Passwordless sign-in, where the passkey completes the primary authentication.
- Passkey-based MFA, where the customer first signs in with a password and then uses the passkey as the additional authentication method.
Microsoft’s documentation also notes that passkey registration in external tenants has specific requirements, including a custom URL domain and completion of MFA before registration.
This distinction is important for CIAM teams because supporting passkeys is not simply a matter of enabling a switch. The customer journey, domain configuration, registration flow, and existing authentication model all need to be considered.
Amazon Cognito
Amazon Web Services Amazon Cognito supports both password-based authentication and WebAuthn passkeys.
AWS documentation states that Amazon Cognito user pools can authenticate users with passwords and WebAuthn passkeys, as well as other authentication mechanisms such as email or SMS one-time passwords.
AWS describes passkeys as being based on WebAuthn and CTAP2 standards. During registration, the authenticator creates a public-private key pair, with the private key remaining with the authenticator while the application backend receives the public key.
For development teams already building on AWS, Cognito can therefore provide passwordless and passkey authentication within the broader AWS ecosystem.
The important consideration is that Cognito is primarily a developer-oriented identity service. Teams should evaluate how its authentication capabilities fit their broader CIAM requirements, including customer profile management, user journeys, recovery, federation, customization, and application architecture.
PingOne for Customers
Ping Identity provides passwordless capabilities through PingOne for Customers.
Ping’s documentation describes a PingOne for Customers Passwordless solution that can provide passwordless options for account creation, sign-on, profile management, and account recovery. It uses pre-built DaVinci flows that organizations can configure and adapt.
PingOne also supports passwordless authentication policies using mechanisms such as one-time passcodes and mobile push.
This illustrates an important point about CIAM evaluation: “passwordless” can cover a broader set of customer journeys than passkey authentication alone.
Organizations considering PingOne should therefore examine the specific passwordless method they need, including whether their desired customer journey is based on passkeys, OTPs, push authentication, or a combination of methods.
How Passkeys Work in a CIAM Architecture
A typical passkey authentication flow contains several stages.
1. Customer registration
The customer creates or links a passkey to their account.
The authenticator generates the credential, and the CIAM system stores the public-key information needed for future authentication.
2. Authentication request
When the customer returns, the application starts an authentication request.
The CIAM platform generates a challenge and sends the required information to the client.
3. User verification
The customer’s device or authenticator verifies the user.
This may involve:
- Fingerprint recognition
- Face recognition
- Device PIN
- Security key
- Another supported local verification mechanism
The biometric itself is generally handled locally by the authenticator rather than sent to the CIAM service.
4. Cryptographic verification
The authenticator signs the challenge using the private key. The CIAM platform validates the signature using the corresponding public key.
5. Token and session issuance
After successful authentication, the identity platform completes the application authentication flow and issues the appropriate tokens or establishes the application session.
This architecture allows the application to authenticate the customer without receiving or storing a traditional password for the passkey authentication event.
What Should You Look for in a Passwordless CIAM?
Supporting passkeys is only one part of a CIAM implementation.
Before selecting a platform, evaluate the complete customer identity lifecycle.
Passkey support
Confirm that the platform supports actual WebAuthn/FIDO2 passkeys rather than only email or SMS passwordless authentication.
Authentication flexibility
Customers may have different devices and preferences. Check whether the platform supports combinations of:
- Passkeys
- Passwords
- Social login
- Enterprise federation
- Email authentication
- SMS
- MFA
- Security keys
Account recovery
Recovery deserves particular attention.
A customer who loses access to a device still needs a secure way to regain access. The CIAM platform should provide recovery and re-enrollment mechanisms that do not undermine the security benefits of passwordless authentication.
Domain and application support
Passkeys depend on domain-related configuration such as the WebAuthn Relying Party ID.
Organizations with multiple customer-facing domains should verify how the CIAM platform handles domains, subdomains, mobile applications, and related authentication journeys.
Okta, for example, explicitly documents RP ID configuration for passkeys across multiple domains.
