# passage

Source: https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/ciam/passage/
Last updated: 2026-06-19
License: content by Start with Identity. Cite the source URL.

---

## Overview

Passage is a passkey-first authentication product, acquired by 1Password in 2022 and operated as a subsidiary. It focuses narrowly on making [passkeys and WebAuthn](https://startwithidentity.com/standards/webauthn-fido2/) easy to adopt, with drop-in components and SDKs that let teams ship phishing-resistant login quickly. It is best understood as a specialist passwordless layer rather than a full [CIAM](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/fundamentals/what-is-ciam/) platform.

## What it is good at

Passkeys are the entire focus, and it shows: the passwordless and WebAuthn experience is polished, with clean SDKs and hosted UI that abstract the ceremony complexity (see the [add passkeys recipe](https://startwithidentity.com/recipes/add-passkeys-webauthn/) for what that involves under the hood). The 1Password backing brings credibility and a large consumer-credential footprint, which helps with passkey adoption. For a greenfield consumer app that wants passkeys as the primary method, it is a fast path.

## Where it falls short

The narrow focus is also the limitation. Broad protocol federation, enterprise SSO, deep authorization, and governance are not the point, so it is not a fit for B2B enterprise readiness or as a system of record. Teams that later need SAML, organizations, or rich lifecycle management will outgrow it. The roadmap and positioning are tied to 1Password's strategy, which buyers should factor in.

## Pricing

Usage-based with a free tier for getting started. Because it is a single-purpose layer, weigh its cost against bundling passwordless into a fuller platform with the [TCO calculator](https://startwithidentity.com/tools/tco-calculator/).

## Best for, and who should look elsewhere

Choose Passage for passkey-first consumer apps, especially within the 1Password ecosystem. To add passkeys onto an existing IdP without replacing it, compare [Corbado](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/ciam/corbado/); for passwordless plus a broader platform, see [Stytch](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/ciam/stytch/) and [Descope](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/ciam/descope/); for drop-in step-up auth, see [Authsignal](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/ciam/authsignal/).

## Bottom line

A polished, passkey-first specialist backed by 1Password, ideal for greenfield consumer passwordless and not intended as a full CIAM platform.