Alternative

SharkAuth vs Auth0.

Auth0 built identity for users clicking login buttons. SharkAuth built it for agents calling agents calling APIs. If you need self-hosted agent delegation with RFC-native token exchange, DPoP binding, and cascade revocation, this comparison is for you.

What is SharkAuth?

SharkAuth is an open-source identity platform built for the agentic era. It ships as a single ~29 MB Go binary with embedded SQLite, requires zero dependencies, and implements OAuth 2.1, OIDC, RFC 8693 Token Exchange, and RFC 9449 DPoP — all zero-config. Self-host free forever under MIT license.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature
SharkAuth Logo SharkAuth
Auth0
Pricing modelFree self-host (MIT) / $49 cloud$35/mo B2C + MAU overages
Self-hostedYes — single binaryNo (proprietary SaaS)
Agent identity primitivesFirst-class (core model)Token Vault add-on
RFC 8693 Token ExchangeFull implementationPartial (custom flow)
Act / actor chain depth≥ 4 hops nativeNot documented
RFC 9449 DPoP bindingNativeEnterprise only
Cascade revocation< 12 ms p99Not available
Binary size~29 MBN/A (cloud-only)
Air-gapped deployYesNo
Open sourceMIT licenseProprietary
Choose SharkAuth if...
  • → You build AI agent systems with delegation chains
  • → You need self-hosted auth on a $5 VPS
  • → You want zero-config RFC-grade protocols
  • → You refuse MAU-based pricing that punishes growth
  • → You deploy air-gapped or edge environments
Choose Auth0 if...
  • → You need managed identity with 99.99% SLA today
  • → You require native mobile SDKs (iOS/Android)
  • → You need LDAP/Active Directory federation
  • → You want SOC2 compliance out of the box
  • → You prefer a fully managed SaaS with 24/7 support

By the numbers

~29 MB
Binary size
vs. Auth0: cloud-only service
< 12 ms
Cascade revocation p99
Auth0: no cascade revocation
$0
Self-host cost
Auth0: $35/mo minimum + overages
Unlimited
MAI on self-host
Auth0: 25K MAU free tier limit

Frequently asked questions

Is SharkAuth a drop-in replacement for Auth0?

Not for every use case. SharkAuth covers OAuth 2.1, OIDC, passkeys, MFA, SSO, and webhooks — the core of most auth needs. However, Auth0 offers native mobile SDKs, LDAP federation, and SOC2 compliance that SharkAuth does not yet provide. If you need those, Auth0 remains the safer choice.

Does SharkAuth charge per user like Auth0?

No. The self-hosted version is MIT-licensed and completely free with unlimited Monthly Active Identities (MAI). The managed Cloud tier starts at $49/mo for 50K MAI — no per-user penalties as you scale.

Can I migrate from Auth0 to SharkAuth?

Yes. SharkAuth supports standard OAuth 2.1 and OIDC, so client applications need minimal changes. User passwords can be imported via bcrypt hashes. The main migration work is replicating any custom Auth0 Rules or Actions in SharkAuth's webhook system.

What does Auth0 have that SharkAuth lacks?

Auth0 has a mature managed cloud with 99.99% SLA, native iOS/Android SDKs, LDAP/AD integration, SCIM provisioning, breach detection, and extensive compliance certifications (SOC2, ISO 27001). SharkAuth intentionally skipped these to ship agent-native primitives first.

Ready to try SharkAuth?

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