Developer integration
Look at the SDKs, APIs, hosted login experiences, redirect flows, and customization options available to your development team.
A technically capable passkey implementation may still be difficult to deploy if it does not fit your application’s architecture.
Customer experience
Passkey adoption depends heavily on the sign-up and sign-in experience.
Consider:
- How customers discover passkeys
- How registration is explained
- How authentication works on new devices
- How users add additional passkeys
- What happens when a passkey is unavailable
- How account recovery works
Common CIAM Passkey Implementation Challenges
Legacy authentication
Many existing applications still depend on usernames and passwords.
A passkey rollout therefore does not necessarily mean removing passwords immediately. Organizations may need a transition period in which customers can use both traditional and passwordless authentication.
Auth0, for example, documents configurations where a customer account can have both a passkey and password.
Account recovery
Passwordless authentication changes the recovery model.
If a customer loses a device, deletes a credential, or cannot access a synchronized passkey, the recovery process must establish sufficient confidence in the customer’s identity without simply creating a weaker authentication path.
Multiple devices
Customers increasingly use several devices.
A CIAM implementation should account for the difference between synchronized passkeys and device-bound credentials and determine how customers can register additional authenticators.
Multiple domains
Organizations with multiple websites or brands should consider the relationship between their domains and passkey credentials before deployment.
Passkeys are associated with a relying-party domain, which makes domain architecture an important technical consideration.
Migration
Moving an existing customer base from passwords to passkeys requires more than enabling WebAuthn.
A migration strategy may include:
- Continue supporting existing passwords.
- Introduce passkeys during sign-in or account management.
- Allow customers to register a passkey.
- Provide secure recovery.
- Monitor adoption and authentication failures.
- Gradually reduce dependence on passwords where appropriate.
CIAM Passkeys Comparison: What the Differences Mean
The major CIAM platforms now provide documented paths toward passwordless authentication and passkeys, but they approach the problem differently.
Auth0 provides passwordless authentication and passkey capabilities within its developer-focused authentication platform, with documented Universal Login and configuration requirements.
Okta provides passkeys through its Passkey (FIDO2 WebAuthn) authenticator and supports policy-based authentication configuration and WebAuthn integration.
Microsoft Entra External ID provides customer-focused CIAM capabilities and supports passkeys for both passwordless sign-in and MFA scenarios in external tenants.
Amazon Cognito supports WebAuthn passkeys alongside passwords and other authentication flows in user pools, making it particularly relevant for applications already using AWS infrastructure.
PingOne for Customers provides configurable passwordless customer journeys, including account creation, sign-on, profile management, and recovery through its passwordless solution and DaVinci flows.
The practical choice therefore depends on more than whether a product has a “passkeys” feature.
How to Choose a CIAM for Passwordless Authentication
A useful evaluation process is to start with the customer journey rather than the vendor feature list.
Ask these questions:
- Do we need true passkey authentication or another passwordless method?
- Do we need WebAuthn/FIDO2 support?
- Do we need passwordless authentication for web, mobile, or both?
- Do customers need both passwords and passkeys during migration?
- How will account recovery work?
- How will customers register additional devices?
- How many domains and applications will use the identity system?
- What SDKs and APIs does our development team need?
- How much customization is required for the sign-in experience?
- How will the organization manage authentication policies and security controls?
Answering these questions can narrow the CIAM options much more effectively than simply comparing feature counts.
Conclusion
Passwordless authentication is now available across several major CIAM platforms, but passwordless does not automatically mean passkey support.
For organizations specifically looking for passkeys, platforms such as Auth0, Okta, Microsoft Entra External ID, and Amazon Cognito have documented support for WebAuthn-based passkey authentication. PingOne for Customers also provides documented passwordless customer journeys and configurable authentication flows.
The more important question is how each platform implements those capabilities.
A CIAM evaluation should therefore consider passkey support alongside authentication policies, account recovery, domain configuration, developer integration, migration requirements, customer experience, and the other identity services required by the application.
For teams moving away from passwords, passkeys can become one component of a broader CIAM strategy rather than a standalone authentication feature.
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