Stack
Better Auth
An open-source TypeScript authentication framework that runs inside your own app and stores users in your own database, with no per-user fee.
What it actually does
Better Auth is a TypeScript auth framework you install into your own app rather than a hosted service you call out to. Sessions, users, and login logic run in your codebase and store data in your own database, so there is no vendor user store and no MAU-based bill.
The framework is free and open source with no user limits. A plugin system covers passkeys, two-factor auth, organizations, SSO, SAML, and Stripe, and those enterprise plugins are free rather than $100 to $125 per connection like hosted providers charge.
The trade is ownership. You handle security patching, session storage, and email delivery yourself, and there is no hosted UI or dashboard by default. An optional cloud product adds dashboards, audit logs, and self-service SSO at $0 (Starter) or $20/mo (Pro).
Better Auth vs its main rivals
The tools people actually weigh against Better Auth: Auth.js (NextAuth), SuperTokens, Ory, Clerk. Same criteria for every column, including where Better Auth loses.
| Better Auth | AAuth.js (NextAuth) | SSuperTokens |  Ory |  Clerk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing & access | |||||
| Free tier | UnknownUnlimited (OSS) | UnknownUnlimited (OSS) | UnknownUnlimited self-host | UnknownUnlimited (OSS) | Unknown50k MRU |
| Starting price | $0 self-host | $0 | $0 self-host | $0 self-host | $25/mo |
| No per-user fee | YesYes | YesYes | YesSelf-host | YesSelf-host | NoPaid >50k |
Login & features | |||||
| Prebuilt hosted UI | NoNo / $20 cloud | NoNo | YesPrebuilt UI | YesAccount UI | YesYes |
| Organizations / multi-tenancy | YesFree plugin | NoCustom | YesYes | YesYes | Yes+$100/mo |
| Enterprise SSO (SAML) | YesFree plugin | NoCustom | YesPaid add-on | YesYes | YesAdd-on |
| Passkeys / 2FA | YesPlugin | YesCustom | YesYes | YesYes | YesFree |
Ownership & ops | |||||
| Self-host / data ownership | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes | YesYes | NoNo |
| Managed hosting option | YesCloud $20 | NoNo | YesCloud | YesOry Network | YesFully managed |
| Vendor SLA / support | NoCommunity | NoCommunity | YesPaid | YesPaid | YesPaid |
Developer | |||||
| TypeScript-first DX | YesYes | YesGood | YesYes | NoSDK | YesYes |
| REST API & SDKs | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
- Zero per-user cost; 500k users costs the same as 50, just your database bill
- SSO, SAML, and multi-tenancy plugins are free versus $100 to $125 per connection at hosted providers
- Users stay in your own database, so no vendor to outgrow and no user migration
- You own security patching, session storage, and email delivery yourself
- No hosted UI or dashboard by default; you build user-management screens or pay $20/mo for cloud
- Community support only unless you buy the paid cloud tier; no vendor SLA on the framework
Pay less for it
4 ways foundNo per-MAU pricing at all; your only cost is the database and an email provider.
The optional dashboard has a $0 Starter tier before the $20/mo Pro plan.
SAML and SSO plugins cost nothing versus $125/mo per connection at WorkOS.
Pair with a free-tier email service like Resend to keep total spend near $0.
StackTracker tracks what you actually pay for Better Auth and every other tool, flags overpayment, and shows the dollars you would save by switching.
Is it the right tool for you
- You are comfortable in TypeScript and want zero per-user cost at any scale
- You want full data ownership with users in your own database
- You need free SSO and multi-tenancy plugins rather than paid connections
- You want a prebuilt hosted UI and dashboard without building it → use Clerk
- You need a vendor SLA and enterprise support contract → use Auth0 or WorkOS
Track what Better Auth and the rest of your stack cost
StackTracker adds up every subscription, plus your hours, so you see the real number.
Prices and limits last verified 2026-07-20.