Clerk

Authentication built for modern React and Next.js apps

Clerk vs Okta: Full Comparison (2026)

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

The bottom line

Clerk positions itself as "authentication built for modern react and next.js apps" while Okta goes after "the identity standard" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — Clerk uses a freemium approach and Okta a subscription-based model, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Clerk lets you start for free, which means you can validate the fit before committing budget. Okta requires a paid commitment upfront, so make sure it matches your workflow before signing. Okta (founded 2009) 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

	Clerk	Okta
Our score	85/100	87/100
Starting price	Free	Free
Free tier	Yes	No
Best for	Authentication built for modern React and Next.js apps	The identity standard

Pricing comparison

Clerk

Free tier available

FreeFree

Pro$25/mo

Enterprise$null/mo

Pricing verified 2026-04-16

Okta

No free tier

Workforce SSO$2/mo

Workforce Identity Cloud$5/mo

Pricing verified 2026-04-16

Calculate your cost

How many developers?10

1500

ClerkUnknown

Contact sales

OktaCustom

Contact sales

Contact sales — exceeds available plans

Try Clerk free →Visit Okta →

Feature comparison

core

Feature	Clerk	Okta
Pre-built UI components	Yes	No
OAuth / OIDC	Yes	No
Social login	Yes	No
MFA	Yes	Yes
Passkeys	Yes	No
SSO	No	Yes
Lifecycle management	No	Yes
SCIM provisioning	No	Yes
App catalog (7000+)	No	Yes

advanced

Feature	Clerk	Okta
Organizations	Yes	No
Roles & permissions	Pro+	No
SAML SSO	Enterprise	No
SCIM	Enterprise	No
Session management	Yes	No
Adaptive MFA	No	Yes
Device Trust	No	Yes
Privileged Access	No	Yes
Identity Governance	No	Yes
API Access Management	No	Yes

integrations

Feature	Clerk	Okta
Next.js	Yes	No
React	Yes	No
Remix	Yes	No
Astro	Yes	No
Supabase	Yes	No
Convex	Yes	No
Azure AD	No	Yes
Google Workspace	No	Yes
AWS	No	Yes
Salesforce	No	Yes
Workday	No	Yes

Ratings breakdown

Clerk

Ease of use

10/10

Value for money

9/10

Features

8/10

Support

8/10

Okta

Ease of use

8/10

Value for money

7/10

Features

10/10

Support

9/10

What the data tells us

Key capabilities you'd miss

Choosing Clerk means going without SSO, Lifecycle management, SCIM provisioning (which Okta offers). Choosing Okta means losing Pre-built UI components, OAuth / OIDC, Social login. 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. Okta (5001-10000 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.

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

Try Clerk free →

Choose Okta if...

You're ready to invest from $null/mo
You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
You need enterprise-grade capabilities

Visit Okta →

Frequently asked questions

Is Clerk or Okta better?

Okta scores 87/100 compared to Clerk's 85/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Clerk excels at ease of use (10/10) while Okta scores 8/10.

How much does Clerk cost compared to Okta?

Clerk starts at free (free tier available). Okta starts at free. Clerk is the more affordable option.

Does Clerk or Okta have a free plan?

Clerk offers a free tier. Okta does not — its cheapest plan starts at $null/mo.

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