Own Auth vs. Supabase Auth
Choose Supabase Auth when you want a managed authentication service integrated with a Supabase project. Choose Own Auth when you want authentication to run as a library in your backend against an application-controlled Postgres database.
Last reviewed against first-party sources on .
Own Auth as a Supabase Auth alternative
You want authentication inside your backend, prefer opaque database-backed sessions, and need built-in organisation, invitation, audit, and application API-key workflows.
| Feature | Own Auth | Supabase Auth |
|---|---|---|
| Data ownership | Your database | Supabase project auth schema |
| Open source | Fully open source | Open-source auth server |
| Framework lock-in | None | Supabase SDK and platform integration |
| Self-hostable | Runs in your backend | Available with self-hosted Supabase |
| Passwords | Built in | Built in |
| Magic links | Built in | Built in |
| Phone / SMS login | Built in | Built in |
| Sessions | Database-backed | JWT and refresh-token based |
| Organisations | Built in | Application-defined |
| API keys | Built in | Platform keys, not user API keys |
| Audit logs | Built in | Auth and platform logs |
| Rate limiting | Built in | Built in |
| Pricing | Free and open source | Free tier and project usage pricing |
Feature
Data ownership
Own Auth
Your databaseSupabase Auth
Supabase project auth schemaFeature
Open source
Own Auth
Fully open sourceSupabase Auth
Open-source auth serverFeature
Framework lock-in
Own Auth
NoneSupabase Auth
Supabase SDK and platform integrationFeature
Self-hostable
Own Auth
Runs in your backendSupabase Auth
Available with self-hosted SupabaseFeature
Passwords
Own Auth
Built inSupabase Auth
Built inFeature
Magic links
Own Auth
Built inSupabase Auth
Built inFeature
Phone / SMS login
Own Auth
Built inSupabase Auth
Built inFeature
Sessions
Own Auth
Database-backedSupabase Auth
JWT and refresh-token basedFeature
Organisations
Own Auth
Built inSupabase Auth
Application-definedFeature
API keys
Own Auth
Built inSupabase Auth
Platform keys, not user API keysFeature
Audit logs
Own Auth
Built inSupabase Auth
Auth and platform logsFeature
Rate limiting
Own Auth
Built inSupabase Auth
Built inFeature
Pricing
Own Auth
Free and open sourceSupabase Auth
Free tier and project usage pricingPostgres data ownership
Supabase Auth stores users in the auth schema of a Supabase project and recommends application-owned profile tables that reference auth.users. Own Auth stores its records in the Postgres database connected to your backend. Both are Postgres-oriented, but Supabase Auth is a platform service while Own Auth is an application dependency.
Sessions and application control
Supabase Auth issues JWT access tokens and refresh tokens through its Auth service and client libraries. Own Auth issues opaque session tokens that the backend verifies against database session records. Choose based on whether your application benefits more from Supabase's client and platform integration or server-controlled database sessions.
Teams, roles, and application API keys
Supabase Auth provides authentication identities and works with Postgres Row Level Security, but application teams, memberships, invitations, and user-scoped API keys remain application concerns. Own Auth includes organisation, invitation, role, and application API-key workflows in the package.
Migration and portability
Supabase documents moving auth.users and auth.identities data between projects. Moving to another auth implementation also requires replacing Supabase JWT validation and SDK calls. Own Auth keeps its source records in your database, although replacing the package would still require schema and application integration work.
Related
Sources
Product features and prices change. Confirm the current details on these first-party pages before making a purchasing decision.
Supabase Auth fits
You use the Supabase platform, want its client libraries and managed Auth service, and plan to use Supabase JWTs with Row Level Security.
Own Auth fits
You want authentication inside your backend, prefer opaque database-backed sessions, and need built-in organisation, invitation, audit, and application API-key workflows.
Ready to own your auth?
Two commands. Auth is in your app.