Descope vs %%Authsignal%%

Authsignal is built to control authentication around the action a customer is taking.

Teams can use the same orchestration layer across login, payments, account recovery and other sensitive transactions, deciding when authentication is required and which method to use, based on risk and context.

Passkeys can handle routine authentication, higher-risk actions can trigger step-up, and additional verification methods can be introduced when greater assurance is required.

Descope supports signup, login, MFA and post-login step-up. Its step-up model allows applications to require users to re-authenticate before sensitive operations such as purchases, accessing personal data or changing account settings.

Authsignal takes a more purpose-built approach to authentication orchestration. Rather than centering policy around an individual authentication journey, teams can apply authentication around customer actions and coordinate methods, risk and outcomes through one layer across the wider customer journey.

Authsignal's no-code rules engine gives teams fine-grained control over the decision behind each authentication moment.

Rules can evaluate device characteristics, previous authentication history, user information, transaction data, custom metadata and context from other customer actions. Authsignal can then return four distinct outcomes: Allow, Challenge, Review or Block.

This allows a trusted customer completing a routine action to continue without unnecessary friction, while a suspicious transaction can trigger stronger authentication, manual review or be blocked entirely.

Descope supports adaptive MFA using contextual signals such as trusted devices, impossible travel, IP reputation, geolocation and risk calculations. Its adaptive MFA documentation describes these signals being used to determine whether an additional factor should be required during a login attempt.

Authsignal takes risk decisioning further into the customer journey. Transaction and business context can influence not only whether MFA appears, but whether an action is allowed, challenged, reviewed or blocked, giving fraud, product and security teams more granular control over authentication policy.

Authsignal is designed to sit on top of the identity infrastructure already in place.

Its APIs, SDKs and pre-built experiences connect authentication to the existing user model, allowing teams to introduce passkeys, adaptive MFA, step-up authentication and new verification methods without making a wider identity migration the starting point.

That means the authentication layer can change independently while the underlying identity provider, customer records and existing applications remain in place.

Descope can also augment an existing authentication implementation. Its documentation specifically supports patterns where an existing system continues to handle initial authentication while Descope provides an additional MFA layer. It can also provide broader identity capabilities including user management, SSO and SCIM.

For teams that already have their underlying identity infrastructure covered, Authsignal provides a focused way to add more sophisticated authentication and orchestration without introducing another broad identity platform.

Customers move between channels, and authentication policy should be able to move with them.

Authsignal provides one authentication layer across web, mobile, call center and in-person customer experiences. Teams can apply a consistent approach to authentication as customers move between digital, service and physical interactions.

A sensitive action can be protected inside an app, while a customer speaking with an agent can complete authentication securely on their own device before a request is processed.

Descope provides authentication capabilities for web and mobile applications through its SDKs and authentication tooling. Its documentation centers those capabilities around B2C and B2B applications and digital user journeys.

Authsignal extends the authentication layer across a wider set of customer touchpoints. That gives organizations one place to coordinate authentication methods and policy instead of building separate verification approaches for different channels.

Air New Zealand, for example, extended authentication across its customer experience with Authsignal while continuing to work with its existing technology environment.

Authsignal provides FIDO Certified passkey infrastructure designed to work alongside adaptive MFA, fallback methods and risk-based step-up.

Teams can introduce passkeys as part of the wider authentication journey rather than treating them as an isolated login capability. Authentication policy can determine where passkeys are promoted, when stronger assurance is required and how other methods should be used when a passkey is unavailable.

Descope also supports WebAuthn passkeys through its authentication platform, SDKs and authentication journeys. Its documentation supports passkey sign-up and sign-in across web and mobile environments.

With Authsignal, the advantage is the orchestration surrounding the method. Passkeys can be governed by the same authentication policy used for risk, transactions, fallback and other sensitive customer actions.

First Credit Union deployed FIDO Certified passkeys with Authsignal across its mobile and online banking experience. More than half of its authentications now use passkeys, with tens of thousands of members enrolled.

Getting passkeys live is only the beginning. Getting customers to enroll and continue using them is where the outcome is won.

Digital credentials introduce another way for customers to prove who they are and provide higher assurance when a journey requires it.

Authsignal provides native Digital Credential Verification for compatible digital IDs from Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, government wallets and other compatible wallets through one integration.

A verified credential can gate a flow, step up a high-risk action or support account recovery, and digital credentials can be combined with passkeys, biometrics and adaptive MFA within the same orchestration layer.

Descope supports integrations and connectors that can bring external services into authentication and identity journeys. Its broader platform is designed to incorporate third-party services alongside its authentication and user management capabilities.

Authsignal makes Digital Credential Verification part of the authentication orchestration model itself. That gives organizations a direct way to introduce wallet-based identity alongside the authentication policy and methods already protecting the customer journey.