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The right FusionAuth replacement depends on what is pushing you out: self-hosting and source access, enterprise SSO, or simpler auth for a multi-tenant app. WorkOS, Clerk, Ory Network, Stytch, Descope and Logto cover different parts of that job; none should be treated as a direct match without checking deployment and feature needs. Listed starting prices range from $20 to $249, while some vendors do not publish a starting price. Free plans also come with different limits.
01Why people leave FusionAuth
You require open-source software
A commenter on r/selfhosted describes FusionAuth as closed-source and says that rules it out. If source access matters, compare open-source options directly.
SCIM is gated by plan
A FusionAuth representative said on Reddit that SCIM is part of Enterprise, not Essentials. Check the current plan and quote if directory provisioning is required.
Hosted costs need more scrutiny
FusionAuth pricing varies by plan, hosting and monthly active users; its listing also flags hosted caps and annual-only pricing. Model your expected usage before switching.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Best for enterprise SSO
WorkOSWorkOSSwitch to WorkOS if your main reason for leaving is enterprise SSO or directory syncing in a B2B app. Its listed fit includes enterprise SSO, Directory Sync and free user authentication, with a starting price of $65 and a free plan. That makes it a focused alternative to evaluate when enterprise connections matter more than self-hosting.
Trade-off: Budget for per-connection SSO and Directory Sync.
7.3/10from
$65/mofree plan - Best for multi-tenant SaaS
ClerkClerkClerk is a fit if you want built-in organization controls and auth UI components for a multi-tenant SaaS product. Its listing shows a free plan and a $20 starting price. That offers a lower listed entry point than FusionAuth’s $162 starting figure, but compare the plans against your required features and usage before treating the prices as equivalent.
Trade-off: Model costs as usage grows; the free tier is not the whole cost picture.
7.8/10from
$20/mofree plan - Best for managed IAM
Ory NetworkOry NetworkChoose Ory Network if you want managed cloud IAM for customer and B2B identity, or need identity for machine-to-machine access. Its listing includes a free plan and a $64.17 starting price. Unlike a self-hosting decision, this moves the evaluation toward managed service fit and metered usage.
Trade-off: The free plan cannot run production, and paid usage is metered.
6.7/10from
$64.17/mofree plan - Best for B2B authentication
StytchStytchStytch is worth comparing if your product needs B2B authentication, multi-tenant identity or agent identity controls. The listing includes a free plan, but does not publish a starting price. That makes it hard to compare costs with FusionAuth from public figures alone; confirm B2B versus B2C fit and get pricing before planning a move.
Trade-off: Starting price is not published; confirm fit and custom costs.
7.6/10from
Freefree plan - Best for custom journeys
DescopeDescopeDescope fits teams building custom authentication journeys, multi-tenant SaaS identity or identity for AI agents. It has a free plan, while the listed Pro start is $249 per month with annual billing. Consider it if those capabilities match your product, but compare the paid commitment with your current FusionAuth plan before switching.
Trade-off: Pro starts at $249/month with annual billing.
7.6/10from
$249/mofree plan - Best for open-source auth
LogtoLogtoLogto is a candidate if you want open-source authentication and need OIDC or SAML. Its listing includes a free plan and a $24 starting price, giving you a lower listed entry point than FusionAuth. Check the add-on pricing before committing, and verify that its deployment model meets your requirements.
Trade-off: Price the add-ons before committing.
7.5/10from
$24/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 FusionAuth FusionAuth (current) | 7.7 | $162/mo | Yes | Teams needing self-hosted identity |
| WorkOS WorkOS | 7.3 | $65/mo | Yes | B2B apps adding enterprise SSO |
| Clerk Clerk | 7.8 | $20/mo | Yes | SaaS teams building multi-tenant apps |
| Ory Network Ory Network | 6.7 | $64.17/mo | Yes | Teams needing managed cloud IAM |
| Stytch Stytch | 7.6 | Free | Yes | Apps needing B2B authentication |
| Descope Descope | 7.6 | $249/mo | Yes | Teams building custom authentication journeys |
| Logto Logto | 7.5 | $24/mo | Yes | Teams wanting open-source authentication |
Questions people ask
Is FusionAuth open source?
A commenter on r/selfhosted describes FusionAuth as closed-source. If open-source software is a requirement, treat that as a reason to evaluate alternatives rather than assuming self-hosted means open-source. Logto is listed as an open-source authentication option; confirm its deployment details for your use case.
Which FusionAuth alternative is best for B2B SSO?
WorkOS is the most directly positioned here for enterprise SSO and Directory Sync in B2B apps. Its listing starts at $65 and includes a free plan. Check per-connection SSO and Directory Sync costs, then compare the required features and pricing with your FusionAuth setup.
Which FusionAuth alternative has the lowest listed starting price?
Clerk has the lowest listed starting price among these six options at $20, and it also has a free plan. Logto starts at $24 and has a free plan. These are listed entry prices, not like-for-like quotes; compare included features, usage and add-ons before choosing.