Identity Governance Platforms -- CyberArk Alternatives

Identity Governance Alternatives to CyberArk for Access Management

Identity governance platforms focus on managing the full lifecycle of digital identities, governing access across applications, and ensuring compliance through certifications and policy enforcement. While CyberArk has expanded beyond PAM into broader identity security, dedicated identity governance platforms like SailPoint and One Identity offer deeper capabilities for access certification, role management, and identity lifecycle automation. These solutions are often deployed alongside PAM but can serve as the primary platform when governance is the primary driver.

Our Recommendations

1

SailPoint

Custom enterprise pricing

Market-leading identity governance platform with AI-driven access recommendations, comprehensive certification workflows, and the broadest application connector library. Best when identity governance is the primary requirement.

2

One Identity

Custom enterprise pricing

Best for organizations wanting unified PAM and identity governance from a single vendor. Its combination of Safeguard (PAM) and Identity Manager (IGA) provides a cohesive platform for both privileged and standard access management.

3

Delinea

From $10,000/year (Secret Server) / Custom enterprise

Best for organizations that need PAM-first capabilities with growing governance features. Delinea bridges the gap between traditional PAM and identity governance, particularly with its privilege behavior analytics and access request workflows.

Detailed Tool Profiles

One Identity

PAM & Identity
4

Unified identity security platform with PAM and governance

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing

Best For

Organizations needing unified identity governance and privileged access management

Key Features
Safeguard privileged access suiteIdentity Manager for IGAActive Directory account managementPrivileged session recording+4 more
Pros
  • +Strong integration of PAM with identity governance
  • +Comprehensive Active Directory management
  • +Unified platform across identity disciplines
Cons
  • Less PAM depth than dedicated PAM vendors
  • Complex licensing across product lines
  • Smaller market share and community
CloudSelf-Hosted

SailPoint

Identity Governance
4.2

AI-driven identity governance and administration platform

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing

Best For

Enterprises needing comprehensive identity governance and access certification

Key Features
AI-driven access recommendationsAutomated access certificationsIdentity lifecycle managementRole mining and modeling+4 more
Pros
  • +Market-leading identity governance capabilities
  • +AI-powered access insights and recommendations
  • +Broad application connector library
Cons
  • Not a PAM solution - limited privileged access features
  • Expensive for smaller organizations
  • Complex implementation for full deployment
CloudSelf-Hosted

Delinea

PAM & Identity
4.2

Cloud-ready PAM platform built on Secret Server and privilege management

Pricing

From $10,000/year (Secret Server) / Custom enterprise

Best For

Organizations wanting a faster PAM deployment with lower complexity

Key Features
Secret Server credential vaultingServer Suite for privilege elevationCloud-native PAM (Platform)Privilege behavior analytics+4 more
Pros
  • +Faster and simpler deployment than legacy PAM
  • +Competitive pricing for mid-market organizations
  • +Intuitive Secret Server interface
Cons
  • Still integrating products post-merger
  • Less mature cloud offering than CyberArk Privilege Cloud
  • Smaller ecosystem of third-party integrations
CloudSelf-Hosted

CyberArk Alternatives Feature Comparison

Compare all 3 CyberArk alternatives side-by-side across pricing, deployment, and key capabilities.

Feature
One Identity
4/5
SailPoint
4.2/5
Delinea
4.2/5
Pricing ModelPer-user subscription + modulesPer-identity subscriptionPer-user or per-server licensing
Open Source------
Cloud-Hosted+++
Self-Hosted+++
Best ForOrganizations needing unified identity governance and privileged access managementEnterprises needing comprehensive identity governance and access certificationOrganizations wanting a faster PAM deployment with lower complexity
Key Features
  • Safeguard privileged access suite
  • Identity Manager for IGA
  • Active Directory account management
  • Privileged session recording
  • AI-driven access recommendations
  • Automated access certifications
  • Identity lifecycle management
  • Role mining and modeling
  • Secret Server credential vaulting
  • Server Suite for privilege elevation
  • Cloud-native PAM (Platform)
  • Privilege behavior analytics
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Identity Governance Platforms FAQ

Do I need identity governance in addition to CyberArk PAM?

Many enterprises benefit from both. CyberArk manages privileged access specifically, while identity governance platforms like SailPoint manage all identities, access certifications, and lifecycle events across the entire organization. If you need to govern access for all users (not just privileged accounts), enforce separation of duties, and automate access certifications, an identity governance platform complements CyberArk PAM.

Can SailPoint replace CyberArk?

SailPoint does not replace CyberArk for privileged access management. SailPoint excels at identity governance, access certification, and lifecycle management, but it does not provide credential vaulting, session management, or direct privileged access controls. Many enterprises deploy SailPoint for governance and CyberArk for PAM. However, if your primary need is governance rather than privileged access control, SailPoint may be the right primary platform.

How does One Identity compare for organizations that want both PAM and governance?

One Identity offers a unique advantage by providing both PAM (via Safeguard) and identity governance (via Identity Manager) from a single vendor. This can simplify procurement, reduce integration effort, and provide unified reporting. However, each individual component may not be as deep as best-of-breed solutions like CyberArk for PAM or SailPoint for governance.

Is identity governance or PAM more important to implement first?

The answer depends on your risk profile. If your biggest risk is privileged account compromise, start with PAM (CyberArk, BeyondTrust, or Delinea). If your biggest challenge is excessive access, lack of visibility into who has access to what, or compliance-driven access reviews, start with identity governance (SailPoint or One Identity). Many security frameworks recommend implementing PAM first due to the outsized risk of privileged accounts.

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