Best Open-Source Authentication Library for a Node.js SaaS App
4 open-source options compared for authentication library for a Node.js SaaS app, with live GitHub data on each.
Last updated Repo data refreshed 24 Oct 20264 options
Our pick · better-auth
Our pick is Better Auth because it is a comprehensive authentication framework, representing an actively maintained and robust foundation for modern SaaS applications. Crucially, the maintainers of NextAuth.js, which provides authentication for the web, explicitly recommend Better Auth for new projects unless specific feature gaps are present. For those prioritizing full control and data privacy, SuperTokens, offering a Node SDK for its core, presents a compelling self-hosted alternative, though it introduces greater operational complexity. Passport, while historically significant for simple, unobtrusive authentication, is dormant with its last push on 2024-08-16 and is therefore not suitable for a new SaaS application requiring active security maintenance.
Better Auth vs NextAuth.js vs SuperTokens vs Passport: side by side
★ 30,445 starsLicence: MITLast commit 23 Oct 2026Latest release 20 Oct 2026TypeScript
The most comprehensive authentication framework for the web.
Best for: Modern Node.js SaaS applications seeking a comprehensive, actively maintained, and future-proof authentication solution with robust features.
What's good
Benefits from active and frequent development, ensuring it stays current with security and feature trends.
Offers a comprehensive suite of features suitable for complex modern SaaS authentication requirements.
Backed by a significant and growing community, indicative of strong support and future development.
Watch out for
Its comprehensive nature may introduce a steeper learning curve for developers new to the ecosystem.
As a newer project compared to its predecessor, its long-term stability and common pitfalls are still emerging.
Being a full framework, it might be more opinionated, potentially limiting extreme customization for specific edge cases.
From the maintainers' README: “Auth js is now part of Better Auth. We recommend new projects to start with Better Auth unless there are some very specific feature gaps (most notably stateless session management without a database).”
Authentication for the Web.
Best for: Existing Node.js SaaS projects already integrated with it, or new projects with very specific requirements like stateless session management where Better Auth might have current feature gaps.
What's good
Widely adopted and highly popular, leading to extensive community support and resources.
Supports a vast array of authentication providers and flexible session management options.
Possesses a mature codebase with a proven track record in production environments.
Still actively maintained, ensuring critical updates and security patches.
Watch out for
Its maintainers recommend Better Auth for new projects (see their note above).
Maintainers suggest new projects consider Better Auth, indicating a shift in primary focus for future major developments.
Can be challenging to configure for highly customized or complex authentication flows.
The maintainers notice points out specific feature gaps, such as stateless session management without a database, which might be a limitation.
★ 329 starsLicence: Apache-2.0Last commit 23 Oct 2026Latest release 21 Oct 2026JavaScript
Node SDK for SuperTokens core, providing a self-hosted authentication solution.
Best for: SaaS applications that prioritize complete control over their authentication infrastructure, have strict data privacy requirements, and are prepared to manage a self-hosted backend.
What's good
Offers a self-hosted authentication backend, granting full control over user data, security, and compliance.
Supports a wide range of modern authentication methods, including social logins and passwordless options.
Designed with a strong emphasis on security and data privacy, crucial for SaaS applications.
Actively developed with consistent updates and responsive maintainers.
Watch out for
Requires the operational overhead of managing a separate SuperTokens core server, increasing infrastructure complexity.
Has a smaller community and fewer GitHub stars compared to other popular solutions like Better Auth or NextAuth.js.
The learning curve involves understanding both the Node.js SDK and the underlying SuperTokens core service.
★ 23,520 starsLicence: MITLast commit 16 Aug 2024JavaScript
Simple, unobtrusive authentication for Node.js.
Best for: Legacy Node.js applications already utilizing it, or very niche scenarios where an unopinionated, highly customizable middleware is strictly necessary, despite the significant maintenance and security risks.
What's good
Extremely flexible due to its middleware-based architecture and extensive collection of 'strategies'.
Provides a minimalist core, allowing developers fine-grained control over authentication processes.
Boasts a vast ecosystem of strategies covering nearly every imaginable authentication method or provider.
Has been a long-standing and battle-tested solution in the Node.js authentication landscape.
Watch out for
Its 'dormant' status signifies a lack of recent updates, a critical concern for a security-sensitive library.
Requires more manual configuration and boilerplate code compared to more opinionated frameworks.
Community support and official documentation may be outdated or less active due to its dormancy.
New security vulnerabilities are unlikely to be patched promptly, posing a significant risk for new SaaS deployments.
"Dormant" means no commit pushed to the default branch in the last 12 months. "Archived" means the maintainers have marked the repository read-only on GitHub. "Deprecated" means the project's README says it is deprecated or no longer maintained. Stars, licence, commit and release dates come from the GitHub API (GitLab for projects developed there) and are cached for up to 24 hours. The written analysis is AI-assisted and checked against that data.
Frequently asked questions
Are Better Auth, NextAuth.js, SuperTokens and Passport actively maintained?
Better Auth, NextAuth.js and SuperTokens are active: each has had a commit in the last 12 months (most recent: Better Auth on 23 Oct 2026, NextAuth.js on 22 Jul 2026, SuperTokens on 23 Oct 2026). Passport is dormant: no commit since 16 Aug 2024. Status is checked against GitHub daily.
What licences do Better Auth, NextAuth.js, SuperTokens and Passport use?
Better Auth: MIT; NextAuth.js: ISC; SuperTokens: Apache-2.0; Passport: MIT. Check each project's licence file before use.
Which is easiest to learn: Better Auth, NextAuth.js, SuperTokens or Passport?
By our estimate (1 = easiest, 5 = steepest): Better Auth 3/5, NextAuth.js 3/5, SuperTokens 4/5, Passport 3/5. Better Auth, NextAuth.js and Passport share the gentlest learning curve. This is ExploreGit's AI-assisted estimate, not a measured figure.
