Clerk vs Supabase Auth
Use Clerk for the fastest polished auth in a React/Next.js app; use Supabase Auth if your data already lives in Supabase, so you have one less vendor.
Last checked · facts from vendor pages · editorial verdict · how we rank
Pick it if: You want prebuilt sign-in UI, organizations/B2B and MFA in minutes.
Pick it if: You're already on Supabase and want auth bundled with your database.
Side by side
| Clerk | Supabase | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Drop-in auth and user management. | Postgres backend: database, auth, storage, edge functions. |
| Vendor | Clerk | Supabase |
| Pricing (as checked) | Hobby free (50,000 monthly retained users per app). Pro $20/mo billed annually. Business $250/mo billed annually. | Free $0 (50,000 MAU, 500 MB DB, 2 active projects, pauses after 1 week inactivity). Pro from $25/mo. Team from $599/mo. |
| Starts at | $20/mo (annual) | $25/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Free tier | Hobby: 50,000 monthly retained users per app | Free plan: 50,000 monthly active users |
| Our rankings | #2 Auth & payments | #1 Backend & database, #3 Auth & payments, #4 MCP servers |
Clerk
- +Fastest polished auth for React/Next
- +Generous free MRU limit
- +Organizations built in
- −Add-ons get pricey (SSO, enhanced orgs)
- −Vendor-hosted user data
Supabase
- +Real Postgres: no lock-in
- +Integrated auth/storage/realtime
- +Native integrations with Lovable, Bolt, v0
- −Free projects pause when idle
- −Usage costs scale with MAU/egress
FAQ
Clerk or Supabase: which is better?
Use Clerk for the fastest polished auth in a React/Next.js app; use Supabase Auth if your data already lives in Supabase, so you have one less vendor.
When should I pick Clerk?
Pick Clerk if: You want prebuilt sign-in UI, organizations/B2B and MFA in minutes.
When should I pick Supabase?
Pick Supabase if: You're already on Supabase and want auth bundled with your database.
How much do Clerk and Supabase cost?
Clerk: Hobby free (50,000 monthly retained users per app). Pro $20/mo billed annually. Business $250/mo billed annually. Supabase: Free $0 (50,000 MAU, 500 MB DB, 2 active projects, pauses after 1 week inactivity). Pro from $25/mo. Team from $599/mo. (Checked 2026-10-22.)