12 Best Open Source Clerk Alternatives
A curated collection of the 12 best open source and self-hosted alternatives to Clerk in 2026.
Looking for a free, privacy-friendly, or self-hosted replacement for Clerk in 2026? The top open-source alternative is Hanko — Open source authentication platform supporting passkeys, 2FA, SSO, and social login. Self-host or use Hanko Cloud, with full control over your data and no lock-in..
Other highly rated open-source Clerk alternatives include Better Auth, Authentik and Logto.
Open source authentication platform supporting passkeys, 2FA, SSO, and social login. Self-host or use Hanko Cloud, with full control over your data and no lock-in.
Open source authentication platform supporting passkeys, 2FA, SSO, and social login. Self-host or use Hanko Cloud, with full control over your data and no lock-in.
Comprehensive authentication framework for TypeScript apps
The most comprehensive authentication framework for TypeScript applications. Better Auth is designed to be composable, plugin-based, and built to scale—powering everything from weekend projects to the largest consumer and enterprise apps. - Framework Agnostic: Works seamlessly with Next.js, Nuxt, SvelteKit, Astro, Hono, and 20+ more frameworks. - Built-in Credential Auth: Includes sessions, email verification, and password reset out of the box. - Social Sign-On: Supports Google, GitHub, Apple, Discord, and 34+ OAuth providers. - Multi-Tenancy: Built-in teams, roles, invitations, and access control for organizational apps. - Enterprise Ready: Features SSO, SAML 2.0, SCIM, and directory sync for large-scale deployments. - 50+ Auth Methods: Passkeys, magic links, API keys, JWTs, anonymous sessions, OIDC, and more. - AI Agent Auth: MCP auth, token exchange, and agent delegation for AI-powered applications. - Security & Observability: Bot detection, IP blocking, email validation, and real-time threat monitoring. - User Management: Comprehensive dashboard for managing users, sessions, and organizations with audit logs. - Self-Hosted Infrastructure: Connect to Better Auth's infrastructure for enhanced security, analytics, and enterprise features. Better Auth is a TypeScript framework that can be self-hosted or used with Better Auth's managed infrastructure. The framework supports declarative configuration, bringing your own database, and integrates with OAuth providers. Enterprise features like SSO, SCIM, and advanced security are available through the managed service. typescript import { betterAuth } from "better-auth" export const auth = betterAuth({ emailAndPassword: { enabled: true }, socialProviders: { google: { clientId: process.env.GOOGLECLIENTID!, clientSecret: process.env.GOOGLECLIENTSECRET! }, github: { clientId: process.env.GITHUBCLIENTID!, clientSecret: process.env.GITHUBCLIENTSECRET! } }, plugins: [twoFactor(), passkey(), organization()] })
Open-source identity provider for secure authentication
authentik is a self-hosted identity provider designed to bring all authentication needs into a unified, secure platform. It eliminates reliance on third-party services while offering flexible workflows, customizable policies, and comprehensive APIs for seamless integration. - Unified Identity Management: Consolidate authentication across all applications and services. - Self-Hosted & Open Source: Full control over sensitive data with transparent, community-reviewed code. - Flexible Workflows: Customize authentication flows with configurable templates and infrastructure-as-code support. - Pre-Built Integrations: Native support for major platforms like Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra, AWS, GitHub, and more. - Security-First Design: Prioritizes security from design to deployment with continuous community audits. - Scalable Architecture: Supports Kubernetes, Terraform, and Docker Compose for easy deployment and scaling. - Transparent Pricing: No hidden costs—covers both B2B and B2C use cases with clear feature inclusion. - Policy-Based Automation: Automate workflows using customizable policies and APIs. - Self-Hosted: Deploy on-premises or in your preferred cloud environment. - Tech Stack: Built with Python, Django, and PostgreSQL for reliability and performance. - Deployment Options: Supports Kubernetes, Docker Compose, and Terraform for infrastructure-as-code. - EU Friendly: GDPR-compliant with transparent data handling practices.
Modern auth infrastructure for developers
Logto provides modern authentication infrastructure designed for developers, making it easy to integrate OAuth 2.1, OIDC, and SAML protocols into any application. - Multi-tenancy & RBAC: Manage multiple tenants with role-based access control for scalable applications. - Enterprise SSO: Seamless single sign-on integration for teams and organizations. - OAuth 2.1 & OIDC: Simplified implementation of industry-standard authentication protocols. - Framework Agnostic: Works with any framework including Next.js, React, Vue, Angular, Go, and Android. - No-Code Option: Quick setup without extensive coding for faster deployment. - Scalable Pricing: Free tier for 50K MAUs with token-based pay-as-you-go model. - Developer-First Support: Open-source core with fast integration and dedicated support. Logto is open-source and can be self-hosted for full control over your authentication infrastructure. The platform is designed for reliability and is trusted by public companies, startups, and government agencies worldwide.
