What Authentication Solutions Work Well with React and Next.js?

React and Next.js power a significant share of modern web applications. React remains the most widely used frontend framework — recording 81.1% usage among respondents in the State of JavaScript 2024 survey⁠ — and Next.js is the dominant React meta-framework, with the State of React 2024 survey⁠ describing it as "the only item boasting both high retention and high usage." Choosing an authentication solution that integrates natively with these frameworks reduces boilerplate, improves security posture, and accelerates development.

But "works well" means more than just having an npm package. For React and Next.js developers in 2026, a strong auth integration should include:

• Native Server Component and Server Action support — auth helpers callable on the server without client-side wrappers
• First-class proxy.ts support — Next.js 16 (released October 2025) replaced middleware.ts with proxy.ts, and auth libraries need to support the new file convention
• Prebuilt UI components — embeddable sign-in and account management components that can render inline. Redirect-based flows offer domain isolation and centralized compliance but add a navigation step
• Session management designed for SSR — short-lived tokens with automatic refresh, not long-lived tokens bolted onto a client-side architecture
• TypeScript-first SDKs — framework-specific APIs with full type safety, not generic wrappers

This comparison focuses on managed authentication platforms — services that provide hosted infrastructure, user storage, and dashboards alongside their SDKs. Open-source authentication libraries are not included because they occupy a different category: they are DIY libraries but developers must supply their own database, UI, and user management infrastructure. If you prefer a self-hosted, library-based approach but the trade-offs differ substantially from managed platforms, making a direct comparison misleading.

This article compares five authentication solutions across these dimensions: Clerk, Auth0⁠, Firebase Auth⁠, Supabase Auth⁠, and WorkOS⁠. Each has a different approach to React and Next.js integration — from fully embedded components to redirect-based flows, from 60-second token lifetimes to 24-hour defaults.

Whether you are a developer evaluating auth for a new project or a technical lead making an architecture decision, the comparison that follows breaks down exactly where each solution excels and where trade-offs exist.

What to Look For in a React/Next.js Auth Solution

Before comparing specific solutions, it helps to establish evaluation criteria. The following dimensions matter most when choosing auth for React and Next.js applications:

The Next.js authentication guide⁠ recommends a defense-in-depth approach: use the proxy for optimistic route-level checks, Server Components for secure data access, and Server Actions with per-action auth verification. Solutions that support auth at every layer — rather than only at the route boundary — align with this pattern.

Feature Comparison: Clerk, Auth0, Firebase Auth, Supabase Auth, and WorkOS

The table below compares how each solution handles React and Next.js integration across the criteria established above.

Clerk

Clerk provides the deepest React and Next.js integration among the compared solutions. The @clerk/nextjs SDK offers native Server Component helpers (auth(), currentUser()), 11 dedicated React hooks for authentication and organization management, plus 7 billing hooks for Stripe-integrated payment flows, and embeddable prebuilt components. The <SignIn /> component renders a full sign-in form inline, while <SignInButton> redirects to the Clerk-hosted Account Portal by default (or opens a modal when mode="modal" is set). Keyless mode allows developers to start building immediately — no API keys or dashboard setup are needed, and Clerk auto-generates temporary credentials during development. All routes are public by default, with opt-in protection via createRouteMatcher — matching the defense-in-depth pattern recommended in the Next.js authentication guide⁠. Clerk is a fully managed service — there is no self-hosted option. For teams that require on-premises auth infrastructure, Auth0 (with private cloud deployment) or Supabase (fully self-hostable) may be better fits.

Auth0

Auth0⁠ offers full App Router support through @auth0/nextjs-auth0 v4, including auth0.getSession() for Server Components. Auth0 has one of the broadest authentication ecosystems available, with extensive documentation and a powerful extensibility model through Actions for customizing auth flows. Authentication uses redirect-based Universal Login⁠, where users leave the application to sign in on Auth0's hosted page — this approach provides domain isolation and simplifies compliance audits since there is a single login page to certify. Auth0 does offer embedded login⁠ via auth0.js, but explicitly recommends against it⁠ and disabled cross-origin authentication by default for new applications in October 2024. The Auth0 Next.js quickstart⁠ notes that installing the SDK on Next.js 16 currently requires --legacy-peer-deps because Next.js 16 support is pending in the SDK. The standalone React SDK (@auth0/auth0-react) is client-side only and does not support SSR or Server Components.

