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It's a split decision.
Choose WorkOS when enterprise SSO and directory provisioning are the main requirement: AuthKit includes up to 1 million monthly active users free, but SSO and Directory Sync cost $125 per connection for connections 1–15. Choose Clerk for app authentication and user-management features: Hobby is free, while Pro starts at $20/month billed annually ($25 monthly) and includes one SSO and one Directory Sync connection. For either product, model usage and add-on charges before switching.
01Side by side
| WorkOS | Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0 AuthKit; SSO is $125/connection for connections 1–15 | $0 Hobby; Pro is $20/month annually or $25 monthly |
| Free plan | AuthKit: up to 1 million monthly active users | Hobby: 50,000 MRUs per app; up to 3 dashboard seats |
| Best for | Enterprise SSO and corporate directory provisioning | App authentication and multi-tenant organization management |
| Core strength | SAML/OIDC SSO, SCIM and HRIS directory sync | Authentication UI, sessions, organizations and fraud controls |
| Learning curve | Ease-of-use score: 6/10 | Ease-of-use score: 8/10 |
| Integrations/data | SAML/OIDC providers; SCIM and HRIS integrations | Web and mobile SDKs, including Next.js, React and Expo |
| Team/seat costs | Dashboard seat pricing not published | Hobby: 3 seats; Business: 10, then $20/month each |
| Support | Annual Credits includes guided onboarding and guaranteed support SLA | Enterprise includes 99.99% uptime SLA and custom terms |
WorkOS Choose WorkOS if
- Choose WorkOS if enterprise SSO is a core requirement.
- Choose WorkOS if you need SCIM or HRIS directory sync.
- Choose WorkOS if guided migration and a support SLA matter.
Clerk Choose Clerk if
- Choose Clerk if you want a free app-authentication plan.
- Choose Clerk if published web and mobile SDKs fit your stack.
- Choose Clerk if you need organization UI and configurable roles.
02Pricing compared
WorkOS AuthKit is listed at $0 for up to 1 million monthly active users. Its SSO and Directory Sync pricing starts at $125 per connection per month for connections 1–15, then falls by tier to $65 each for connections 51–100. Annual Credits offers prepay discounts, but its rates are not published.
Clerk’s Hobby plan is free and includes 50,000 monthly retaining users per app. Pro costs $25 monthly or $20 per month billed annually, with one SSO and one Directory Sync connection included. Extra connections start at $75 each per month. Clerk’s Directory Sync billing starts January 1, 2027. These user metrics are different, so don’t compare the free allowances as equivalent. Model connection counts, usage and add-ons before choosing.
03Features and depth
WorkOS is built around enterprise identity features for apps: SAML or OIDC single sign-on, SCIM and HRIS directory syncing, user and organization management, access control, MFA, and a hosted Admin Portal for IT teams. AuthKit covers authentication and user management, while separate products handle SSO and Directory Sync. That separation matters if your product needs corporate identity integrations, not just sign-in.
Clerk combines authentication APIs with UI components for web and mobile apps. Its listed sign-in options include passwords, social sign-on, passcodes, magic links, and MFA. It also offers session management, bot and disposable-email controls, organization components, invitations, and customizable roles and permissions. Clerk lists SDKs for frameworks including Next.js, React, and Expo, plus a CLI and MCP server for agents. Both cover multi-tenant app needs, but WorkOS emphasizes enterprise provisioning and identity connections; Clerk’s feature set spans app authentication and organization management. Check the connection and usage pricing against the specific features you need.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Clerk’s included UI components and framework SDKs may suit teams that want to add authentication and organization flows without assembling every interface themselves. Its free Hobby plan also gives projects a way to start without a subscription, though it has limits such as 50,000 MRUs per app and seven-day fixed session lifetime.
WorkOS provides APIs and tools, plus a hosted Admin Portal for customer IT admins. That can address enterprise setup flows, but teams should plan around separate SSO and Directory Sync connections and their per-connection costs. The available product details don’t establish which integration takes less engineering time. Compare the implementation requirements for your framework, identity providers, and provisioning workflow before switching.
Questions people ask
Is WorkOS cheaper than Clerk?
It depends on the features and usage. WorkOS AuthKit lists up to 1 million monthly active users free, but SSO and Directory Sync connections cost $125 each per month for connections 1–15. Clerk Pro includes one of each connection, but costs $20 monthly with annual billing or $25 month to month.
Does Clerk include SSO and Directory Sync?
Clerk Pro includes one SSO connection and one Directory Sync connection. Additional connections start at $75 per month each for connections 2–15, with lower per-connection rates at higher tiers. Clerk says Directory Sync billing starts January 1, 2027.
Which product is better for enterprise SSO?
WorkOS is the more directly enterprise-identity-focused option in the published product details: it supports SAML or OIDC identity providers and offers Directory Sync through SCIM and HRIS integrations. Clerk also offers SSO and Directory Sync, with one connection of each included on Pro.
What should we compare before switching?
Compare your required identity providers, number of SSO and Directory Sync connections, user-volume metric, and any add-ons. WorkOS prices connections by tier and does not publish Annual Credits rates. Clerk has MRU overages and separate charges for some connections and features, so estimate your expected usage.