Auth0 vs WorkOS
Two hosted service options for authentication. When each fits, what it costs, who moves from one to the other, and what makers who chose it say.
Ask your AI about this, with this page as the source:ChatGPT ↗Claude ↗Perplexity ↗
Which fits you
Choose Auth0 if- You sell to companies whose IT team will ask for SAML SSO or SCIM
Use it whenA customer's security review asks for certifications and identity features a younger provider can't show.
Trade-offHeavier to configure and pricier than newer options for a solo project.
Choose WorkOS if- You sell to companies whose IT team will ask for SAML SSO or SCIM
Use it whenYour first big customer asks for SAML or SCIM.
Trade-offIts free tier covers basic sign-in, but enterprise SSO and directory sync are priced per connection — worth it once a customer pays for them.
At a glance
| Auth0 | WorkOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Used by | 21 makers' products · 17 open-source projects | 19 makers' products · 11 open-source projects |
| Cost at default usagemonthly active users 10k MAU | $0/mo Free | $0/mo AuthKit |
| Moved to it on GitHubpull requests since Oct 2024 | fewer than 3 | 5 from Auth0 |
| Downloads | 1.8M/wk−25% vs npm | 2.9M/wk+109% vs npm |
| Pricing | Free tier; paid plans priced by active users and features. · paid from $35/mo | Free user-management tier; enterprise SSO and directory sync priced per connection. · paid from $125 per connection/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Incidents, 90 daysfrom its status page | no public status feed | 24 (11 major) |
Cost as you grow
Both cost $0 up to 25k MAU; from 50k MAU WorkOS costs less ($0 vs $3,500).
The numbers, plan by plan
| Monthly active users | Auth0 | WorkOS |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $0 Free | $0 AuthKit |
| 1,000 | $0 Free | $0 AuthKit |
| 5,000 | $0 Free | $0 AuthKit |
| 10,000 | $0 Free | $0 AuthKit |
| 25,000 | $0 Free | $0 AuthKit |
| 50,000 | $3,500 Essentials | $0 AuthKit |
| 100,000 | over plan limits | $0 AuthKit |
| 250,000 | over plan limits | $0 AuthKit |
| 1,000,000 | over plan limits | $0 AuthKit |
Who moves from one to the other
Public pull requests on GitHub since Oct 2024 whose title says "Auth0 to WorkOS" or the reverse — real code changes, by developers in general rather than makers only.
Fewer than 3 pull requests move from WorkOS to Auth0.
Auth0 → WorkOS5 PRs- Move login from Auth0 to WorkOS AuthKitzagrajmy/ludamus · 2026-09-25
- Migrate authentication from Auth0 to WorkOSerauner/toolbridge-api · 2025-11-22
- Migrate from Auth0 to WorkOS AuthKit (generic OIDC)erauner/toolbridge-api · 2025-11-20
- Remove Auth0 references and switch to WorkOSRise-Republic/Websets · 2025-07-25
- feat: change enterprise login provider from auth0 to workOScrewAIInc/crewAI · 2025-05-21
What makers say
Makers on using it for authentication, from Product Hunt and Starter Story interviews, each linked to the source. Products with a page of their own and fuller notes first.
On Auth0A huge thanks to Auth0 for helping us out with the authentication flow. They were really quick with the onboarding process and even with the support tickets.
For handling our user authentication with enterprise-grade security, so our users can log in instantly and focus on their data.
I had a simple login system using Auth0 and it would unlock access to the premium content on the website.
On WorkOSWe use WorkOS for the enterprise identity pieces of Harden, so customers can get the access controls they need without us building that layer from scratch.
We chose WorkOS because it's straightforward to integrate and easy to work with. It let us add the features we needed without unnecessary complexity.
WorkOS made it extremely easy for us to add auth to our ActionKit playground - we also use them for SSO for our core product as well.
Loved and watch-outs
Themes that recur in makers' words and Hacker News comments, each linked to what it summarises.
Auth0Most loved
Watch-outs
On Product Hunt: 5.0★, 16 reviews · mentioned most: ease of use, quick onboarding, secure accessWorkOSMost loved
- Enterprise SSO, SAML and SCIM directory sync arrive ready-made, integrated in weeks instead of months, so teams can close enterprise deals. PHHN
- Organization separation and B2B features come built in alongside standard social login. PH
- The free tier is permissive, and it works well even for B2C apps that skip enterprise features. HNHN 2HN 3
Watch-outs
On Product Hunt: 5.0★, 21 reviews · mentioned most: easy authentication integration, quick onboarding, enterprise-level securityWho uses each
Ada.im
Chronicle
DGi
EddyOwl
Enhance-d
SeyftAI
Waydev
Flipt Cloud
Harden
oqoqo
Trag
UnitPayWhat makers pair each with
With Auth0
Chronicle
Cypress
Svix
bring.order2chaosPayments
Auth0 + PayPal:Maildroppa
With WorkOS
Lunen.ai
TellaTransactional Email
WorkOS + Resend:
Almanac
GAIA
Velo
Liveblocks
AlmanacGAIAVeloLiveblocksWorkOS + SendGrid:
Paragon
QuerriLiveblocks
ParagonQuerriLiveblocksHosting
WorkOS + Cloudflare:
KnockLiveblocks
Replit
KnockLiveblocksReplitWorkOS + Amazon Web Services:
FluencyKnock
FluencyKnockWorkOS + Google Cloud Platform:GAIALiveblocks
GAIALiveblocksNeither quite right?
See the whole authentication decision →
ClerkHosted serviceDropping prebuilt sign-in, profile and organization UI into a React or Next.js app.vs Auth0 →vs WorkOS →
SupabaseBundled with your backendApps already on Supabase — auth is part of the same project as the database.vs Auth0 →vs WorkOS →
FirebaseBundled with your backendMobile and client-heavy apps already using Firebase.
Better AuthLibrary in your appTypeScript apps that want users and sessions in their own database, at no cost.vs Auth0 →vs WorkOS →