Firebase Auth

Firebase Auth⁠ is primarily client-side, but its strengths lie in tight integration with the broader Firebase ecosystem — Firestore, Cloud Functions, and Hosting — along with a generous free tier and seamless Google account integration. For client-rendered React SPAs that don't need SSR, Firebase Auth remains a straightforward choice. The official SDK does not include Server Component helpers or proxy.ts support. Developers building Next.js App Router applications typically use the community library next-firebase-auth-edge⁠ for server-side token verification. Firebase's React UI library (react-firebaseui) has not had a release since November 2021⁠ (v6.0.0). ID tokens have a fixed 1-hour TTL that cannot be customized, and the recommended SSR approach uses service workers to transmit tokens between client and server via FirebaseServerApp⁠.

Supabase Auth

Supabase Auth⁠ supports proxy.ts and provides createServerClient / createBrowserClient factories for server and client contexts. As an open-source platform, Supabase offers full transparency into its auth implementation (the GoTrue server). Its tight coupling between auth and the Postgres database enables Row Level Security (RLS) policies that enforce access control at the database layer — a pattern that eliminates an entire class of authorization bugs. The proxy layer handles session refresh, and getClaims()⁠ validates JWTs locally when the project uses asymmetric JWT signing keys. With symmetric keys, it makes a network request similar to getUser(). Setup requires creating multiple utility files (client, server, and proxy helpers), and Supabase's original Auth UI component library⁠ entered maintenance mode in February 2024 and was archived in October 2025. Replacement shadcn-based blocks⁠ are available.

WorkOS

WorkOS⁠ targets B2B and enterprise use cases with features like SCIM directory sync⁠ and a self-service Admin Portal⁠ for SSO configuration. AuthKit supports proxy.ts via authkitMiddleware() and provides withAuth() for Server Components and useAuth() for Client Components. Authentication is redirect-based through the AuthKit hosted UI⁠, which supports 130+ locales and custom CSS. The SDK has no embeddable sign-in components for inline auth.

Implementing Authentication with Clerk in Next.js 16

The following walkthrough shows how to add Clerk authentication to a Next.js 16 App Router application. All examples use TypeScript with the @clerk/nextjs SDK. Pages Router is also supported — see the Clerk Next.js docs for details.

Install and Configure proxy.ts

Install the Clerk Next.js SDK:

npm install @clerk/nextjs@latest

With keyless mode, no environment variables are needed during development. Clerk auto-generates temporary credentials so you can start building immediately. When ready, select "Claim your application" to associate the project with your Clerk account.

Create a proxy.ts file at the root of your project (or in src/ if you use a source directory). In Next.js 16, proxy.ts⁠ replaces the deprecated middleware.ts. The file and named export are both renamed (from middleware to proxy), but default exports — like the one Clerk uses below — work without code changes. Unlike middleware.ts, which defaulted to Edge Runtime, proxy.ts runs exclusively on Node.js — giving auth libraries access to the full Node.js API but removing edge execution as an option.

import { clerkMiddleware, createRouteMatcher } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'

const isProtectedRoute = createRouteMatcher(['/dashboard(.*)'])

export default clerkMiddleware(async (auth, req) => {
  if (isProtectedRoute(req)) await auth.protect()
})

export const config = {
  matcher: [
    '/((?!_next|[^?]*\\.(?:html?|css|js(?!on)|jpe?g|webp|png|gif|svg|ttf|woff2?|ico|csv|docx?|xlsx?|zip|webmanifest)).*)',
    '/(api|trpc)(.*)',
  ],
}

All routes are public by default. createRouteMatcher opts specific routes into protection — matching the Next.js-recommended defense-in-depth pattern where the proxy layer handles optimistic checks. The auth callback parameter here is specific to the proxy context and provides auth.protect() for route-level enforcement.

