OAuth vs Auth0

The security dance everyone hates but can't live without meets the identity-as-a-service darling that makes auth easy until you hit the enterprise pricing wall. Here's our take.

OAuth

Nice Pick

The security dance everyone hates but can't live without. Delegating access without sharing passwords, because trust is a token.

Pros

• Eliminates password sharing for third-party apps
• Standardized across major platforms like Google and Facebook
• Granular scopes for fine-grained access control

Cons

• Implementation complexity leads to frequent security flaws
• Token management can be a debugging nightmare

Auth0

The identity-as-a-service darling that makes auth easy until you hit the enterprise pricing wall.

Pros

• Enterprise features
• Many integrations
• Mature
• Customizable
• Quick setup with pre-built login UIs and social logins
• Handles complex protocols like OAuth 2.0 and SAML out-of-the-box
• Scalable for startups to large applications with minimal dev effort

Cons

• Complex
• Expensive
• Overkill for small apps
• Pricing can skyrocket with user counts and advanced features
• Customization beyond basics often requires wrestling with their rules engine

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. OAuth is a authentication while Auth0 is a hosting & deployment. We picked OAuth based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

OAuth wins

Based on overall popularity. OAuth is more widely used, but Auth0 excels in its own space.