Choosing your authentication provider
Stytch vs. Auth0
Auth0 may be sufficient for those looking to set up basic authentication with limited customizability. However, those seeking more advanced authentication features, flexible customization, favorable pricing at scale, or more responsive support may run into the high upfront costs that come with getting on Auth0’s Enterprise plan.
With Stytch, whether you’re looking for something out-of-the-box or fully custom to fit your brand and use case, you’ll have the flexibility to customize authentication to your needs. Transparent pricing and access to all core login products without requiring a hefty contract make it easy to get started quickly. And, if you do end up looking at Stytch’s full range of services, you can expect a collaborative, high-touch sales process and onboarding experience.
A quick summary
Authentication solutions
Stytch
Auth0
Passwords
Passwords
Supported
- Email/password login
- Includes password breach detection, strength assessments, and a streamlined reset password flow
Supported
- Username/password login
- Fraud features, e.g., enhanced protection and breach detection (Professional plan required)
One-Time Passcodes (OTP)
One-Time Passcodes (OTP)
Supported
- OTP via SMS, email, and Whatsapp
- Stytch abstracts away SMS/email providers while offering failover redundancy to maximize deliverability
Supported
- OTP via SMS, voice, and email
- You must provide your own SMS/email provider keys (e.g. Twilio)
- Essential plan required
Email Magic Links
Email Magic Links
Supported
Supported
- Essential plan required
Social OAuth
Social OAuth
Supported
- 18+ social identity providers
- Built-in support for Google One-Tap
- Custom social OAuth connections not supported
Supported
- 50+ social identity providers via native and 3rd-party integrations
- No built-in support for Google One-Tap
- Usage of 2+ identity providers (Essential plan required)
Biometrics
Biometrics
Supported
- WebAuthn
- Native biometrics on Apple devices via an iOS SDK
- Passkeys (a technology built upon WebAuthn)
Partially supported
- WebAuthn
- No native biometrics on iOS/Android
- Enterprise plan required
Time-based OTP (authenticator apps)
Time-based OTP (authenticator apps)
Supported
Supported
- Professional plan required
Web3 Logins
Web3 Logins
Supported
- Built-in support for log-in with Ethereum and Solana.
Partially supported
- Available via third-party integrations.
Other MFA types (push notifications, voice call, Duo, recovery codes)
Other MFA types (push notifications, voice call, Duo, recovery codes)
Supported w/ self-implementation
- Not supported out-of-the-box, but possible to implement with Stytch’s API
Supported
- Enterprise plan required
SAML Single Sign On (SSO)
SAML Single Sign On (SSO)
Supported
- Scale plan required
Supported
- Enterprise plan required
Role-based access control (RBAC)
Role-based access control (RBAC)
Supported w/ self-implementation
- Not supported out-of-the-box, but can be implemented with Stytch’s API (example)
Supported
Developer experience
Stytch
Auth0
Frontend UI
Frontend UI
- Flexibility to use pre-built UI components, a headless JavaScript and native mobile SDKs, whitelabel UI, or direct access to the Stytch API for full customization.
- Auth0-hosted login widget (“Universal Login”) with redirect to Auth0-hosted domain.
- Some limited customization available via low-code and dashboard configurations.
- More custom logic requires using Auth0 “Rules.”
SDKs
SDKs
- Native frontend SDKs for iOS, Android, React Native, and JavaScript (React and Vanilla JS).
- Backend SDKs in Python, Ruby, Go, and Node.
- Stytch’s Direct API makes it simple to integrate in any language.
- SDKs and client libraries for most common frameworks and languages available.
Integrations
Integrations
- Limited number of third-party integrations.
- Limited number of third-party integrations.
Support
Support
- USA-based support via community Slack, direct email, and Forum.
- Step-by-step integration help and highly available support during integration and beyond.
- Public Auth0 Community forum and Support team that prioritizes customers on the Enterprise plan.
- Limited support below Professional plan, and Enterprise plan required for account management.
Pricing
Stytch
Auth0
Free usage
Free usage
First 2,000 monthly active users
First 7,000 monthly active users
Pay-as-you-go rate
Pay-as-you-go rate
$0.05/MAU
$0.024/MAU up to 10k users on Essential plan
$0.15-0.24/MAU above 10k users on Professional plan
Passwords
Passwords
Available on all plans
Available on all plans
One-time passcodes (OTP)
One-time passcodes (OTP)
Available on all plans
Essential plan required
Email magic links
Email magic links
Available on all plans
Essential plan required
Social OAuth
Social OAuth
Available on all plans
Essential plan required
Time-based OTP
Time-based OTP
Available on all plans
Professional plan required
Biometrics
Biometrics
Available on all plans
Enterprise plan required
Single Sign On
Single Sign On
Scale plan required
Enterprise plan required
Uptime SLAs and enterprise support
Uptime SLAs and enterprise support
Scale plan required
Enterprise plan required
A more detailed comparison
Approach to UI/UX flexibility
Auth0's Universal Login
The standard way to implement Auth0 is using “Universal Login,” an Auth0-hosted modal that offers various login methods out-of-the box with some customization available. Because Universal Login is Auth0-hosted, it requires redirecting users away from your page/app, authenticating them on Auth0 or a custom domain, then returning them to your page/app which hurts conversion.