Add ClerkProvider and UI Components

Wrap the application with ClerkProvider in the root layout and add prebuilt authentication components:

import { ClerkProvider, SignedIn, SignedOut, SignInButton, UserButton } from '@clerk/nextjs'

export default function RootLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return (
    <ClerkProvider>
      <html lang="en">
        <body>
          <header>
            <SignedOut>
              <SignInButton />
            </SignedOut>
            <SignedIn>
              <UserButton />
            </SignedIn>
          </header>
          <main>{children}</main>
        </body>
      </html>
    </ClerkProvider>
  )
}

<SignInButton> triggers the sign-in flow — by default it redirects to the Clerk-hosted Account Portal. Set mode="modal" to open a modal overlay instead. For a fully embedded inline sign-in form that renders on the page, use the <SignIn /> component on a dedicated sign-in page. <SignedIn> and <SignedOut> conditionally render children based on auth state. <UserButton> renders a complete account management menu — profile, security, sessions — with no additional code. Clerk describes its prebuilt components as "a11y-optimized".

Protect a Server Component

Use the auth() helper to check authentication in Server Components. This runs entirely on the server with no client-side JavaScript:

import { auth } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'

export default async function DashboardPage() {
  const { isAuthenticated, userId, redirectToSignIn } = await auth()

  if (!isAuthenticated) return redirectToSignIn()

  return <h1>Welcome, user {userId}</h1>
}

auth() is async and returns the authentication state including userId, sessionId, orgId, and the has() helper for permission checks. For authorization, use await auth.protect({ permission: 'org:settings:manage' }), which returns a 404 for unauthorized users.

Protect a Server Action

Server Actions create public HTTP POST endpoints — they must include their own authentication checks regardless of which component calls them. This is a critical part of the defense-in-depth approach:

'use server'

import { auth } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'

export async function updateProfile(formData: FormData) {
  const { isAuthenticated, userId } = await auth()

  if (!isAuthenticated) {
    throw new Error('Authentication required')
  }

  const name = formData.get('name') as string
  // Update profile in database
}

The auth() import from @clerk/nextjs/server works in Server Components, Server Actions, and Route Handlers. In proxy.ts, authentication is handled differently — via the auth callback parameter passed to clerkMiddleware() as shown above. Note that auth() requires clerkMiddleware() to be configured in proxy.ts to function.

Handle Webhooks

Clerk fires webhook events for user lifecycle changes (creation, updates, deletion) via Svix-powered infrastructure with automatic retries and signed payloads.

import { verifyWebhook } from '@clerk/backend/webhooks'

export async function POST(req: Request) {
  const payload = await verifyWebhook(req)

  if (payload.type === 'user.created') {
    const { id, email_addresses, first_name } = payload.data
    // Sync to database, CRM, trigger welcome email
  }

  return new Response('OK', { status: 200 })
}

verifyWebhook validates the Svix signature automatically. Webhook events include user.created, user.updated, user.deleted, and organization events.

Protect an API Route

Route Handlers in the App Router act as API endpoints. Protect them with the same auth() helper used in Server Components and Actions:

import { auth } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'

export async function GET() {
  const { isAuthenticated, userId } = await auth()

  if (!isAuthenticated) {
    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Unauthorized' }, { status: 401 })
  }

  // Fetch user-specific data
  return NextResponse.json({ userId, data: '...' })
}

For stricter protection, await auth.protect() returns a 404 for unauthenticated users instead of requiring manual status code handling.

How Other Solutions Handle Next.js Integration

Each authentication solution has a different approach to Next.js integration. The following sections describe each solution's approach, based on their own documentation and recommended patterns.

Auth0

Auth0's @auth0/nextjs-auth0 v4 SDK supports the App Router with auth0.getSession() for Server Components and auth0.middleware(request) for proxy.ts. Users authenticate through redirect-based Universal Login⁠ — they leave the application to sign in on Auth0's hosted page, then return after authentication. While Auth0 does offer embedded login⁠ via auth0.js, Auth0's documentation explicitly recommends against it⁠ in favor of Universal Login, and cross-origin authentication (required for embedded login) is disabled by default for new applications since October 2024.

