Better Auth vs Memberstack
Pricing
Better Auth: Free and open source (MIT); optional managed dashboard from $20/mo
Memberstack: From $25/mo
Description
Better Auth: Open-source TypeScript authentication framework that runs inside your app and stores users in your own database
Memberstack: Add memberships and payments to any website
Pros
- Free under the MIT licence; you pay only if you want the optional managed dashboard
- Works across frameworks and lets you bring your own database
- Plugins add OAuth providers and security features such as rate limiting, bot detection and breached-password checks
- Works with Webflow/Wordpress
- Built-in Stripe integration
- No-code friendly
Cons
- Built for TypeScript projects only
- It runs inside your own app, so updates and security patches are your job, unlike hosted services such as Clerk or Auth0
- The free Starter dashboard keeps audit logs for one day and caps them at 10,000 a month
- Depends on your site builder
- Can get complex for advanced use
Details
Better Auth is a library, not a hosted service. You install it in your TypeScript app, point it at your own database, and it handles sign-in and OAuth providers, with plugins for the extras. Your users stay in your database, and the framework itself costs nothing.
It suits developer founders who want to own their auth without writing it from scratch. The team also took over Auth.js (formerly NextAuth.js), and Better Auth’s site announces that it is joining Vercel.
The paid part is an optional managed dashboard with audit logs, security detections, transactional email and SMS, and single sign-on. Starter is free with one seat; Pro is $20/month plus usage.
Memberstack adds user accounts and payments to Webflow and Wordpress sites without code. Handles auth, gating, and Stripe billing.
Founded by Tyler Bell and Duncan Hamra, best friends since preschool. YC S20, powering $130M+ in membership revenue for 3,000+ companies.
Better Auth verified
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