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Auth0 vs Nhost
Side-by-side comparison of Auth0 and Nhost.
Quick summary
Auth0 — Identity platform for developers. Auth0 is an enterprise-grade identity platform offering authentication, authorization, and SSO.
Nhost — Open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL. Nhost is an open-source backend platform combining PostgreSQL, Hasura GraphQL, authentication, and storage.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Auth0 | Nhost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $35/mo | $25/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| MFA | Yes | — |
| SAML/SSO | Yes | — |
| Free Tier | 7.5k MAU | Yes |
| Self-hosted | No | Yes |
| Pre-built UI | Yes | — |
| Social Login | Yes | — |
| Organizations | Yes | — |
| Auth | — | Yes |
| Storage | — | Yes |
| Database | — | PostgreSQL |
| Realtime | — | Yes |
| Edge Functions | — | Yes |
| Row Level Security | — | Yes |
Auth0
Identity platform for developers
Pros
- Enterprise-ready
- Deep customization
- Acquired by Okta
Cons
- Expensive at scale
- Complex dashboard
- Free tier reduced over time
Nhost
Open source Firebase alternative with GraphQL
Pros
- GraphQL-first via Hasura
- Postgres + open source
- Good developer experience
Cons
- Smaller community
- GraphQL learning curve
Which should you choose?
Choose Auth0 if a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Nhost if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Auth0 or Nhost?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Nhost is the safer default because Nhost is open source, which means you can self-host and avoid vendor lock-in. Auth0 is proprietary. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Auth0 cheaper than Nhost?
Auth0 starts at $35/mo, while Nhost starts at $25/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Auth0 to Nhost?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Auth0-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most authentication migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is Auth0 or Nhost open source?
Nhost is open source; Auth0 is a proprietary managed service.
Does Auth0 or Nhost have a free tier?
Both Auth0 and Nhost offer a free tier.
Which is best for startups and indie hackers?
Startups usually optimize for the lowest friction to ship and the cheapest possible free tier. The one with the most generous free tier here is Auth0. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.