The Auth0 quickstart⁠ scaffolds a Next.js 15 project and notes that Next.js 16 requires --legacy-peer-deps during installation because "Next.js 16 support is pending in the SDK." The quickstart page labels the v4 SDK as "(Beta)" as of this writing, but the SDK has had stable releases since January 2025 and is actively maintained (currently at v4.15+). Session tokens default to 10 hours for ID tokens and 24 hours for access tokens, though both are configurable.

Protecting a server component with Auth0 uses the auth0.getSession() method, which returns the session or null:

import { auth0 } from '@/lib/auth0'
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation'

export default async function ProtectedPage() {
  const session = await auth0.getSession()
  if (!session) redirect('/auth/login')
  return <div>Welcome, {session.user.name}!</div>
}

The auth0 instance is initialized in a lib/auth0.ts utility file during setup. The getSession() helper works in Server Components, Server Actions, and Route Handlers.

Firebase Auth

Firebase Auth was designed primarily for client-side applications. The official SDK does not include proxy.ts support, Server Component helpers, or React hooks. For Next.js App Router SSR, Firebase recommends using FirebaseServerApp⁠ with service workers that intercept fetch requests and append auth tokens to request headers.

Most Next.js developers working with Firebase turn to the community library next-firebase-auth-edge⁠, which was originally built to verify tokens at the edge using the Web Crypto API. Since proxy.ts in Next.js 16 runs on Node.js rather than Edge Runtime, the edge-specific design is less critical, though the library remains compatible. Firebase ID tokens have a fixed 1-hour TTL that cannot be customized, and the React UI component library react-firebaseui has not had a release since November 2021⁠ (v6.0.0) — the repository is not archived but has had no commits since that date.

Using next-firebase-auth-edge, server component authentication requires passing Firebase credentials directly to the getTokens() function:

import { getTokens } from 'next-firebase-auth-edge'
import { cookies } from 'next/headers'
import { notFound } from 'next/navigation'

export default async function ProtectedPage() {
  const tokens = await getTokens(await cookies(), {
    apiKey: process.env.FIREBASE_API_KEY!,
    cookieName: 'AuthToken',
    cookieSignatureKeys: [process.env.COOKIE_SECRET!],
    serviceAccount: {
      projectId: process.env.FIREBASE_PROJECT_ID!,
      clientEmail: process.env.FIREBASE_CLIENT_EMAIL!,
      privateKey: process.env.FIREBASE_PRIVATE_KEY!,
    },
  })
  if (!tokens) return notFound()
  return <div>Welcome, {tokens.decodedToken.email}!</div>
}

The verbosity reflects Firebase Auth's client-side-first design — server-side token verification was not part of the original architecture, so the community library must handle credential management directly. Developers typically extract this configuration into a shared utility to avoid repeating it across components.

Supabase Auth

Supabase Auth provides proxy.ts support through the @supabase/ssr package. The proxy layer calls getClaims()⁠, which validates JWTs locally against the project's published public keys when using asymmetric JWT signing — no network request to Supabase is needed in that case. Projects using symmetric signing keys will still make a network request for validation. Server Components use createServerClient from a utility file you create during setup.

Setup requires creating at least three utility files (browser client, server client, and proxy helper) plus the root proxy.ts file. The cookie API is restricted to getAll/setAll only — using individual get/set methods breaks in production. Supabase's original Auth UI component library was archived in October 2025⁠. Replacement shadcn-based components⁠ are available.

In a server component, authentication is checked through the Supabase client created from the utility file:

import { createClient } from '@/lib/supabase/server'
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation'

export default async function ProtectedPage() {
  const supabase = await createClient()
  const {
    data: { user },
  } = await supabase.auth.getUser()
  if (!user) redirect('/login')
  return <div>Welcome, {user.email}!</div>
}

The createClient() function wraps createServerClient from @supabase/ssr and must be defined in a lib/supabase/server.ts utility file that you create during setup. For production use, the Supabase docs recommend getClaims() over getUser() because it validates the JWT locally without a network request (when using asymmetric signing keys).

