IBM Verify vs Shibboleth
IBM Verify
ibm.comShibboleth
shibboleth.netSide by side
| Figure | IBM Verify | Shibboleth |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1,324.94/mo | $279.50/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 10 |
| Spec score · Single Sign-On Software | 8.6 (#8) | 7.8 (#21) |
| Founded | 1911 | 2000 |
| Purpose | IBM Verify is an identity and access management platform for securing human and non-human identities across web, mobile and hybrid enterprise environments. | Shibboleth provides identity management software for individual organisations and multi-site federations. |
Plans
Shibboleth
- Shibboleth softwareFree
- Academic/Non-Profit Small$3,354 a year
- Academic/Non-Profit Medium$6,707 a year
- Commercial Small$6,707 a year
- Academic/Non-Profit Large$10,061 a year
- Commercial Medium$13,415 a year
- NREN/Federation Small$15,244 a year
- Commercial Large$26,829 a year
- NREN/Federation Medium$30,488 a year
- NREN/Federation Large$60,976 a year
In their own words
Shibboleth
Shibboleth is open-source identity management software for individual organizations and multi-site federations. Its Identity Provider offers single sign-on for complex identity needs, supports multiple authentication systems, and can handle millions of authentication requests per day. Authentication and data handling features are customizable. The Service Provider works with a wide range of web applications, integrates with popular web servers, and provides policy-oriented authorization features. An Embedded Discovery Service helps users choose an Identity Provider from a shorter list and supports screen readers. The Metadata Aggregator verifies signed metadata, filters selected elements, and provides a web service for querying processed metadata. Shibboleth supports SAML 1.1, SAML 2.0, OpenID Connect, and CAS, along with LDAP and Kerberos directory integrations. Built-in MFA and adaptive access are listed, while lifecycle provisioning is not included. The software is free to download and use, with Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted platforms listed. General users can consult wiki documentation, forums, and mailing lists; Consortium members also receive developer Q&A and members-only Slack support. The project recommends Identity Provider version 5.2.2 or later for a May 2026 XML parsing vulnerability.