Top 5 NextAuth alternatives for secure authentication in 2026

NextAuth.js (now Auth.js) has been a popular choice for adding authentication to Next.js applications, offering a flexible, open-source solution with support for multiple providers and database adapters. But as applications grow and requirements evolve, many developers find themselves outgrowing NextAuth's capabilities or struggling with its limitations.

Whether you're building a new application or considering migrating away from NextAuth, understanding your alternatives is crucial. The authentication landscape has evolved significantly, with new platforms offering better developer experience, enterprise features, and managed services that reduce maintenance burden.

In this guide, we'll explore the top 5 NextAuth alternatives for 2026, from enterprise-grade platforms to open-source solutions, helping you find the right authentication approach for your Next.js application.

Common NextAuth challenges

Before diving into alternatives, let's identify the common challenges that drive developers to look beyond NextAuth:

• ‍Enterprise features are missing or difficult to implement: NextAuth doesn't provide built-in support for SAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, or directory sync. If you need to sell to enterprise customers, you'll need to build these features yourself or integrate additional services.‍
• Maintenance and configuration complexity: NextAuth requires significant configuration and custom code for common scenarios. Database adapters, session management, email providers, and OAuth configurations all need manual setup and ongoing maintenance.‍
• Limited UI components: NextAuth provides authentication logic but no pre-built UI components. You'll need to build login pages, password reset flows, and user management interfaces from scratch.‍
• Session management challenges: Handling sessions across server components, client components, API routes, and middleware in Next.js App Router can be complex and error-prone with NextAuth.‍
• Multi-tenancy support: Building multi-tenant applications with organization-level user management requires significant custom architecture on top of NextAuth.‍
• Security and compliance gaps: Features like audit logging, bot detection, advanced MFA, and compliance-ready user lifecycle management aren't built into NextAuth.‍
• Breaking changes and migration pain: The transition from NextAuth to Auth.js introduced breaking changes, and keeping up with Next.js updates often requires configuration adjustments.‍
• Support and documentation: As an open-source project, NextAuth relies on community support. Complex issues or enterprise requirements may not have clear solutions or official guidance.

Now let's look at the top 5 alternatives that address these challenges.

1. WorkOS

WorkOS is an enterprise authentication platform built specifically for B2B SaaS applications. It provides AuthKit, a complete authentication solution with pre-built UI components, along with enterprise features like SSO, Directory Sync, and fine-grained authorization.

Key features

• Next.js App Router-focused SDK (@workos-inc/authkit-nextjs).
• AI-powered CLI: Instantly integrate AuthKit with npx workos@latest—the CLI automatically detects your Rails project and updates your code with authentication.
• Server-side session validation via HTTP-only cookies, designed for App Router, Server Components, and edge-safe route protection.
• Flexible UI support via APIs and SDKs, with AuthKit as a highly customizable hosted login powered by Radix.
• Enterprise SSO with native SAML and OIDC, configurable by customers through an Admin Portal.‍
• SCIM provisioning: Automated user provisioning and deprovisioning that enterprises expect, handling the "remove this employee immediately" requests that inevitably arrive. Real-time synchronization with any identity provider (Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace, and more).
• Tamper-proof audit logs for SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR.‍
• Passkeys, MFA, social logins, magic auth, and more.
• Secure session handling with server-side validation and instant session revocation capabilities.‍
• Customizable JWT claims: Add custom data to JWT payloads with JWT templates for flexible token customization.‍
• Radar for suspicious login detection and threat monitoring that alerts you to potential account compromises.
• Fine-grained authorization: Role-based access control with customizable permissions.‍
• Feature flags: Integrated feature flagging for gradual rollouts.
• First-class multi-tenancy with organization management, member invitations, and role assignment.‍
• Enterprise SLA and dedicated support.‍
• Pricing that scales with growth, with $0 for the first 1 million users.

Best for

WorkOS is ideal for B2B SaaS companies building on Next.js that need to sell to enterprise customers. If your roadmap includes features like SSO, SCIM provisioning, or advanced multi-tenancy, WorkOS provides these out of the box instead of requiring months of custom development on top of NextAuth.

Trade-offs

If you truly only need a quick OAuth login for a hobby app, WorkOS can feel like bringing a well-organized toolbox to hang a single picture. The upside is: you won’t have to rebuild your walls later.

2. Keycloak

Keycloak is an open-source identity and access management (IAM) platform that provides comprehensive authentication and authorization capabilities. It's a Java-based solution that can be self-hosted, offering enterprise features without vendor lock-in.

