AWS Amplify vs Clerk: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
AWS Amplify positions itself as "full-stack hosting and backend for web and mobile apps on aws" while Clerk goes after "authentication built for modern react and next.js apps" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — AWS Amplify uses a usage-based-based model and Clerk a freemium approach, which affects how costs scale as your team grows.
At a glance
| AWS Amplify | Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 68/100 | 85/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Full-stack hosting and backend for web and mobile apps on AWS | Authentication built for modern React and Next.js apps |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | AWS Amplify | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Git push deploys | Yes | No |
| Preview environments | Yes | No |
| Custom domains | Yes | No |
| Automatic HTTPS | Yes | No |
| Build pipeline | Yes | No |
| Pre-built UI components | No | Yes |
| OAuth / OIDC | No | Yes |
| Social login | No | Yes |
| MFA | No | Yes |
| Passkeys | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | AWS Amplify | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Auth (Cognito) | Yes | No |
| API (AppSync/API GW) | Yes | No |
| Storage (S3) | Yes | No |
| Functions (Lambda) | Yes | No |
| Hosting SSR | Yes | No |
| Organizations | No | Yes |
| Roles & permissions | No | Pro+ |
| SAML SSO | No | Enterprise |
| SCIM | No | Enterprise |
| Session management | No | Yes |
integrations
| Feature | AWS Amplify | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub | Yes | No |
| GitLab | Yes | No |
| Bitbucket | Yes | No |
| All AWS services | Yes | No |
| AWS CodeCommit | Yes | No |
| Next.js | No | Yes |
| React | No | Yes |
| Remix | No | Yes |
| Astro | No | Yes |
| Supabase | No | Yes |
| Convex | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing AWS Amplify means going without Pre-built UI components, OAuth / OIDC, Social login (which Clerk offers). Choosing Clerk means losing Git push deploys, Preview environments, Custom domains. 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
Clerk (51-200 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. AWS Amplify (100,000+ employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose AWS Amplify if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Choose Clerk 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
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS Amplify or Clerk better?
Clerk scores 85/100 compared to AWS Amplify's 68/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — AWS Amplify excels at ease of use (6/10) while Clerk scores 10/10.
How much does AWS Amplify cost compared to Clerk?
AWS Amplify starts at free (free tier available). Clerk starts at free (free tier available). AWS Amplify is the more affordable option.
Does AWS Amplify or Clerk have a free plan?
Yes, both AWS Amplify and Clerk offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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