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AppwritevsClerk

Your users, right next to your data._

Clerk keeps your users in its own cloud, so most apps copy them into a database with webhooks. Appwrite Auth stores users in the same open-source project as your databases, files, and functions, with MFA on every plan and 200,000 users on Pro.

Start building for freeExplore Appwrite Auth

With Clerk, users and data live apart

  1. Clerkusers live here
  2. Webhookuser.created
  3. Your APIverify and retry
  4. Your databasea copy of each user

Sync code you write and maintain: signatures, retries, and backfills.

With Appwrite, they share one project

  • Users
  • Rows
  • Files

Permission.read(Role.user('u_8f2a'))

MFA on every plan

Pricing_

Growth should not be a pricing event_

Both Pro plans start at $25/mo. Clerk includes 50,000 users and then charges about $20 for every 1,000 more. Appwrite includes 200,000 and then charges $3. Slide to see where the lines go.

250K
0250K500K750K1M

Clerk Pro

$3,725/mo

50,000 users included, then about $20 per 1,000.

Appwrite Pro

$175/mo

200,000 users included, then $3 per 1,000.

Clerk list prices for Pro, which counts monthly retained users. Appwrite counts monthly active users, so treat this as a guide. Both plans start at $25/mo.

Free plan_

The security basics, unlocked from day one_

Clerk keeps MFA, extra social providers, custom sessions, and user bans behind Pro. On Appwrite, they are part of the Free plan.

Monthly users
75,000
50,000 per app
Multi-factor authentication
Included
Pro only
Social sign-in providers
40+
Up to 3
Session length
Configurable
Fixed to 7 days
Ban or block users
Included
Pro only
Vendor badge on your sign-in
None
Secured by Clerk

One platform_

Clerk is sign-in. Appwrite is the whole backend behind it._

Appwrite Auth is one of ten products in the same open-source platform, so your users, data, files, functions, and hosting share one Console and one bill.

10
Appwrite products in one project
9
Not offered by Clerk

Open source_

Keep your user table yours_

Clerk is closed source and cloud only. Appwrite Auth is open source, so your users can live on Appwrite Cloud or on your own servers with the same APIs.

GitHub stars
57.6K
Contributors
800+

Self-host in one command

$docker run -it --rm … --entrypoint="install" appwrite/appwrite:2.3.0

  • No lock-in

    Move between Appwrite Cloud and your own servers by changing one endpoint.

  • Run it anywhere

    Self-host on any cloud or on premises for data residency and compliance.

  • Nothing hidden

    Read the code that handles your users and data, and audit how it works.

  • Fix it, extend it

    Patch, extend, or contribute back instead of waiting on a vendor roadmap.

Clerk · Proprietary

The SDKs are public, but the service that stores your users is closed source and runs only on Clerk.

Appwrite vs Clerk_

The sign-in you expect, without the per-user surprise_

Sign-in methods line up closely. The gaps are price at scale, what the free plan unlocks, and where your users live.

Checked against public pricing and documentation in October 2026.

Appwrite
Clerk
Plans
Free users
75,000

Monthly active users

50,000

Monthly retained users per app

First paid plan
From $25/mo

Includes 200,000 monthly active users

$25/mo

Pro, $20/mo billed yearly, 50,000 users included

Additional users
$3 per 1,000
$20 per 1,000

Then $18 per 1,000 past 100,000

Open source and self-hostable
Yes

Keep identity on your own servers

No

Cloud only

Sign-in
Email and password
Yes
Yes
Social sign-in
Yes

40+ OAuth providers on every plan

Yes

Up to 3 providers on the free plan

Magic URL and email OTP
Yes
Yes
Phone and SMS sign-in
Yes
Partial

Paid plans only

Passkeys
Partial

Through custom token login

Partial

Paid plans only

Prebuilt sign-in components
Partial

SDKs and starter templates

Yes

A Clerk strength

Security
Multi-factor authentication
Yes

TOTP, email, SMS, and recovery codes on every plan

Partial

Paid plans only

Password dictionary, history, and personal data checks
Yes
Partial

Custom requirements on paid plans

Session limits and lengths
Yes

Configurable on every plan

Partial

Fixed to 7 days on the free plan

Custom email templates
Yes

With your own SMTP server

Partial

Paid plans only

Beyond sign-in
Teams and organizations
Yes

Unlimited teams and members on Pro

Partial

20 members per organization without the $100/mo add-on

Users stored next to your data
Yes

Permissions reference users and teams directly

No

Sync users to your database with webhooks

Database, storage, functions, and hosting
Yes
No

Fair play_

When Clerk might still fit_

Clerk is a polished sign-in product. It may still suit you if these describe your project.

  1. 01

    You want drop-in React components for sign-in, profiles, and organization switching with almost no UI work.

  2. 02

    You sell to enterprises and need SAML connections and SCIM directory sync today.

  3. 03

    Your backend already lives elsewhere and you only need identity in front of it.

  4. 04

    You plan to charge for subscriptions with Clerk Billing on top of Stripe.

Why developers choose Appwrite over Clerk_

For most apps that need a backend, yes. Appwrite Auth covers the sign-in methods users expect, includes MFA on every plan, and costs $3 per 1,000 users past 200,000 instead of about $20. Your users also live next to your databases, files, and functions, so permissions reference them directly and there are no webhooks to keep in sync.

Go deeper_

See why teams make the switch_

Guides, deep dives, and product pages from the Appwrite team.

BlogAppwrite Auth explained: every auth method, comparedEmail, OAuth, magic URLs, OTP, and MFA, and when to use each.BlogWhy developers choose Appwrite over Auth0 and FirebaseHow the main auth providers compare on security and cost.BlogEverything you need to know about RBAC and how to use it in AppwriteTeams, roles, and permissions in one model.ProductAppwrite AuthEmail, OAuth, SMS, MFA, teams, and sessions.DocsAuth securityPassword policies, session limits, and breach checks.DocsManage usersImport, export, and update users from the Users API.

Compare_

See how Appwrite stacks up elsewhere_

Appwrite vsSupabasePostgres development platformHosting, messaging, and permissions without SQL policies.Appwrite vsFirebaseApp development platformOpen source, self-hostable, and a free migration path.Appwrite vsVercelFrontend cloudFrontend hosting with the backend in the same project.Appwrite vsNetlifyWeb hosting platformYour site and its backend, in one project.Appwrite vsNeonServerless PostgresPostgres plus the whole backend around it.Appwrite vsAuth0Identity platform3x the free monthly active users and no growth penalty.Appwrite vsConvexReactive TypeScript backendActually open source, in any language.Appwrite vsCloudinaryMedia platformPay per origin image, not per variant.Appwrite vsAWS AmplifyFull-stack framework on AWSOne project instead of a stack of AWS services.Appwrite vsPlanetScaleManaged MySQL and PostgresPostgres and MySQL, plus the backend around them.PricingOne plan for your whole backend and hosting.Compare plans

Put your users next to your data_

Add sign-in in minutes with 75,000 monthly active users free and MFA on every plan.

Start building for freeAuth quick start