Okta Adaptive MFA vs UserLock: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
Okta Adaptive MFA is a commercial multi-factor authentication and single sign-on tool by Okta. UserLock is a commercial multi-factor authentication and single sign-on tool by IS Decisions. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best multi-factor authentication and single sign-on fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of NIST CSF 2.0 coverage, core features, company size fit, deployment model, here is our conclusion:
Mid-market and enterprise security teams replacing password-dependent SSO with phishing-resistant authentication will see the clearest ROI from Okta Adaptive MFA, especially those already on the Okta platform where FastPass and device posture checks integrate directly into existing workflows. NIST CSF 2.0 coverage of PR.AA and DE.CM means you get both strong identity controls and continuous device monitoring, which together actually prevent the account takeovers that traditional MFA leaves open. Skip this if your organization needs strict on-premises deployment or runs non-Okta identity infrastructure; you'll fight integration friction and lose the contextual policy enforcement that makes Adaptive MFA worth the switch.
SMB and mid-market teams managing on-premises or hybrid Active Directory environments need UserLock for context-aware access control that blocks compromised credentials even after MFA bypass. The tool maps directly to NIST PR.AA by enforcing device posture and location checks before granting logon, not just at initial authentication. Skip this if your infrastructure is cloud-native or you lack Active Directory as a core identity system; UserLock's value collapses without AD to anchor on.