Open-source identity infrastructure for developers
ZITADEL is the identity infrastructure platform that bridges the best of open source and enterprise authentication solutions. Designed for developers and works for all users and applications, it offers a secure, scalable, and extensible way to manage identities. - Multi-tenant architecture: Support for multiple organizations and projects within a single instance. - API-first design: Comprehensive SDKs for seamless integration with applications. - Passwordless authentication: Secure and user-friendly login methods including biometrics and magic links. - Social logins: Pre-configured integrations with Google, Microsoft, GitHub, and more. - Identity providers: Support for SAML, OIDC, and LDAP providers. - User management: Advanced profile management, roles, and permissions. - Audit logs: Detailed tracking of all authentication and administrative actions. - Compliance-ready: Built with security and regulatory standards in mind (GDPR, SOC 2, etc.). - Extensible: Customizable workflows and hooks for tailored identity solutions. ZITADEL is open-source and can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure. It supports deployment on Kubernetes, Docker, and bare-metal servers. The platform is designed for high availability and scalability, making it suitable for both small projects and large enterprises. Documentation and community support are available for self-hosting setups.
Open source user authentication for apps
SuperTokens is an open-source authentication solution designed for developers who want full control over their user management without sacrificing speed or security. - Prebuilt UI: Ready-to-use login pages with customizable themes and password policies - Multiple Login Methods: Email/password, magic links, passwordless, social logins, and SSO - Security Suite: Built-in attack protection, session management, and account linking - Multi-Tenancy: Support for multiple organizations or teams within a single deployment - Self-Hosting: Full control over data with options for on-premises or cloud deployment - Framework Agnostic: SDKs available for React, Node.js, Next.js, and more - Enterprise Ready: Features like SSO, RBAC, and audit logs for business applications - Cost-Effective: Open-source core with reasonable pricing for advanced features SuperTokens can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure or used via their managed service. The open-source core (supertokens-core) is available on GitHub and supports Docker, Kubernetes, and various cloud providers. Documentation provides step-by-step guides for integration with popular frameworks and databases.
Open-source identity and access management platform
Ory provides a comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) platform designed for modern applications, enterprises, and AI agents. Built with cloud-native principles, API-first architecture, and self-hosting capabilities, Ory delivers secure authentication, authorization, and identity management. - Multi-protocol support: OAuth2, OpenID Connect, SAML, LDAP, and more - Self-hosting: Full control over infrastructure with self-hosted deployment options - Enterprise-grade security: GDPR compliance, fine-grained permissions, and zero-trust architecture - AI agent security: Runtime enforcement and visibility for AI agents and MCP servers - Passkeys & MFA: Modern authentication methods including passkeys and multi-factor authentication - Social sign-in: Integration with Google, GitHub, Microsoft, and other identity providers - B2B IAM: Customer identity and access management with federation capabilities - Developer tools: CLI, SDKs, and UI components for seamless integration - Scalability: Multi-region deployment and high-performance architecture - Open source core: Core components available under Apache 2.0 license Ory offers multiple deployment options including self-hosted installations, cloud-hosted Ory Network, and enterprise solutions. The platform is designed for Kubernetes and containerized environments, with support for various databases including PostgreSQL and MySQL. Documentation and community support are available for all deployment scenarios.
Self-hostable platform combining user auth, payments, email, and analytics into modular building blocks that fit around your existing product.
Self-hostable platform combining user auth, payments, email, and analytics into modular building blocks that fit around your existing product.
