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Clerk vs Upstash

Clerk (Auth) and Upstash (Database/BaaS) take different approaches to development. Clerk: Drop-in authentication with pre-built UI components optimized for React and Next.js Upstash: Serverless Redis and Kafka with per-request pricing and global replication

Clerk logo

Clerk

Drop-in authentication with pre-built UI components optimized for React and Next.js

Category
Auth
Subcategory
Auth Provider
Pricing
Free (10K MAU) / Pro $25/mo
Tier
free
authauth provider
Upstash logo

Upstash

Serverless Redis and Kafka with per-request pricing and global replication

Category
Database/BaaS
Subcategory
Key-Value Store
Pricing
Free tier / Pay-per-request
Tier
free
database/baaskey-value store

Key differences

DimensionClerkUpstash
PricingFree (10K MAU) / Pro $25/moFree tier / Pay-per-request
PlatformAuth ProviderKey-Value Store
Capabilitiesauth, auth providerdatabase/baas, key-value store

Choose Clerk if...

  • Clerk fits your specific workflow and team preferences

Choose Upstash if...

  • Upstash fits your specific workflow and team preferences

Community pros and cons

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Frequently asked questions

Is Clerk or Upstash better for beginners?
Both tools are accessible. Clerk and Upstash are similar in approachability — try both and see which workflow clicks.
Which is cheaper, Clerk or Upstash?
Both have a free pricing model. Clerk: Free (10K MAU) / Pro $25/mo. Upstash: Free tier / Pay-per-request. Compare their specific plans to find the best value.
Can I use Clerk and Upstash together?
Yes — Clerk (Auth) and Upstash (Database/BaaS) serve different roles and can complement each other in a project.

Verdict

Clerk and Upstash solve different problems. Choose based on whether you need a auth or a database/baas.

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