Algolia

Hosted search API with sub-10ms response times

Stytch

Authentication infrastructure for modern apps

Algolia vs Stytch: Full Comparison (2026)

Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.

The bottom line

Algolia positions itself as "hosted search api with sub-10ms response times" while Stytch goes after "authentication infrastructure for modern apps" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. Both use freemium pricing, but Algolia charges per operation while Stytch charges per mau — a meaningful difference for larger teams. Algolia (founded 2012) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while Stytch (2020) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.

At a glance

	Algolia	Stytch
Our score	83/100	82/100
Starting price	Free	Free
Free tier	Yes	Yes
Best for	Hosted search API with sub-10ms response times	Authentication infrastructure for modern apps

Pricing comparison

Algolia

Free tier available

Build (Free)Free

Grow$null/mo

Premium/Enterprise$null/mo

Pricing verified 2026-04-16

Stytch

Free tier available

FreeFree

Growth$null/mo

Pricing verified 2026-04-16

Calculate your cost

How many developers?10

1500

AlgoliaUnknown

Contact sales

StytchUnknown

Contact sales

Try Algolia free →Try Stytch free →

Feature comparison

core

Feature	Algolia	Stytch
Full-text search	Yes	No
Typo tolerance	Yes	No
Faceting/filtering	Yes	No
Geo search	Yes	No
Synonyms	Yes	No
Magic links	No	Yes
Passkeys	No	Yes
OAuth	No	Yes
SMS/TOTP MFA	No	Yes
Session management	No	Yes

advanced

Feature	Algolia	Stytch
NeuralSearch (AI)	Yes	No
Personalization	Yes	No
A/B testing	Yes	No
Query rules	Yes	No
AI re-ranking	Yes	No
B2B SSO	No	Yes
Organizations	No	Yes
RBAC	No	Yes
Device fingerprinting	No	Yes
Connected Apps	No	Yes

integrations

Feature	Algolia	Stytch
Next.js	Yes	Yes
React	Yes	Yes
Shopify	Yes	No
WordPress	Yes	No
Contentful	Yes	No
Sanity	Yes	No
Node.js	No	Yes
Python	No	Yes
Ruby	No	Yes

Ratings breakdown

Algolia

Ease of use

9/10

Value for money

6/10

Features

9/10

Support

8/10

Stytch

Ease of use

9/10

Value for money

9/10

Features

8/10

Support

8/10

What the data tells us

Key capabilities you'd miss

Choosing Algolia means going without Magic links, Passkeys, OAuth (which Stytch offers). Choosing Stytch means losing Full-text search, Typo tolerance, Faceting/filtering. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.

What company size tells you

Stytch (51-200 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Algolia (501-1,000 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.

Choose Algolia if...

You want a free tier to get started
You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
You need enterprise-grade capabilities

Try Algolia free →

Choose Stytch if...

You want a free tier to get started
You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
Getting strong value for money is a priority

Try Stytch free →

Frequently asked questions

Is Algolia or Stytch better?

Algolia scores 83/100 compared to Stytch's 82/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Algolia excels at ease of use (9/10) while Stytch scores 9/10.

How much does Algolia cost compared to Stytch?

Algolia starts at free (free tier available). Stytch starts at free (free tier available). Algolia is the more affordable option.

Does Algolia or Stytch have a free plan?

Yes, both Algolia and Stytch offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.

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