WorkOS

WorkOS targets B2B and enterprise use cases. The @workos-inc/authkit-nextjs SDK supports proxy.ts via authkitMiddleware()⁠ and provides withAuth() for Server Components, which returns the user session, access token, and feature flags. Passing { ensureSignedIn: true } to withAuth() automatically redirects unauthenticated users.

Authentication uses redirect-based AuthKit⁠, an open-source hosted UI (MIT, built on Radix UI) with customizable branding, custom CSS, and 130+ locales. There are no embeddable inline sign-in components. WorkOS differentiates on enterprise features: SCIM directory sync⁠, self-service Admin Portal⁠, and the first 1 million MAU are free.

Security and Session Management

The Next.js authentication guide⁠ recommends layered protection for applications:

1. Proxy layer — optimistic checks and redirects for unauthenticated users (no database calls)
2. Data Access Layer — centralized auth verification using React's cache() for memoization
3. Server Components — auth checks at the page/component level (not layouts, which don't re-render on navigation)
4. Server Actions — per-action auth verification (each 'use server' function creates a public POST endpoint)

Clerk supports auth at every layer. In the proxy, clerkMiddleware() provides the auth callback for route-level checks. In Server Components, Server Actions, and Route Handlers, the standalone auth() helper (imported from @clerk/nextjs/server) provides the same authentication state. Note that auth() requires clerkMiddleware() to be configured in proxy.ts.

Short-lived session tokens

Clerk's session tokens expire after 60 seconds, with an asynchronous background refresh at the 50-second mark. This short TTL minimizes the window for token misuse if a token is compromised, at the cost of a lightweight network request every 50 seconds — though because the refresh runs asynchronously, it does not block rendering or affect perceived performance.

By comparison, Auth0 defaults to 10-hour ID tokens and 24-hour access tokens (both configurable). Firebase has a fixed 1-hour ID token. Longer-lived tokens eliminate refresh overhead entirely but increase the window of exposure if a token is compromised — the right trade-off depends on your application's threat model.

In production, the Clerk client token (__client cookie) is HttpOnly and scoped to the FAPI domain — it handles token renewal and is never exposed to application code. In development, Clerk uses a __clerk_db_jwt querystring parameter instead, since localhost cannot use same-site cookies with the FAPI domain.

Server Actions require explicit auth

Server Actions are public HTTP POST endpoints. Proxy-level protection alone is insufficient because actions can be called directly via HTTP. Always verify authentication within each Server Action using auth() — not just at the route level. Clerk's consistent API across all server contexts makes this straightforward.

Decision Checklist and Migration

Choose the right solution for your requirements

Migration and lock-in considerations

All five solutions use standard JWTs, so token verification patterns are portable across providers. Clerk and Auth0 both offer migration tooling for user data import and export. Open-source codebases (WorkOS AuthKit source, Supabase GoTrue) provide transparency into auth internals. Framework-specific SDKs like @clerk/nextjs or @auth0/nextjs-auth0 introduce coupling — evaluate the SDK swap effort if portability is a priority for your team.

Conclusion

Each solution has clear strengths. Auth0 remains a strong choice for teams that need a battle-tested enterprise CIAM platform with broad SDK coverage and extensibility through Actions. WorkOS is purpose-built for B2B applications requiring SCIM and self-service SSO configuration. Supabase Auth is compelling when you want auth tightly integrated with your Postgres database and Row Level Security. And Firebase Auth is the most straightforward path for client-rendered apps already in the Google Cloud ecosystem.

For teams building React and Next.js applications that prioritize developer experience, embedded UI components, and framework-native APIs, Clerk provides the most comprehensive integration. 11 authentication-focused React hooks — plus 7 billing hooks that extend the SDK beyond auth — embeddable prebuilt components, and keyless development mode accelerate both prototyping and production development. Clerk's auth() API works consistently in Server Components, Server Actions, and Route Handlers, while clerkMiddleware() handles the proxy layer — supporting the defense-in-depth pattern recommended by the Next.js framework.

