WorkOS
Enterprise-readiness platform: SSO, SCIM, audit logs, directory sync. Built for SaaS shipping enterprise plans. Pay-per-connection pricing.
Clerk
Drop-in auth + user management for Next.js, React, Remix. Free up to 10K MAUs. The ergonomic choice when you do not want to build sign-in/up flows yourself.
WorkOS vs Clerk
A side-by-side breakdown of WorkOS and Clerk — pricing in INR and USD, regional coverage, who each is best for, and the honest call on which to pick.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | WorkOS | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | auth | auth |
| Entry pricing (USD) | $125/mo | $25/mo |
| Entry pricing (INR) | — | — |
| Regions covered | IN · US · GLOBAL | IN · US · GLOBAL |
Which one should you pick?
Pick WorkOS if…
- Your customer base is concentrated in IN / US / GLOBAL.
- Enterprise-readiness platform: SSO, SCIM, audit logs, directory sync. Built for SaaS shipping enterprise plans. Pay-per-connection pricing.
Pick Clerk if…
- Your customer base is concentrated in IN / US / GLOBAL.
- Drop-in auth + user management for Next.js, React, Remix. Free up to 10K MAUs. The ergonomic choice when you do not want to build sign-in/up flows yourself.
- Entry pricing matters and you don't need a feature WorkOS bundles at its tier.
FAQ
›Is WorkOS or Clerk cheaper?
Clerk starts at $25/mo, WorkOS starts at $125/mo — Clerk wins on entry pricing. But entry pricing is rarely your real cost; check our pricing-curve modelling on each tool's review page for ARR projections.
›When should I pick WorkOS over Clerk?
Both compete in the same auth space. Pick WorkOS if your stack is closer to its native integrations, your team already uses sister products from the same vendor, or its regional coverage matches your customer base. Pick Clerk for the inverse.
›Can I migrate from WorkOS to Clerk later?
Most modern SaaS supports CSV/JSON export for the core data model. The migration cost is integration work — every Zapier workflow, every webhook URL, every API token has to be re-wired. Budget 2-4 weeks of engineering time for a non-trivial production migration.
›Are there alternatives to both WorkOS and Clerk?
Yes — browse the full auth category at /tools/category/auth for every tool we cover.