Stytch's flexible SDKs
The easiest way to implement Stytch is using a frontend SDK (JavaScript, React Native, iOS) and either using a pre-built UI flow or custom-building your own with headless SDK methods. Unlike Auth0’s Universal Login, there is no redirect involved, and since you fully own the login page, there is a broader range of customization available. Fully owning the UI/UX is also possible using Stytch’s API directly.
Why you might choose Auth0's approach
Auth0’s Universal Login may work well for those looking for a login page with basic customization options, and the ability to do so with little to no code. Some additional (though limited) custom logic can be implemented via Auth0’s “Rules.” Because Universal Login is Auth0-hosted, you have limited control over the performance, look-and-feel, and potential (breaking) changes to the login experience.
Why you might choose Stytch's approach
Stytch’s approach may be a better fit for those seeking more flexibility and full control, both over the look-and-feel of the UI/UX and any nuanced authentication logic you’re looking to layer on, enabling tighter integration with your stack. The lack of a redirect also typically offers a more seamless, higher-converting user experience (Lighthouse improved conversion by 60% after switching to Stytch). Because you own the login page, a low- or no-code implementation like Universal Login isn’t available.
Product Comparison
Auth0’s and Stytch’s product offerings differ in a few notable ways:
Coverage
Auth0 supports some features not currently covered by Stytch, such as machine-to-machine authentication, a marketplace of third-party integrations, and the ability to integrate generic OIDC-compliant OAuth providers. Stytch supports certain features Auth0 doesn’t, such as advanced fraud prevention tools for fine-grained traffic shaping and bot mitigation, and a more comprehensive approach to B2B multi-tenancy controls.
API-first
Auth0 offers many different integration methods, whether it’s “New Universal Login” vs. “Classic Universal Login,” or “Centralized Universal Login” vs. “Embedded Login,” and not all login methods are equally supported. In contrast, Stytch’s API-first approach may be more straightforward to navigate for many developers via either Stytch's flexible frontend SDKs or core API.
Consumer features
Stytch offers more consumer-centric features not offered by Auth0, such as support for Google One-Tap, Whatsapp OTP, built-in provider failover for SMS/email verification, and Snapchat and TikTok OAuth.
B2B features
Rather than merely adding to the core B2C authentication platform, Stytch has built B2B authentication from the ground up with a more comprehensive multi-tenant approach, making the solution highly configurable and scalable from small developer teams to large enterprises. Stytch's B2B solutions can help you scale from seed to IPO as your customers’ authentication needs grow in complexity.
Fraud prevention
Stytch’s fraud solutions like Device Fingerprinting leverage a broader set of nuanced parameters that allow you to build more fine-grained logic around how to treat traffic by risk level. Moreover, Stytch's anti-bot and fraud prevention capabilities are embedded natively on Stytch's platform, reducing the need to rely on additional security vendors. In contrast, Auth0’s approach to fraud is more binary and inflexible, which may be insufficient for today’s complex fraud environment. Because Auth0's fraud tools are not hardened against obfuscation and more sophisticated attackers, many Auth0 customers may also need a separate security vendor to mitigate bots and other threat vectors.
Approach to modern authentication
Auth0 was founded before many modern authentication methods had gained traction, so traditional passwords remain Auth0’s core authentication solution with modern passwordless and MFA options treated as add-ons.
Stytch was founded with an initial focus on passwordless authentication and a broad mission to eliminate friction on the internet. This approach is reflected in Stytch’s:
- Product focus - Stytch’s focus on a passwordless future has led to deep investments in native biometrics and Web3 authentication, as well as fraud solutions like Device Fingerprinting and Strong CAPTCHA to give developers anti-bot capabilities to prevent account validation attacks associated with passwords.
- Flexibility - Stytch’s API-first approach allows you to build nuanced logic, such as using Device Fingerprinting to power risk-based verification and anonymous logged-out experiences, or stepping up logins only when needed with just-in-time authentication.
- Ease of use - Stytch aims to abstract away complexity and handle edge cases, for example by removing the need to manage your own SMS/email providers and maximizing deliverability through built-in failover redundancy, or automatically deduplicating accounts when users switch between authentication methods.
Approach to pricing
Auth0's pricing may appeal to those who are looking for the most basic authentication methods at lower volumes. However, access to additional authentication methods beyond the bare minimum (e.g., social OAuth, MFA and OTP, etc.) quickly require getting on an Enterprise plan, which can start at $30,000 per year and require additional add-ons for access to certain features.
Stytch's pricing approach may appeal to those looking for flexibility and simplicity. Access to all authentication methods are available at a standard pay-as-you-go rate on the Developer tier without contractual commitments. Discounted rates are available, scaling down with increased monthly commitments.