Secure identity & authentication platform for developers
Authgear is a secure identity and authentication platform designed to simplify complex authentication requirements for developers. Whether you need passwordless login, biometric authentication, or enterprise SSO, Authgear provides a frictionless and scalable solution. - Enterprise-Grade Security: Adaptive MFA, attack protection, SMS pumping prevention, and biometric authentication. - Flexible Authentication Methods: Passwordless, social login, passkeys, WhatsApp OTP, and machine-to-machine tokens. - Single Sign-On (SSO): Seamless integration with enterprise identity providers for B2B and B2C use cases. - User Management: Self-serve settings and customizable user interfaces for branding. - Extensibility: Low-code integration with minimal development effort for rapid deployment. - Scalability: Built to handle growth from small projects to large-scale enterprise applications. - Compliance & Trust: GDPR-compliant with enterprise-grade security and high availability. Authgear offers a fully managed cloud solution with enterprise support. For self-hosting, the open-source authgear-server is available, allowing full control over deployment and infrastructure. The platform is designed for scalability, security, and ease of integration, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Secure authentication & authorization platform
Auth0 is a comprehensive identity management platform designed for both human users and AI agents. It provides secure, scalable authentication and authorization solutions with features like universal login, passwordless authentication, user management, and embedded login capabilities. - Universal Login: Single sign-on experience across all devices and platforms - Passwordless Authentication: Email magic links, SMS codes, and biometric options - User Management: Centralized dashboard for user profiles, roles, and permissions - AI Agent Identity: Specialized authentication for AI agents and MCP servers - Token Vault: Secure storage and management of API tokens - Breached Password Detection: Proactive protection against compromised credentials - Embedded Login: Seamless authentication within applications - Multi-Factor Authentication: Support for SMS, authenticator apps, and hardware keys - Social Logins: Integration with 40+ identity providers (Google, Facebook, etc.) - Customizable UI: Theming options for login pages and authentication flows Auth0 is a fully managed cloud service with no self-hosting option. The platform offers SDKs for 30+ programming languages and frameworks, including React, Next.js, Angular, Vue.js, and mobile platforms. Enterprise plans include dedicated support and compliance certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR).
Open source Postgres development platform
Supabase is an open-source platform that provides developers with a full suite of tools to build scalable applications quickly. Built on top of PostgreSQL, it offers integrated features like authentication, real-time data synchronization, edge functions, and storage. - Postgres Database: Full PostgreSQL database with built-in authentication and Row Level Security (RLS). - Authentication: Secure user sign-ups and logins with RLS for data protection. - Edge Functions: Write and deploy custom code without managing servers. - Realtime: Enable multiplayer experiences with live data synchronization. - Storage: Store, organize, and serve large files like videos and images. - Vector Embeddings: Integrate ML models to store, index, and search vector embeddings. - Instant APIs: Ready-to-use REST APIs for seamless data access. - Dashboard: Manage your app directly from the dashboard with tools like Table Editor, SQL Editor, and RLS Policies. Supabase is open-source and can be self-hosted. It is built on PostgreSQL, making it highly portable and extensible. The platform is trusted by fast-growing companies worldwide and offers a free tier to get started.
Authentication and security APIs for apps
Stytch provides a unified identity platform that simplifies authentication, authorization, and security for applications. Designed for both human users and AI agents, it offers a single integration to make your app enterprise-ready and agent-ready. - Unified Identity Platform: Single integration for authentication, authorization, and security. - Enterprise-Ready: Built to scale for enterprise applications with robust security measures. - AI Agent Support: Designed to work seamlessly with AI agents, ensuring compatibility and security. - Comprehensive SDKs: Easy-to-use SDKs and APIs for quick integration across multiple platforms. - Security-First: Advanced security features to protect user data and prevent breaches. - Scalability: Handles high traffic and large user bases without compromising performance. - Developer-Friendly: Extensive documentation and support to streamline the development process. Stytch is a cloud-based service and does not require self-hosting. It provides APIs and SDKs for integration into your applications, ensuring ease of use and scalability.
About Clerk
Clerk provides a complete authentication and user management solution for modern web applications. Purpose-built for React, Next.js, Remix, and other modern frameworks, Clerk eliminates the complexity of building auth from scratch.
Key Features of Clerk
- Pre-built UI Components: Drop-in SignUp, SignIn, UserProfile, OrganizationProfile, and PricingTable components that match your brand with any CSS library.
- Multi-Tenancy Support: Enable users to create organizations, switch between accounts, manage billing, and view memberships.
- Social Logins: Built-in support for Google, GitHub, Apple, and 20+ other identity providers.
- Security & Compliance: SOC 2 Type II compliant, GDPR compliant, and supports 2FA.
- Customizable: Deploy components to your own domain with full control over styling and behavior.
- Developer Experience: SDKs for React, Next.js, Remix, Vue, Svelte, and more.
- Scalability: Handles millions of users with global edge network deployment.
Tech / Self-Hosting
Clerk is a fully managed service with no self-hosting option. The platform handles infrastructure, scaling, and security, allowing developers to focus solely on building their applications. While not open source, Clerk provides extensive documentation, SDKs, and APIs for seamless integration.