Firebase Authentication

Google-backed auth with generous free tier for mobile and web

Knock

Notification infrastructure for developers

Firebase Authentication vs Knock: Full Comparison (2026)

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

The bottom line

Firebase Authentication positions itself as "google-backed auth with generous free tier for mobile and web" while Knock goes after "notification infrastructure for developers" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. Both use freemium pricing, but Firebase Authentication charges per mau while Knock charges per message — a meaningful difference for larger teams. Firebase Authentication (founded 2011) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while Knock (2021) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.

At a glance

	Firebase Authentication	Knock
Our score	76/100	84/100
Starting price	Free	Free
Free tier	Yes	Yes
Best for	Google-backed auth with generous free tier for mobile and web	Notification infrastructure for developers

Pricing comparison

Firebase Authentication

Free tier available

Spark (Free)Free

Blaze (Pay-as-you-go)$null/mo

Pricing verified 2026-04-16

Knock

Free tier available

FreeFree

Starter$100/mo

Pro$500/mo

Pricing verified 2026-04-16

Calculate your cost

How many developers?10

1500

Firebase AuthenticationUnknown

Contact sales

KnockUnknown

Contact sales

Try Firebase Authentication free →Try Knock free →

Feature comparison

core

Feature	Firebase Authentication	Knock
Email/password	Yes	No
Google OAuth	Yes	No
Apple OAuth	Yes	No
Phone SMS	Yes	No
Anonymous auth	Yes	No
Multi-channel notifications	No	Yes
Workflow builder	No	Yes
User preferences	No	Yes
In-app feed	No	Yes
Template management	No	Yes

advanced

Feature	Firebase Authentication	Knock
Multi-tenancy	Blaze	No
SAML SSO	Blaze ($0.015/MAU)	No
Custom claims	Yes	No
App Check	Yes	No
Blocking functions	Yes	No
Branching logic	No	Yes
Digest notifications	No	Yes
Batch & debounce	No	Yes
Tenant support	No	Yes
Audit logs	No	Yes

integrations

Feature	Firebase Authentication	Knock
Firebase (all products)	Yes	No
Google Cloud	Yes	No
Flutter	Yes	No
Android/iOS SDKs	Yes	No
Web SDK	Yes	No
Sendgrid	No	Yes
Twilio	No	Yes
Slack	No	Yes
Push (Firebase/APNs)	No	Yes
Webhooks	No	Yes

Ratings breakdown

Firebase Authentication

Ease of use

8/10

Value for money

9/10

Features

7/10

Support

6/10

Knock

Ease of use

9/10

Value for money

8/10

Features

9/10

Support

9/10

What the data tells us

Key capabilities you'd miss

Choosing Firebase Authentication means going without Multi-channel notifications, Workflow builder, User preferences (which Knock offers). Choosing Knock means losing Email/password, Google OAuth, Apple OAuth. 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

Firebase Authentication (100,000+ employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Knock (1-10 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.

Choose Firebase Authentication 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 Firebase Authentication free →

Choose Knock 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 Knock free →

Frequently asked questions

Is Firebase Authentication or Knock better?

Knock scores 84/100 compared to Firebase Authentication's 76/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Firebase Authentication excels at ease of use (8/10) while Knock scores 9/10.

How much does Firebase Authentication cost compared to Knock?

Firebase Authentication starts at free (free tier available). Knock starts at free (free tier available). Firebase Authentication is the more affordable option.

Does Firebase Authentication or Knock have a free plan?

Yes, both Firebase Authentication and Knock offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.

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