Start Labs vs Clerk
Authentication and user management platform
Start Labs is the best Clerk alternative for developers who want auth as part of a composable platform, not a standalone service. Clerk does auth excellently but charges per user, doesn't self-host, and locks in your user data. Start Labs gives you open-source auth (@startlabs/auth) plus 21 additional modules — payments, notifications, search, and more — with predictable pricing and full data ownership.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Start Labs | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | 22 modules (auth is one of them) | Auth + user management only |
| Auth methods | Email, social, MFA (TOTP), RBAC, orgs | Email, social, MFA, passkeys, SSO, 20+ providers |
| Pre-built UI components | React auth pages + native screens | Best-in-class (SignIn, UserButton, etc.) |
| Open source | Yes — MIT license | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes — your database | No — user data on Clerk servers |
| Data ownership | Full — users in your database | Clerk owns your user data (no password export) |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly | Per-MAU ($0.02+ per user) |
| Cost at 100K users | $99/mo (Team) | ~$1,025/mo |
| Payments integration | Built-in (@startlabs/payments) | Add-on (0.7% + Stripe fees) |
| Notifications | Built-in (@startlabs/notify) | No |
| Framework | Fastify (framework-agnostic) | Next.js first (also React, Remix, Expo) |
| Organizations + RBAC | Included | Included (enhanced is $100/mo add-on) |
Pricing comparison
| Tier | Start Labs | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 forever — all packages, MIT | $0 — 50K monthly retained users |
| Starter | $29/mo (includes auth + 21 modules) | $25/mo (auth only) |
| At 100K users | $99/mo | ~$1,025/mo |
| Enterprise SSO | Included | $75/mo per SSO connection |
| Organizations | Included | $100/mo add-on + $1/org after 100 |
| Hidden costs | None | Per-MAU overages, SSO per-connection, org per-unit |
When to use each
Choose Start Labs when...
You need more than just auth
Clerk is auth-only. Start Labs gives you auth + payments + notifications + search + storage + AI in one platform. One vendor, one SDK pattern.
You want to own your user data
Start Labs stores users in your database. Clerk holds your user data hostage — migrating away means forcing password resets.
You are scaling past 50K users
At 100K users, Clerk costs ~$1,025/mo just for auth. Start Labs is $99/mo for everything.
You want open-source, self-hostable auth
Start Labs auth is MIT-licensed. Clerk has no self-hosting option. For regulated industries, this is a dealbreaker.
Choose Clerk when...
You want the best auth DX in the industry
Clerk's pre-built components (SignIn, UserButton, OrganizationSwitcher) are polished and work in under 10 minutes. Best-in-class developer experience.
You are building on Next.js
Clerk's Next.js middleware, server components, and App Router support are first-class. Deeply integrated into the Vercel ecosystem.
You need passkeys/WebAuthn
Clerk supports passkeys and WebAuthn natively. Start Labs auth uses BetterAuth with TOTP MFA.
You need enterprise SSO today
Clerk has mature SAML/OIDC enterprise SSO. Start Labs enterprise features are planned.
Frequently asked questions
Is Start Labs a Clerk alternative?
Yes. @startlabs/auth provides authentication and user management similar to Clerk, but as an open-source, self-hostable package. The key difference: Start Labs auth is one of 22 modules in a composable platform, while Clerk is auth-only.
Why is Start Labs cheaper than Clerk at scale?
Clerk charges per monthly active user ($0.02+ per MAU above 50K). At 100K users, that is ~$1,025/mo just for auth. Start Labs uses flat monthly pricing ($99/mo Team plan) regardless of user count, because auth is a commodity — not a profit center.
Can I migrate from Clerk to Start Labs?
Yes. You will need to replace Clerk components with Start Labs auth pages, update middleware, and migrate user data. The hardest part: Clerk does not export hashed passwords, so users may need to reset passwords after migration.
Does Start Labs auth have pre-built UI components like Clerk?
Yes. @startlabs/auth includes pre-built React pages (login, signup, forgot password, user profile) and React Native screens for mobile. They are not as polished as Clerk's components yet, but they are fully functional and customizable.
Can I use Start Labs auth with Next.js?
Start Labs auth is built on BetterAuth and works with any framework. While not as deeply integrated with Next.js as Clerk, it supports server-side middleware, session management, and JWT verification across frameworks.
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