Clerk vs WorkOS Pricing (2026)

Which one is cheaper?

One or both use custom pricing, so it depends on your specific needs.

Can I use either one for free?

Both offer free plans, so you can try each without paying. Start with whichever fits your workflow better and upgrade when you hit the limits.

How do they charge?

Different approach here. Clerk uses hybrid pricing, while WorkOS goes with usage-based. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.

Which one is a better deal?

Depends on what you need. Clerk: Clerk sits mid-to-premium in the auth space — pricier than raw open-source options like Supabase Auth, but positioned as the polished, developer-first alternative to Auth0's more complex enterprise-heavy pricing. They're chasing product teams who want auth to just work without becoming a part-time identity engineer. WorkOS: WorkOS is playing the wedge game against Auth0 and enterprise IAM vendors by making basic auth free up to 1M MAUs — a number that undercuts almost everyone trying to nickel-and-dime early-stage startups. They're positioned as the affordable entry point for dev teams who need enterprise SSO to close deals but don't want Auth0-style pricing shock as they scale.

Still deciding? See the best Clerk alternatives or the best WorkOS alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.