Clerk vs Auth0
One was built for developers. One was built for enterprises. Guess which one has better docs.
Clerk
For startups and indie devs, Clerk is the obvious choice. Better DX, faster integration, gorgeous pre-built components. Auth0 is for enterprises with compliance requirements and dedicated security teams.
The Auth Landscape
Auth is one of those things you shouldn't build yourself. Too many footguns. So you pick a provider and hope they don't screw up your login flow.
Clerk launched in 2020 and quickly became the darling of indie hackers and startups. Auth0 is the OG, now owned by Okta, serving enterprises for over a decade.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Clerk | Auth0 |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 10 minutes | 30+ minutes |
| UI Components | Beautiful, ready to use | Basic, needs styling |
| Documentation | Excellent | Good but complex |
| Free Tier | 10,000 MAU | 7,500 MAU |
| Enterprise SSO | Available (paid) | Mature, full-featured |
| Compliance | SOC 2, GDPR | SOC 2, HIPAA, FedRAMP |
| User Management UI | Built-in, polished | Dashboard only |
| React/Next.js | First-class support | Good, more setup |
Why Clerk Wins for Startups
Clerk's pre-built components are actually usable. Drop in <SignIn /> and you get a beautiful, responsive, accessible login form. Try doing that with Auth0's Universal Login.
The Next.js integration is seamless. Middleware-based auth, server-side session access, client-side hooks - it all just works. The docs are some of the best I've seen.
"I integrated Clerk into a new project in 15 minutes, including social logins and email verification. Auth0 takes me an afternoon every time."
Why Auth0 Still Exists
Enterprise requirements are real. If you need HIPAA compliance, FedRAMP, or connections to weird corporate identity providers, Auth0 has you covered.
- Enterprise SSO: SAML, LDAP, Active Directory - Auth0 has battle-tested integrations.
- Actions/Rules: Powerful customization hooks for complex auth flows.
- Multi-tenant: Organizations feature for B2B SaaS is mature.
- Okta backing: Enterprise sales teams trust the Okta name.
The Pricing Trap
Auth0's pricing gets weird fast. MAU limits, action execution limits, feature-gating at higher tiers. You'll inevitably hit a wall and need to upgrade.
Clerk's pricing is cleaner. Pay for MAUs, get all features. The Pro plan ($25/month + $0.02/MAU) includes everything most apps need.
At scale, both get expensive. But at startup scale, Clerk is more predictable.
The User Management Difference
Clerk includes a user management UI you can embed in your app. Your users can update their profile, manage sessions, change passwords - without you building anything.
Auth0 gives you a dashboard. Your users never see it. You build all the user-facing profile management yourself.
The Verdict
Use Clerk if: You're building a startup or side project, use React/Next.js, and want the fastest path to production auth.
Use Auth0 if: You're at an enterprise, need HIPAA/FedRAMP, have complex SSO requirements, or your security team mandates it.
Consider alternatives if: You want open source (look at Keycloak) or self-hosted (look at Lucia, or roll your own with NextAuth).
Clerk is what Auth0 should have become. Better DX, better components, faster integration. Unless you have enterprise requirements, start with Clerk.