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Comparison guide

Clerk vs Next-auth

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Hero image for Clerk vs Next-auth
  1. clerk

    The official Clerk CLI. Add authentication to your app with npx -y clerk@latest init (Next.js, React Router, Astro, Nuxt, TanStack Start, Expo, and more). No Clerk account needed to start. Manage users, instances, keys, and deploys from the terminal or a

    Downloads unavailable · 2.9 KB gzip · Health 67/100

    0
  2. next-auth

    Authentication for Next.js

    Downloads unavailable · 81.6 KB gzip · Health 61/100

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Choosing between Clerk and Next-auth? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Weekly download data is unavailable for Clerk. Weekly download data is unavailable for Next-auth. Missing data is not zero downloads. We cannot compare download activity until all counts are available.

Bundle Size

Clerk has the smallest gzipped bundle at 2.9 KB. Next-auth comes in at 81.6 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Clerk has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong maintenance, security scores. Next-auth has an overall health score of 61/100 (good), with strong maintenance, security scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics. Download data is incomplete; these composite scores include a fallback popularity input and should not determine an overall winner.

When to Choose Each

Choose Clerk if you value minimal bundle footprint, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Next-auth if you value strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Download data is incomplete for this comparison of Clerk and Next-auth. We are not selecting an overall winner from incomplete metrics. Compare the available bundle, maintenance, and quality information against your project's requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is clerk better than next-auth?
It depends on your needs. Clerk has a health score of 67/100 while Next-auth scores 61/100. Weekly download data is incomplete, so no popularity ranking is available. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, clerk or next-auth?
Clerk has the smaller gzipped bundle at 2.9 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use clerk vs next-auth?
Weekly download data is incomplete, so no popularity ranking is available. Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, clerk or next-auth?
Clerk has a maintenance score of 100/100. Clerk scores 100/100 and Next-auth scores 80/100 on maintenance.

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