Build vs Clerk

User management for React apps — Should you build, vibe code, or buy?

Our Verdict

⚡ Vibe Code It

Auth.js handles the hard parts. Clerk is convenient but expensive at scale.

Pricing

$0-$0.02/MAU

Founded

2020

San Francisco, CA

Vibe Time

1-2 weeks

What is Clerk?

Clerk is a user management for react apps. The company is $55m raised. With 50+ employees, Clerk serves teams looking for authentication solutions.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

Beautiful components
Excellent DX
Quick setup
Organizations support

Weaknesses

Per-MAU pricing
Vendor lock-in
Limited customization
React-focused

Who Should Use Clerk?

Best For

Startups
Nextjs Apps
Rapid Prototyping

Not Ideal For

Enterprise
Budget At Scale
Non React

Vibe Coding Clerk

Using AI tools like Cursor and Claude, you can build a clerk-like solution in 1-2 weeks for approximately $3k-8k.

What You Can Build

Email/password
OAuth
Magic links
Sessions

What's Harder to Replicate

Pre-built UI
Organization management

Getting Started

Use this prompt with Cursor or Claude to scaffold your alternative:

Build a user management for react apps with these core features:
- Email/password
- OAuth
- Magic links

Tech stack: Next.js 14, TypeScript, Prisma, PostgreSQL, Tailwind, shadcn/ui
Include authentication, API routes, database schema, and a clean UI.

Open Source Alternatives

Before paying for Clerk, consider these open source options:

Auth.js ↗

Foundation for auth

Lucia ↗

Lightweight alternative

Alternatives to Clerk

Auth0

Enterprise-grade

Supabase Auth

Part of Supabase

Auth.js

Free, self-hosted

The Bottom Line

Clerk is solid, but this is a space where vibe coding works well. If you have specific requirements or want full control, consider building your own with modern AI tools.

Calculate Your Build vs Buy Costs →