Clerk vs NextAuth.js
Updated Aug 23, 2026
Quick Verdict
NextAuth.js has 16.3x more GitHub stars.
GitHub Stars
Clerk 1.7K
vs
NextAuth.js 28.3K
Downloads/wk
Clerk 0
vs
NextAuth.js 0
Contributors
Clerk 314
vs
NextAuth.js 905
Bundle Size
Clerk 42.1 KB
vs
NextAuth.js 83.6 KB
Detailed Comparison
Side-by-side metrics from GitHub and npm
Metric
Clerk
NextAuth.js
GitHub Stars
1.7K
28.3K
Weekly Downloads
0
0
Forks
468
4.0K
Open Issues
129
597
Contributors
314
905
Bundle Size (gzip)
42.1 KB
83.6 KB
Dependencies
5
9
Latest Version
7.8.0
4.24.15
Last Commit
Aug 23, 2026
Jul 22, 2026
License
MIT
ISC
First Published
Aug 18, 2021
Jan 22, 2018
Feature Comparison
Framework capabilities at a glance
Feature
Clerk
NextAuth.js
Oauth
Magic Links
Mfa
Session
Jwt
Social Login
Self Hosted
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Clerk vs NextAuth.js
Is Clerk better than NextAuth.js?
It depends on your use case. Clerk is complete user management and authentication solution, while NextAuth.js is authentication for next.js applications. Compare the stats and features above to decide which fits your needs.
Is Clerk still maintained in 2026?
Yes, Clerk was last updated on August 23, 2026 and has 314 contributors.
Can I migrate from Clerk to NextAuth.js?
Migration complexity depends on how deeply Clerk is integrated into your project. Both tools serve similar purposes in the Authentication space, so migration is generally feasible with proper planning.
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