Better Auth vs Passport
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A TypeScript authentication and authorization framework with built-in features and plugins.
Open source · MIT
Express-compatible authentication middleware for Node.js that uses pluggable strategies.
The short answer
Choose Better Auth if you need…
- TypeScript developers who need login and access control in their own app
- Teams that want auth built into their code rather than handed to a third-party service
- Projects that may later need extras like 2FA or multi-tenant support via plugins
Choose Passport if you need…
- Node.js and Express developers who need to add login to an existing app
- Teams that want to choose their own user database and session logic
- Projects that need social login, OAuth, OpenID, or SAML through an existing strategy
- Developers who want a small, unopinionated authentication layer
Side-by-side
| Better Auth | Passport | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 30.6k | 23.5k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 5 days ago | 2 years ago |
What each one is
Better Auth
Better Auth is a TypeScript framework for handling user authentication and authorization in your app, and it is not tied to one web framework. It ships with a set of common features and a plugin system for adding more advanced ones, such as two-factor authentication and multi-tenant support, with relatively little code. The README is brief, so specifics beyond these points are not covered here.
Passport
Passport is authentication middleware for Node.js that works with Express. It handles checking who a request is from, using a set of plugins called strategies, such as username and password or OAuth logins. It does not create routes or dictate how user data is stored; your app decides those details and tells Passport what to do when login succeeds or fails.
Best for
Better Auth
- TypeScript developers who need login and access control in their own app
- Teams that want auth built into their code rather than handed to a third-party service
- Projects that may later need extras like 2FA or multi-tenant support via plugins
Passport
- Node.js and Express developers who need to add login to an existing app
- Teams that want to choose their own user database and session logic
- Projects that need social login, OAuth, OpenID, or SAML through an existing strategy
- Developers who want a small, unopinionated authentication layer
Strengths
Better Auth
- Free and open source under the MIT License, so it can be used and modified freely
- Framework-agnostic, so it is not limited to one web framework according to the README
- Plugin ecosystem aims to add advanced features with minimal code
Passport
- Simple API: pass a request to authenticate and hook into success or failure
- Large ecosystem, with the README citing over 480 strategies
- Does not force a route structure or database schema on your app
Not ideal for
Better Auth
- Non-developers looking for a ready-made login page with no coding (it is a code library)
- Projects not using TypeScript or JavaScript, since the framework is written for that ecosystem
- Teams that want a fully managed hosted auth service with no code to maintain
Passport
- Non-developers or people looking for a ready-made login page, since it is a code library that must be wired into an app
- Projects not using Node.js, since the library is written for it
- Teams wanting a fully managed identity service, since Passport only handles request authentication and leaves user management to you
Trade-offs
Better Auth
- The README is short and does not document specific features or setup steps, so details must come from the official website
- Being a code library, it requires a developer to integrate and maintain it
- Security issues are handled through GitHub Security Advisories, so reporting depends on that process
Passport
- Strategies are separate packages with varying maintenance, so each must be evaluated individually
- You are responsible for user storage, session security, and other surrounding decisions
- The README is brief on security guidance and details live on the external site
Getting started
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Better Auth and Passport?
Better Auth: A TypeScript authentication and authorization framework with built-in features and plugins. Passport: Express-compatible authentication middleware for Node.js that uses pluggable strategies. Better Auth suits typescript developers who need login and access control in their own app, while Passport suits node.js and express developers who need to add login to an existing app.
Are Better Auth and Passport free?
Better Auth: Free and open source. Passport: Free and open source.
Is Better Auth or Passport more popular?
Better Auth has more GitHub stars (30.6k) than Passport (23.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Better Auth and Passport?
Other options people compare them with include django-allauth, Lucia.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.