Better Auth vs GitLab
Better Auth and GitLab are both security & identity tools. Better Auth is aimed at developers, while GitLab is aimed at developers and enterprise. Better Auth costs less, from $20/mo versus $29/mo for GitLab. Both have a free plan.
Framework-agnostic TypeScript authentication
DevSecOps platform with Git hosting, CI/CD, security scans and AI
| Pricing | Open source · $20 | Freemium · $29 |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $29/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
| Built for | Developers | Developers, Enterprise, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web | web, linux |
| Country | US · 2024 | US · 2014 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Better Auth if
TypeScript developers who want complete ownership and flexibility without paying per user.
- Free and MIT licensed; you own user data
- Comprehensive plugin set rivals hosted providers
- Excellent TypeScript DX
Look elsewhere if: Teams that want hosted UI and zero maintenance (Clerk) or heavy enterprise SSO today (Auth0).
Choose GitLab if
Engineering teams that want source control, CI/CD and security scanning in one platform, with a self-hosting option.
- One platform replaces separate Git, CI and security tools
- Self-hosting suits regulated and air-gapped environments
- Flexible built-in CI/CD with your own runners
Look elsewhere if: Small teams that only need simple Git hosting or a dedicated planning tool (GitHub, Linear, Jira).
Better Auth vs GitLab pricing
Better Auth
- Open source$0MIT library, self-hosted, no per-user fees
- Starter$0Managed infra: 1 dashboard seat, 10k audit logs/mo
- Pro$20/moUnlimited seats, 20k audit logs/mo, 1 SSO connection
- EnterpriseCustomCustom limits, log drain, Slack support
GitLab
- Free$05 users per private group, 400 compute minutes, 10 GiB
- Premium$29/user/moBilled annually; 10,000 compute minutes, approvals, code owners
- UltimateCustomContact sales; security scans, compliance, 50,000 minutes
- GitLab Credits$1/creditUsage-based AI agent credits; volume discounts on commit
Better Auth · Key features
- Email/password, OAuth, magic link, passkeys and OTP
- Plugins: organizations, teams, 2FA, admin, multi-session, API keys
- Database adapters for Drizzle, Prisma, Kysely and more
- Framework integrations: Next.js, Nuxt, SvelteKit, Hono, Express
- Typed client hooks for React, Vue and Svelte
- Rate limiting, session management and CLI migrations
Cons
- You host and secure it yourself
- No prebuilt UI components (bring your own)
- Younger project; APIs still evolving
GitLab · Key features
- Git repositories with merge requests, code owners and approval rules
- Built-in CI/CD pipelines with shared or self-hosted runners
- SAST, dependency, secret and container scanning in merge requests
- Container, package and Terraform module registries
- Issue boards, epics and roadmaps for planning
- Duo Agent Platform with agents for planning, security and code review
Cons
- Premium at $29 per user is costly for small teams
- Best security and compliance features need Ultimate
- Dense interface with a real learning curve
Better Auth vs GitLab: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Better Auth or GitLab?
Better Auth starts at $20/mo and GitLab at $29/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Better Auth and GitLab have a free plan?
Yes, both Better Auth and GitLab have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Better Auth or GitLab?
GitLab lists small businesses as a core audience, while Better Auth is aimed more at developers.