Key features

• Open-source IAM: Complete identity and access management platform with no licensing fees.
• Single sign-on (SSO): Support for SAML, OpenID Connect, and OAuth 2.0 protocols.
• Identity brokering: Authenticate users via external identity providers like Google, Facebook, or enterprise IdPs.
• User federation: Connect to existing user databases via LDAP or Active Directory.
• Admin console: Web-based admin interface for managing realms, clients, users, and roles.
• Customizable themes: Customize login pages and email templates to match your brand.

Best for

Keycloak works for organizations that need enterprise IAM features, want to self-host their authentication infrastructure, and have the operational expertise to deploy and maintain a Java application. It's particularly suited for teams already invested in the Java ecosystem or those requiring complete control over their identity infrastructure.

Trade-offs

• Self-hosted infrastructure. You're responsible for deploying, scaling, monitoring, and maintaining Keycloak servers and databases.
• Java-based platform requires JVM expertise and infrastructure, which may not align with JavaScript/TypeScript-focused Next.js teams.
• Configuration complexity. While powerful, Keycloak's extensive configuration options can be overwhelming and require time to learn.
• Next.js integration requires custom work. No official Next.js SDK; you'll implement OpenID Connect flows manually.
• Resource-intensive. Keycloak can be heavy on resources compared to lightweight authentication solutions.
• UI customization is limited. While you can theme login pages, creating custom authentication flows requires deeper modifications.
• Updates and maintenance burden. Security patches, version upgrades, and database migrations are your responsibility.
• No built-in multi-tenancy for B2B SaaS. You'll need to design realm-per-tenant or shared-realm architectures yourself.

3. Better Auth

Better Auth is an open-source, TypeScript-first authentication library that emerged as a modern alternative to NextAuth. It provides a framework-agnostic approach with excellent Next.js support and focuses on developer experience.

Key features

• TypeScript-first: Fully typed API with excellent IDE support and type safety.
• Framework agnostic: Works with Next.js, but also SvelteKit, Remix, and other frameworks.
• Plugin architecture: Extensible system for adding features like OAuth, two-factor authentication, and more.
• Multiple providers: Email/password, OAuth, magic links, and passkeys support.
• Database agnostic: Works with PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and various ORMs.
• Open source: MIT licensed with active development and community.

Best for

Better Auth works for developers who want a modern, TypeScript-first authentication library similar to NextAuth but with better developer experience and active maintenance. It's suitable for teams that want to own their authentication infrastructure and prefer a library approach over managed services, though you'll need to implement enterprise features yourself.

Trade-offs

• Library approach means you're responsible for hosting, infrastructure, and maintenance. No managed service or enterprise support.
• No enterprise SSO support (SAML, OIDC with external identity providers). Only OAuth for social login.
• No SCIM provisioning or directory sync capabilities for enterprise customers.
• Multi-tenancy requires custom architecture and implementation on top of the library.
• No pre-built UI components. You'll need to build login pages, password reset flows, and account management interfaces.
• No built-in audit logging, compliance features, or user lifecycle management.
• Smaller community and ecosystem compared to established solutions. Fewer resources, examples, and third-party integrations.
• Email sending requires integration with external email providers. No built-in email infrastructure.
• As a newer library, it may have undiscovered edge cases or missing features that established platforms have addressed.

4. Supabase Auth

Supabase Auth is part of the larger Supabase platform, providing authentication alongside a PostgreSQL database, storage, and real-time subscriptions. It offers a managed service with good Next.js integration through its JavaScript client library.

Key features

• Multiple auth methods: Email/password, magic links, OAuth providers, and phone authentication.
• Row level security: Database-level security policies that integrate with authentication.
• Social providers: Pre-configured OAuth integrations with popular providers.
• JavaScript client: Official client library that works with Next.js.
• Open source: Self-hostable for compliance or data residency requirements.
• Integrated platform: Works seamlessly with Supabase database, storage, and edge functions.

Best for

Supabase Auth works for developers who want an integrated backend platform and are building applications that benefit from PostgreSQL, real-time features, and storage in addition to authentication. It's suitable for startups and indie developers who want a complete backend solution, though enterprise features are limited.

Trade-offs

• No enterprise features like SAML SSO or SCIM provisioning. Unsuitable for B2B SaaS targeting enterprise customers.
• Platform approach creates vendor lock-in. Authentication is tightly coupled to Supabase infrastructure.
• Multi-tenancy requires significant custom architecture with database schemas, row-level security policies, and application-level tenant isolation.
• No pre-built UI components. You'll need to build login pages and authentication flows yourself.
• Session management in Next.js requires manual implementation. No built-in Next.js App Router integration.
• Admin dashboard is basic. Advanced user management features require custom development.
• Magic links and passwordless flows require additional configuration and email provider setup.
• No built-in audit logging for compliance. Tracking user activity requires custom implementation.
• Organization management and team features need to be built from scratch.