Short-lived 60-second session tokens strengthen security posture without sacrificing user experience, and proxy.ts support was available from day one of the Next.js 16 release.

Get started:

• Try the Next.js quickstart — with keyless mode, no account setup is required
• Explore the full Next.js SDK reference
• Browse React hooks for client-side patterns
• Review authentication strategies for social login, SSO, passkeys, and MFA

Frequently Asked Questions

What authentication solutions work well with React and Next.js?

Clerk, Auth0, Firebase Auth, Supabase Auth, and WorkOS all offer React and Next.js support. Clerk offers native Server Component helpers, 11 auth-focused React hooks (plus 7 billing hooks), and embeddable prebuilt components — making it the most framework-integrated option in this comparison. Auth0 and WorkOS use redirect-based flows with broad ecosystem coverage and enterprise features respectively. Firebase Auth requires community libraries for Server Component support. Supabase Auth supports the App Router through @supabase/ssr but requires multiple utility files to set up.

Does Clerk support Next.js 16 and proxy.ts?

Yes. Clerk's clerkMiddleware() works in proxy.ts with day-one Next.js 16 support. Next.js 16 renamed both the file and the named export (from middleware to proxy), but Clerk uses a default export so the code is unchanged — only the filename needs updating. Among the solutions compared, Clerk, Supabase, and WorkOS support proxy.ts natively. Auth0 requires --legacy-peer-deps for installation on Next.js 16.

How does Clerk handle authentication in Server Components?

Import auth() from @clerk/nextjs/server and await it in any Server Component. It returns isAuthenticated, userId, sessionId, orgId, and the has() helper for permission checks — all without any client-side JavaScript.

How does Auth0 Universal Login work with Next.js?

Auth0 uses redirect-based authentication through Universal Login⁠ — users leave the application to sign in on Auth0's hosted page, then return after authentication. The v4 SDK (@auth0/nextjs-auth0) provides auth0.getSession() for Server Components and auth0.middleware() for proxy.ts. Redirect-based flows offer security benefits including domain isolation and centralized compliance, which is why Auth0 recommends them over embedded login.

Can Firebase Auth be used with Next.js Server Components?

Yes, but it requires a community library. Firebase Auth does not include official Server Component helpers. Most developers use next-firebase-auth-edge⁠ to verify Firebase ID tokens on the server. Firebase's official SSR approach uses service workers with FirebaseServerApp, which adds complexity. For client-rendered React apps without SSR requirements, Firebase Auth works without additional libraries.

Which auth solution is best for B2B applications with enterprise SSO?

WorkOS⁠ is purpose-built for B2B, offering SCIM directory sync, a self-service Admin Portal for SSO configuration, and the first 1 million MAU free. Clerk and Auth0 also support enterprise SSO — Clerk offers organization management with role-based access and custom rolesets for each organization, organization integration with Clerk's Billing feature, enterprise connections and verified domains for each organization. Auth0 provides enterprise connections through its mature CIAM platform.

Can I use Clerk with React without Next.js?

Yes. The @clerk/clerk-react package provides the same prebuilt components and hooks for React SPAs built with Vite or other bundlers. Clerk also offers framework-specific SDKs for Remix, Astro, Vue, Expo, and other platforms.

What is the defense-in-depth pattern for Next.js authentication?

The Next.js authentication guide⁠ recommends layered protection: proxy for route-level checks, a Data Access Layer for centralized secure verification, Server Components for per-page auth, and Server Actions with per-action auth. Clerk's auth() helper works consistently across all these layers.

Why isn't Auth.js (NextAuth.js) included in this comparison?

Auth.js is an open-source authentication library, not a managed platform. It provides OAuth flows and session helpers but requires developers to manage their own database, build their own UI, and handle user management infrastructure. This article compares managed authentication solutions that include hosted infrastructure and prebuilt components. In September 2025, Auth.js development was taken over by the Better Auth⁠ team, which continues security patches but recommends Better Auth for new projects. For a self-hosted approach, both Auth.js and Better Auth are viable — but the evaluation criteria differ from managed platforms.