What is Google Account SSO? (Supporting Google for Single Sign-On)

Last updated 11/01/2023

*Bread & Butter supports Google Accounts for single sign-on (SSO) as part of our free universal API and WordPress plugin.*

Google Account SSO enables existing Gmail and G-Suite users to sign-on to other application integrations. SSO simplifies the handling of passwords and identity. Not just for users but especially for administrators of websites and apps. It can also increase conversion rates.

An example of this is using a Google account like Gmail to login to another application. The login screen offers a “Verify with Google” button, which the user selects. Their Gmail credentials are used to verify them, without the need to receive or store those credentials. With proof that the user is a genuine Gmail user, the application creates a new account for them.

Application and Admin Benefits of Google Account SSO

The application is able to verify a user without having them create a new password. When new users see a familiar verification option like Google, they are more likely to join. This can drive conversion rates way up. Some people don’t want to fill out another signup form but are more trusting of familiar SSO options.

The user benefits in two ways:

Why Support Google Accounts for SSO?

If your app or member site has a lot of G-Suite or Gmail users, you may want to offer them a chance to log in with their existing credentials. For many of those users, they might consider it more secure verification option; one that doesn’t require creating another password.

Especially for companies that offer software that works with Google’s offerings, supporting Google’s SSO could help convert a lot more users, easier. Some examples of these are email automation tools and plugins. Verifying a Google user can help to complete their account profile as well.

If users can have just one login for many services, it can reduce the friction of task switching. It also helps with the protection of data.

Disadvantages of Supporting Google SSO

If you do it yourself, it could be costly in terms of your time. And you’ll have to continue to monitor it for changes or updates, costing your team even more time, and risking having it break at a crucial time.

With Bread & Butter, you can add Google SSO to your existing login screen for free, and leave the support to us. We already keep the module up to date for you.

If you set up your own Google SSO integration, you can get data on its usage on your Google app. But it will have nothing to say about any logins that aren’t Google logins (obviously). So with Bread & Butter, you have your Google login data visible in the same table with all of your login data.

Benefits of Supporting Google Account SSO

So many organizations use the G-Suite that there exists a huge market for users with existing Google logins.
Your team no longer has to handle or process password resets. The user always uses their Google credentials.
Saves time for your users. Account creation and subsequent logins are made easier.
You can reduce risk. When users are asked to create a password, they will often default to an easy choice they can remember, which may be a security risk. But if you offer them a chance to use their login from Google, they’ll pick the safer and easier choice more often. Since you’re not storing a password for them, your data is better protected.

How to Support Google SSO

As mentioned above, Bread & Butter supports Google SSO, even in the free version. To get started, view our API documentation, choose from our SDKs, or if you are building on WordPress, use our WordPress plugin.

As mentioned above, Bread & Butter supports Google SSO, even in the free version. To get started, view our API documentation, or if you are building on WordPress, use our WordPress plugin.

Bread & Butter works simply – you add a code snippet to your back-end and another to your front end in your login screen.

Right now, there’s nothing special required to integrate with Google. Just add Bread & Butter to your site/app and select Google from the social identity providers list:

Bread & Butter supports these SSO providers out of the box

Tags: google, google sso