Microsoft Entra ID vs Clerk: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Microsoft Entra ID positions itself as "microsoft entra id" 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. Both use freemium pricing, but Microsoft Entra ID charges per seat while Clerk charges per mau — a meaningful difference for larger teams. Microsoft Entra ID (founded 2010) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while Clerk (2021) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.
At a glance
| Microsoft Entra ID | Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 84/100 | 85/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Microsoft Entra ID | Authentication built for modern React and Next.js apps |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Microsoft Entra ID | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| SSO | Yes | No |
| MFA | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional Access | Yes | No |
| SCIM provisioning | Yes | No |
| Azure app integration | Yes | No |
| Pre-built UI components | No | Yes |
| OAuth / OIDC | No | Yes |
| Social login | No | Yes |
| Passkeys | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | Microsoft Entra ID | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Protection | Yes | No |
| Privileged Identity Management | Yes | No |
| Access reviews | Yes | No |
| Verified ID | Yes | No |
| Workload identity | Yes | No |
| Organizations | No | Yes |
| Roles & permissions | No | Pro+ |
| SAML SSO | No | Enterprise |
| SCIM | No | Enterprise |
| Session management | No | Yes |
integrations
| Feature | Microsoft Entra ID | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 | Yes | No |
| Azure | Yes | No |
| Salesforce | Yes | No |
| AWS | Yes | No |
| Okta | 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 Microsoft Entra ID means going without Pre-built UI components, OAuth / OIDC, Social login (which Clerk offers). Choosing Clerk means losing SSO, Conditional Access, SCIM provisioning. 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. Microsoft Entra ID (10000+ employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose Microsoft Entra ID 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 Microsoft Entra ID or Clerk better?
Clerk scores 85/100 compared to Microsoft Entra ID's 84/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Microsoft Entra ID excels at ease of use (7/10) while Clerk scores 10/10.
How much does Microsoft Entra ID cost compared to Clerk?
Microsoft Entra ID starts at free (free tier available). Clerk starts at free (free tier available). Microsoft Entra ID is the more affordable option.
Does Microsoft Entra ID or Clerk have a free plan?
Yes, both Microsoft Entra ID and Clerk offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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