Overview
Authgear is open-source authentication and user management for consumer apps, frontline workforces and B2B SaaS. Its pitch is no feature gating: passkeys, biometrics, WhatsApp and SMS OTP, magic links, social login, adaptive MFA, SAML SSO, Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory, LDAP and RBAC are on every plan, including free. It adds TypeScript hooks, an Admin API, a no-code flow editor and native SDKs for Swift, Kotlin, Flutter and React Native.
Cloud plans differ in scale and support rather than features. Free has unlimited MAU but only two applications, two project members and one day of logs. Developers at $50 a month keeps unlimited MAU and adds metered messaging and priority email support. Business at $500 a month includes 25,000 MAU with $50 per extra 5,000, five apps, 60-day logs, branding removal and a dedicated Slack channel.
For self-hosting, Authgear ONCE is a one-time $299 licence for one project with unlimited users and two years of updates, and an Enterprise self-hosted edition adds high availability. The company states it is ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certified, bootstrapped and profitable, and lets you export all users including password hashes.
Pricing and plans
checked 28 Sept 2026Free tier
Cloud Free: unlimited MAU, all auth features including passkeys, MFA, SAML SSO and RBAC, 2 applications, 2 project members, 100 SMS/WhatsApp OTP a month, 1-day log retention, community support
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Unlimited MAU, 2 apps, 2 members, 100 OTP messages, 1-day logs |
| Developers | $50/mo | Unlimited MAU, metered SMS/WhatsApp, priority email support |
| Business | $500/mo | 25,000 MAU (+$50 per 5,000), 5 apps, 60-day logs, dedicated Slack, no branding |
| Enterprise | Custom | Data residency, private cloud, custom SMS gateway, tailored SLA |
| ONCE (self-hosted) | $299 one-time | One project, unlimited MAU and apps, 2 years of updates |
What it does
- No feature gates
- Passkeys, adaptive MFA, SAML SSO, AD login and RBAC on every plan including Free.
- WhatsApp and SMS OTP
- Phone-number login for users without email; 100 free messages a month, then metered.
- Hooks and Admin API
- TypeScript hooks to gate sign-ups, add token claims and validate profiles; full Admin API.
- Native mobile SDKs
- Swift, Kotlin, Flutter and React Native SDKs with biometric unlock and token refresh.
- Flow editor
- Visual editor to change sign-up and login steps per app without a deploy.
- Full export
- Export all users including password hashes at any time.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Unlimited MAU and SAML SSO on the free cloud plan
- One-time $299 self-hosted licence as an alternative to subscriptions
- ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II stated
- Strong phone and WhatsApp OTP support
Limitations
- Free and Developers plans allow only 2 applications and 1-day log retention
- Branding removal requires the $500/mo Business plan or ONCE
- Business caps MAU at 25,000 before $50 per 5,000
- Data residency is Enterprise-only
Who it suits
Good for
- Consumer and mobile apps needing passkeys or WhatsApp OTP
- Frontline workforce apps where staff have no corporate email
- Teams that prefer a one-time self-hosted licence
Look elsewhere if
- Teams needing many apps and long log retention on a small budget
- Projects needing EU data residency on a self-serve cloud plan
Alternatives to Authgear
| Tool | From | Free option | Stages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Cognito Cloud user directory and auth service | Usage-based | Free tier | |
| Asgardeo Hosted CIAM (with open-source self-hosted option) | $20/mo | Free tier | |
| Firebase Backend platform with document and realtime databases | Usage-based | Free tier | |
| FusionAuth Self-hostable CIAM server | $162/mo | Free tier | |
| Stytch Hosted auth API (B2B and consumer) | $125/mo | Free tier | |
| Supabase Managed Postgres backend platform | $25/mo | Free tier |
Questions
Is Authgear really free with unlimited users?
Yes. The cloud Free plan has unlimited MAU and all auth features, limited to 2 applications, 2 team members and 100 OTP messages a month.
Is Authgear open source?
Yes. Authgear describes itself as open source and self-hostable.
What is Authgear ONCE?
A self-hosted edition sold as a $299 one-time purchase for one project, with two years of updates.
Does Authgear include SAML SSO for free?
Yes, SAML SSO and Active Directory login are included on every plan.
Sources read for this page