Auth.js vs Clerk: Features, Pricing and User Reviews 2026
Compare features, pricing, reviews, and more to make an informed decision
Auth.js
Auth.js is a free, open-source authentication library for web applications, supporting OAuth, magic links, and credentials across multiple frameworks.
Clerk
Clerk is a developer-friendly authentication platform with pre-built components, flexible APIs, and admin dashboards for complete user management.
Auth.js
Auth.js is a free, open-source authentication library for web applications, supporting OAuth, magic links, and credentials across multiple frameworks.
Clerk
Clerk is a developer-friendly authentication platform with pre-built components, flexible APIs, and admin dashboards for complete user management.
Auth.js
OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect support
80+ pre-configured authentication providers
Magic link email authentication
Username and password credentials
WebAuthn passwordless login
Multiple framework support (Next.js, SvelteKit, Express)
Database adapters for major databases
JWT or database sessions
Built-in security features
Custom page support
TypeScript ready
Open source and free
Clerk
Pre-built authentication components and user interfaces
20+ social login providers including Google and GitHub
Multi-factor authentication with SMS and authenticator apps
Password authentication with automatic breach detection
Organizations with roles and permissions for teams
Enterprise SSO with SAML and OAuth support
Session management and device tracking
Webhooks and API access for custom integrations
SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance
Free tier with 10,000 monthly active users
Auth.js
Auth.js is completely free to use with no pricing tiers or hidden costs. As an open-source project, it is licensed under the ISC license, which allows anyone to use, modify, and distribute the software freely for both personal and commercial projects.
There are no subscription fees, no usage limits, and no charges for any features. All capabilities, including support for unlimited providers, database integrations, and advanced security features, are available at no cost. This makes Auth.js an excellent choice for projects of any size, from small personal websites to large enterprise applications.
The project is maintained by a community of contributors and is now part of Better Auth Inc. Developers can contribute to the project, report issues, and access community support through GitHub discussions completely free of charge.
Clerk
Clerk offers flexible pricing to support projects of all sizes. The free plan includes 10,000 monthly active users with all core features, pre-built components, and custom domain support. Users who sign up but never return are completely free.
The Pro plan charges just $0.02 per monthly active user after your first 10,000 free users. Pro includes removing Clerk branding, allowlist and blocklist features, and customizable session duration.
For advanced needs, add-ons cost $100 per month each. The Enhanced Authentication add-on provides multi-factor auth, device tracking, and enterprise SSO. The Enhanced Administration add-on includes user impersonation and audit logs.
Organizations start at $1 per monthly active organization after your first 100 free, with unlimited members per organization in Pro.
Enterprise plans offer custom pricing with 99.99% uptime guarantees, support SLAs, HIPAA compliance, dedicated Slack support, and onboarding assistance. Startup discounts are available through partners like Y Combinator and Stripe Atlas.
