Enterprise Identity vs Open Source Sessions
Auth0 vs SuperTokens: Which One Should You Choose in 1970?
Auth0 sells enterprise identity: SSO federation, compliance paperwork and every protocol. SuperTokens is Apache-2.0 code you run yourself, with sessions stored next to your own users, which removes both the per-MAU bill and the data-residency question.
Quick verdict
- Enterprise sso and compliance
- Auth0SAML, SOC2/HIPAA, support contracts
- Per mau cost and data ownership
- SuperTokensself-hosted, unlimited users
Auth0 vs SuperTokens: feature comparison
| Feature | Okta Auth0Proprietary | SuperTokensOpen SourceSelf-Hostable |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Proprietary SaaS | Apache-2.0 |
| Self-Hosted | No | Yes (Docker + Postgres) |
| Free Tier | 7,500 MAU | Unlimited self-hosted |
| Enterprise SSO (SAML) | Paid add-on | Available, more manual setup |
| Session Control | Managed, limited access | Full, in your own database |
Pricing takeaway
Auth0 free covers 7,500 users and then bills per MAU plus add-ons such as custom domains and enterprise SSO. SuperTokens self-hosted has no per-user cost at all; you pay a server and an engineer's time.
- Okta Auth0
- Per Monthly Active User (MAU). Starts at $35/mo (B2C) / Custom (B2B). Free for up to 7,500 active users.Full Auth0 pricing breakdown
- SuperTokens
- Open source (Apache-2.0) / Cloud usage-based. Starts at $0 (self-hosted) or free Cloud up to 5,000 MAU. Free self-hosted; Cloud free up to 5,000 MAU.Full SuperTokens pricing breakdown
Pros and cons
Okta Auth0
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- Most comprehensive enterprise identity and SAML/SSO federation
- Battle-tested compliance: SOC2, HIPAA, ISO27001
- Extensive rule and action scripting engine
Cons
- Enterprise B2B add-ons (Enterprise SSO, custom domain) are extremely costly
- Complex legacy UI and slow dashboard navigation
- Pricing scales aggressively as user base expands
SuperTokens
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- Open-source auth with email/password, social, passwordless and MFA
- Session handling you can run next to your own user database
- Drop-in frontend SDKs for React, Vue and mobile
Cons
- Security updates and uptime are yours when self-hosting
- Fewer enterprise B2B features (SCIM, deep organisation management) than Auth0
- Smaller documentation and community than Auth0 or Clerk
Auth0 vs SuperTokens: FAQ
Is SuperTokens a good alternative to Auth0?
Auth0 sells enterprise identity: SSO federation, compliance paperwork and every protocol. SuperTokens is Apache-2.0 code you run yourself, with sessions stored next to your own users, which removes both the per-MAU bill and the data-residency question.
Which is cheaper, Auth0 or SuperTokens?
Auth0 free covers 7,500 users and then bills per MAU plus add-ons such as custom domains and enterprise SSO. SuperTokens self-hosted has no per-user cost at all; you pay a server and an engineer's time.
Is Auth0 or SuperTokens open source?
Okta Auth0 is proprietary. SuperTokens is open source (github.com/supertokens/supertokens-core).
Can I self-host Auth0 or SuperTokens?
Okta Auth0 cannot be self-hosted. SuperTokens can be self-hosted. Difficulty: Medium (Docker with Postgres).
Do Auth0 and SuperTokens have a free tier?
Okta Auth0: Free for up to 7,500 active users. SuperTokens: Free self-hosted; Cloud free up to 5,000 MAU.