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Clerk vs WorkOS
Clerk offers user management and auth UI but is primarily a hosted solution rather than an API-first integration layer
ClerkThe most comprehensive User Management Platform
WorkOSEnterprise SSO, directory sync and auth APIsWhich to pick
Pick Clerk if you want…
- Turnkey auth and user management
- User management with pre-built UI
- Integrations with Next.js, React or Expo (on Clerk's list, not WorkOS's)
Pick WorkOS if you want…
- Enterprise-ready auth and user provisioning
- Integrations with Node.js, Ruby or Python (on WorkOS's list, not Clerk's)
Side by side
- What it is
- Clerk:Clerk provides embeddable UI components, APIs, and dashboards for full-stack user authentication, management, and billing.
- WorkOS:WorkOS provides APIs and SDKs for enterprise authentication, SSO, directory sync, audit logs and related features.
- Best for
- Clerk:Turnkey auth and user management
- WorkOS:Enterprise-ready auth and user provisioning
- Who it’s for
- Clerk:Developers building web or mobile apps that need authentication, multi-tenant user management, and subscription billing.
- WorkOS:Developers building SaaS apps that need enterprise-grade auth and user management.
- Pricing
- Clerk:Freemium
- WorkOS:Freemium
- Plans
- Clerk:Hobby $0 · Pro $20 per month, billed annually · Business $250 per month, billed annually
- WorkOS:Free $0
- Works with
- Clerk:Next.js, React, Expo, React Router, Astro, Supabase, Convex, Vercel
- WorkOS:Node.js, Ruby, Python, Go, PHP, Java, .NET, cURL
Clerk features
- Pre-built UI components. Drop-in React components for sign-up, sign-in, profile, organization and billing UI.
- Multi-tenancy & org management. Components and APIs to create organizations, switch accounts, invite members and manage roles.
- MFA & advanced security. Built-in multifactor authentication, bot detection, passkeys and SOC 2/CCPA compliance.
- Session & device management. Full session lifecycle with active device monitoring and revocation.
- Billing & subscriptions. Ready-to-use subscription billing UI, plan definition and revenue tracking.
- SDKs for modern frameworks. Libraries for Next.js, React, Expo, React Router, Astro and more.
- API keys & machine auth. Generate secure API keys and M2M tokens for user-scoped access.
- CLI for AI agents. Command-line tool to configure Clerk without leaving the terminal.
WorkOS features
- Single Sign-On. Add SAML or OIDC SSO with a single integration for any identity provider.
- Directory Sync. Sync user lifecycle via SCIM provisioning and HRIS integrations.
- AuthKit UI. Customizable authentication UI with social login, MFA, RBAC and more.
- Magic Auth. Passwordless login using a six-digit email code.
- Audit Logs. Capture, query and export compliance events from your app.
- Admin Portal. Hosted interface for IT admins to configure SSO and directory sync themselves.
Clerk vs WorkOS FAQ
Is Clerk or WorkOS free?+
Clerk has a free plan (Hobby) and paid plans. WorkOS has a free plan and paid plans.
Do Clerk and WorkOS integrate with the same tools?+
Their integration lists don't overlap: Clerk lists Next.js, React, Expo, React Router and 4 more; WorkOS lists Node.js, Ruby, Python, Go and 4 more.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.