Best Auth for SaaS: Clerk, Auth0 and WorkOS Ranked
Quick Comparison
| Clerk | WorkOS | Auth0 (Okta) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | JS-first startups shipping auth fast with minimal configuration | B2B SaaS selling into enterprise accounts that require SSO as a prerequisite | SaaS selling into regulated industries that demand FedRAMP, HIPAA BAA, or ISO 27001 |
| Pricing | Free (50K MAUs) / $25/mo Pro+ | Free (1M MAUs with AuthKit) / $125/SSO connection | Free (25K MAUs) / from $35/mo |
| Winner | Our Pick |
Tool Breakdown
Clerk
Best DX, the most generous free tier at 50K MAU, and SSO included in Pro — the right default for JS-first SaaS startups.
- Free to 50K MAU — highest free tier in auth
- SAML/OIDC SSO included in Pro, no per-connection fee
- Pre-built components mean auth ships in hours not weeks
- Primarily JS-focused; less mature for Python/Go/Rails teams
- Limited compliance certs for regulated enterprise buyers
WorkOS
Modular enterprise auth APIs — SSO, SCIM, Admin Portal, Audit Logs — designed to be added to an existing product.
- AuthKit free to 1M MAU — most generous enterprise auth free tier
- Per-connection SSO pricing ($125) beats per-MAU for B2B
- Admin Portal lets enterprise customers self-serve SSO setup
- Best used as an add-on, not a full auth replacement
- Per-connection cost adds up at high enterprise customer count
Auth0 (Okta)
Enterprise CIAM platform covering SSO, MFA, fine-grained authorization, and the widest compliance portfolio on the market.
- FedRAMP Moderate + HIPAA BAA available
- 100+ social identity providers
- Auth0 FGA handles complex attribute-based access control
- Per-MAU pricing is expensive at mid-scale vs Clerk
- SSO add-ons push monthly cost up fast on lower plans
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free authentication platform for SaaS? +
Clerk offers the most generous free tier at 50K MAU with no credit card required. WorkOS AuthKit is free to 1M MAU but is designed as an enterprise SSO add-on rather than a full auth solution. Auth0 caps its free tier at 25K MAU.
When should I choose WorkOS over Clerk for enterprise SSO? +
Choose WorkOS when enterprise SSO is a product feature you sell — its per-connection pricing and Admin Portal make it easy for customers to self-serve SAML/OIDC setup. Clerk now includes SSO in Pro but lacks WorkOS's enterprise self-service Admin Portal.
Do any of these auth platforms support HIPAA compliance? +
Auth0 (Okta) offers a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for healthcare SaaS. Clerk and WorkOS do not currently publish HIPAA BAA coverage. If healthcare compliance is a hard requirement, Auth0 is the only option of the three.