5. Firebase Authentication

Firebase Authentication is Google's authentication service, part of the Firebase platform. It provides a managed authentication solution with extensive provider support and integration with Google Cloud services.

Key features

• Multiple auth methods: Email/password, phone, OAuth providers, and anonymous authentication.
• Google integration: Deep integration with Google Cloud Platform and Google services.
• Security rules: Client-side security rules that work with Firestore and Realtime Database.
• SDKs and libraries: Official JavaScript SDK with Next.js compatibility.
• Identity platform: Upgraded tier with enterprise features like SAML support and multi-tenancy.
• Free tier: Generous free tier for getting started.

Best for

Firebase Authentication works for developers already using Firebase or Google Cloud Platform who want a managed authentication service with strong Google ecosystem integration. It's suitable for consumer-facing applications and startups building on Google infrastructure, though B2B SaaS features require upgrading to Identity Platform.

Trade-offs

• SAML SSO and advanced enterprise features only available on paid Identity Platform tier, which can be expensive.
• Vendor lock-in to Google's ecosystem. Migration away from Firebase is complex.
• Multi-tenancy support exists but requires Identity Platform upgrade and careful configuration.
• Next.js integration requires manual implementation. No official Next.js SDK with App Router support.
• Session management in Next.js App Router requires custom token handling and refresh logic.
• UI customization is limited. Firebase UI library is basic and difficult to customize deeply.
• Security rules can become complex and are easy to misconfigure, leading to security vulnerabilities.
• No SCIM provisioning or directory sync for enterprise user lifecycle management.
• Admin SDK required for server-side operations adds complexity to Next.js API routes.
• Real-time database and Firestore coupling may force architectural decisions you don't want.

Choosing the right NextAuth alternative

The best authentication solution depends on your specific needs:

Choose WorkOS if you're building a B2B SaaS application on Next.js that needs to sell to enterprise customers. The pre-built AuthKit UI, enterprise SSO, SCIM, multi-tenancy, and fine-grained authorization mean you can focus on building your application instead of authentication infrastructure. WorkOS is the only solution that combines enterprise features, managed service, and excellent Next.js integration without requiring authentication expertise.

Choose Keycloak if you need enterprise IAM features, want to self-host your authentication infrastructure, and have operational expertise with Java applications. You'll get comprehensive features and no vendor lock-in, but you'll need to manage infrastructure, implement Next.js integration yourself, and handle all operational overhead.

Choose Better Auth if you want a modern, TypeScript-first authentication library similar to NextAuth but with better developer experience and active maintenance. It's perfect for teams that want to own their authentication code, though you'll need to implement enterprise features, UI components, and multi-tenancy yourself.

Choose Supabase Auth if you're building a startup or indie project that benefits from an integrated backend platform with PostgreSQL, real-time features, and storage. Be aware you'll lack enterprise features, need to build UI components, and be locked into the Supabase platform.

Choose Firebase Authentication if you're already using Firebase or Google Cloud Platform and want authentication integrated with Google services. It works for consumer apps, but enterprise features require upgrading to Identity Platform, and you'll need to implement Next.js integration and UI components yourself.

Conclusion

NextAuth has served the Next.js community well, but as applications mature and requirements grow, many developers find themselves needing more than what the library provides. Whether it's enterprise features, managed services, better developer experience, or reduced maintenance burden, the alternatives explored here each offer different solutions to NextAuth's limitations.

Open-source options like Keycloak and Better Auth provide control and flexibility but require significant operational resources and custom development for enterprise features. Managed platforms like Supabase and Firebase reduce infrastructure burden but come with vendor lock-in and limited B2B capabilities.

For teams building B2B SaaS applications on Next.js, especially those targeting enterprise customers, WorkOS offers the most complete solution. AuthKit's pre-built UI components eliminate the need to build authentication interfaces from scratch. Enterprise SSO, SCIM provisioning, and directory sync work out of the box, not as add-ons requiring months of development. The Next.js SDK provides first-class App Router support with minimal configuration. And features like fine-grained authorization, audit logging, and multi-tenancy are built into the platform, letting you focus on your application instead of authentication infrastructure.

If you're outgrowing NextAuth and need enterprise features, managed service reliability, and excellent Next.js integration without the operational overhead, WorkOS provides the path forward.