Amazon Cognito vs Firebase Authentication: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Amazon Cognito and Firebase Authentication. Both services provide user authentication and management capabilities, but they have some distinct features and functionalities.

1. Integration with Cloud Services: Amazon Cognito is tightly integrated with other AWS services, allowing seamless access control and authorization for other cloud resources. On the other hand, Firebase Authentication is specifically designed for Firebase, offering easy integration with other Firebase services and features.

2. Scalability and Performance: Amazon Cognito is highly scalable and designed to handle millions of users, making it suitable for enterprise-level applications. Firebase Authentication also offers scalability but is primarily focused on mobile and web applications with a smaller user base.

3. Multi-Factor Authentication: Both Amazon Cognito and Firebase Authentication support multi-factor authentication, providing an extra layer of security. However, Firebase Authentication allows developers to use custom SMS providers, while Amazon Cognito only supports SMS verification through Amazon SNS.

4. User Management Capabilities: Amazon Cognito provides a range of user management capabilities, such as user registration, login, and account recovery. It also offers user profile customization and user attribute synchronization with other services. Firebase Authentication offers similar user management features but provides additional functionalities like user roles and permissions.

5. Authentication Providers: Amazon Cognito supports various authentication providers, including social media platforms like Facebook, Google, and Amazon. Firebase Authentication also offers social login capabilities, but it has a broader range of supported providers, including email/password, phone number, and even anonymous authentication.

6. Pricing Structure: Both services offer free tiers with limited usage, but their pricing structures differ. Amazon Cognito pricing is based on a pay-per-use model, charging for monthly active users and additional requests. Firebase Authentication offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where pricing is based on the number of user authentications and monthly active users.

In summary, Amazon Cognito offers greater integration with AWS services, scalability for enterprise applications, and customizable user attributes, while Firebase Authentication provides more diverse authentication providers, user roles, and a pricing structure based on user authentications.