Which is cheaper, Clerk or FusionAuth?

Clerk is 1.5x cheaper than FusionAuth. Clerk starts at $0/mo, FusionAuth starts at $0/mo.

Does Clerk have a free tier?

Yes, Clerk offers a free tier with mruPerApp: 50000, dashboardSeats: 3.

Clerk has significant switching cost. FusionAuth has moderate switching cost. FusionAuth is easier to switch away from.

Auth

Clerk

← More affordable

Authentication and user management platform with prebuilt UI components, OAuth/OIDC support, and enterprise SSO

Switching Cost: significant

FusionAuth

Full-featured auth platform with self-hosting option and MAU-based cloud pricing

Switching Cost: moderate

The cost difference is substantial — FusionAuth runs about 1.5x what Clerk charges.

You'll notice different pricing structures: hybrid for Clerk versus tiered for FusionAuth.

Teams prioritizing vendor flexibility should choose {winner} — lower switching costs preserve your future options.

Teams prioritizing vendor flexibility should choose {winner} — lower switching costs preserve your future options.

Price Difference

1.5x

Clerk is cheaper by $12/mo

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies

Switching Costs

FusionAuth

Lower switching costs for easier migration