Quick answer
SuperTokens - SuperTokens wins for most builders who want a genuinely free starting point, while Auth0 wins if you want a managed SaaS free tier with a larger included MAU cap and more out-of-the-box enterprise controls.
How the free tiers compare
The two free tiers are aimed at different builder profiles. Auth0 is a hosted identity platform with a free plan capped at 25,000 MAUs and a fairly polished set of controls for teams that want to start on a managed service and grow into a conventional SaaS pricing ladder. SuperTokens is more flexible on cost because its open source features are free to self-host with no MAU limit, and its cloud plan stays free under 5,000 MAUs. That makes it better for builders who care about keeping authentication costs near zero or who want control over deployment. The tradeoff is that SuperTokens’ paid path is more modular, with usage-based add-ons and separate charges for dashboard users and advanced features. Auth0 is simpler to buy, but much less free in practice once you exceed its MAU cap or need higher tiers.
Auth0 vs SuperTokens free tier, side by side
| Auth0FTV 52 | SuperTokensFTV 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free MAU capAuth0’s cap applies to the managed free tier; SuperTokens has both self-hosted and cloud paths. | Up to 25,000 monthly active users | Free under 5,000 monthly active users on cloud; self-hosted open source features are free with no MAU limit |
| Custom domainsAuth0 says credit card verification is required for the custom domain. | 1 custom domain | Not specified in the provided free tier data |
| OrganizationsAuth0 includes org support in the free plan, while SuperTokens’ multi-tenancy pricing is not listed. | 5 organizations | Not specified in the provided free tier data |
| Enterprise connectionAuth0 includes one enterprise connection in free. | 1 enterprise connection | Not specified in the provided free tier data |
| Dashboard usersThis is one of SuperTokens’ clearer paid expansion points. | Not specified in the provided free tier data | 3 free dashboard users; extra users cost $20/user/month |
After you outgrow the free tier
Auth0 uses flat subscription tiers after free: Essentials at $35/month, Professional at $240/month, then Enterprise contact sales. SuperTokens is more mixed: its cloud auth is usage-based at $0.02 per MAU, MFA and account linking are usage-based add-ons with $100 minimum monthly billing, dashboard seats are per-seat, and several advanced capabilities are contact sales. For typical small-team usage, Auth0 is cheaper only if you stay within a flat tier that fits your needs; otherwise SuperTokens can start cheaper on low usage, while Auth0 becomes easier to price once you cross add-on complexity.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Auth0 | SuperTokens |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 MAUs/moSuperTokens cloud is $0.02 per MAU, but the pricing page also says cloud is free under 5,000 MAUs. Use the free tier if you are only on cloud auth within that limit. | $35/mo | ~$60/mo est. |
| 5,000 MAUs/moSuperTokens cloud is stated as free under 5,000 MAUs. | $35/mo | Free (within tier) |
| 10,000 MAUs/moAuth0’s Essentials plan stays flat at $35/month but is limited to up to 500 MAUs, so 10,000 MAUs would require higher-tier or enterprise pricing not provided here. SuperTokens cloud at $0.02 per MAU estimates to $200/month, excluding add-ons. | $35/mo | ~$200/mo est. |
| 10 dashboard usersSuperTokens includes 3 free dashboard users, then $20/user/month for 7 extra users. Auth0 dashboard-seat pricing is not provided in the input. | Not specified | ~$140/mo est. |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Auth0 when…
- You want a managed auth service with a larger included free MAU cap before you pay.
- You need hosted login, custom domains, organizations, SCIM, and self-service SSO without assembling pieces yourself.
- You expect to stay within Auth0’s free plan limits and want a straightforward path to a flat paid plan.
- You prefer a vendor with a clear enterprise upgrade path and bundled support/SLA options.
Pick SuperTokens when…
- You want to self-host authentication and keep the core stack free with no MAU limit.
- You are building an early product and want cloud auth that remains free under 5,000 MAUs.
- You expect to add MFA, account linking, or extra dashboard users and want usage-based or per-seat add-ons.
- You want open source core auth features and do not mind a more modular pricing structure later.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, SuperTokens is the better free-tier pick if you want to keep costs low and have the option to self-host, because its core auth can stay free without an MAU ceiling. Auth0 is the better choice if you want a managed SaaS free tier with more built-in org and enterprise features and you value a cleaner upgrade path. In practice, SuperTokens wins on cost control, Auth0 wins on simplicity and hosted convenience.
Read the full listings: Auth0 and SuperTokens. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.