Which is cheaper, Stack Auth or Unkey?

Unkey is 2.0x cheaper than Stack Auth. Stack Auth starts at $0/mo, Unkey starts at $0/mo.

Does Stack Auth have a free tier?

Yes, Stack Auth offers a free tier with users: 10000, dashboardAdmins: 1.

Stack Auth has drop-in switching cost. Unkey has moderate switching cost. Stack Auth is easier to switch away from.

Auth

Stack Auth

Open-source Auth0/Clerk alternative with managed hosting or free self-hosting, built for Next.js

Switching Cost: drop-in

Unkey

← More affordable

API key management and rate limiting infrastructure for developers

Switching Cost: moderate

The pricing gap between Unkey and Stack Auth runs about 2.0x — significant consideration for scaling.

You'll notice different pricing structures: per-seat for Stack Auth versus flat-rate for Unkey.

If budget is your primary constraint, Unkey is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

If budget is your primary constraint, Unkey is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

Price Difference

2.0x

Unkey is cheaper by $24/mo

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies

Switching Costs

Stack Auth

Lower switching costs for easier migration