Brandwave

Better Auth vs Clerk:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Better Auth had more branded searches than Clerk among authentication platforms worldwide. Better Auth had about 40,500 branded searches, while Clerk had 9,930. Better Auth made up 1.2% of all authentication platform searches we track, and Clerk accounted for 0.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about authentication platforms, Clerk appeared in three of the five answers and Better Auth in two. Clerk was mentioned before Better Auth in every answer.

Among authentication platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Better Auth, about 4 searches for every 1 for Clerk

Better Auth 40.5K searchesClerk 9.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Clerk, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Better Auth in 2

Clerk in 3 of 5Better Auth in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Clerk, named ahead of Better Auth in every answer

Clerk first in 3Better Auth never first

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Top authentication platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Clerk was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Better Auth was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Clerk was listed before Better Auth in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Clerk1st
  2. Auth02nd
  3. Supabase3rd
  4. Firebase Authentication4th
  5. WorkOS5th
  6. Amazon Cognito5th
  7. Better Auth7th
  8. Stytch8th
  9. Okta–
  10. Keycloak–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Auth04 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Supabase3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clerk3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Better Auth2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Amazon Cognito2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Firebase Authentication2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • WorkOS1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Stytch1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Okta0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Keycloak0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about authentication platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Better Auth or Clerk more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Better Auth and Clerk by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 authentication platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Better Auth and Clerk among authentication platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Better Auth, Clerk. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSupabaseOktaKeycloakAuth0WorkOSBetter AuthStytchAmazon CognitoFirebase AuthenticationClerkFrontegg
Oct 202542.5%34.7%8.5%4.7%1.4%3.1%1.4%1.7%1.2%0.63%0.15%
Nov 202548%32.3%6.5%4.4%1.3%2.9%1.3%1.5%1.1%0.58%0.14%
Dec 202548.8%32.8%6.6%3.6%1.3%3%1.1%1.2%0.9%0.59%0.12%
Jan 202652.9%29.2%5.9%3.9%1.5%2.6%1.2%1.3%0.8%0.64%0.1%
Feb 202653.3%29.4%5.9%4%1.5%2.2%1.2%1.1%0.66%0.65%0.11%
Mar 202659%26.5%5.3%2.9%1.3%1.9%0.88%0.98%0.48%0.58%0.08%
Apr 202663%23.2%4.6%3.1%1.4%1.7%0.94%0.85%0.63%0.51%0.08%
May 202663.5%23.4%4.7%2.6%1.4%1.7%0.78%0.86%0.52%0.51%0.07%
Jun 202663.6%23.4%4.7%2.6%1.4%1.4%0.95%0.86%0.52%0.52%0.07%
Jul 202663.6%23.4%4.7%2.6%1.4%1.7%0.95%0.74%0.43%0.42%0.08%
Aug 202663.8%23.5%4.7%2.6%1.4%1.4%0.95%0.75%0.35%0.42%0.07%
Sep 202668.2%20.5%4.1%2.3%1.5%1.2%0.83%0.75%0.3%0.3%0.05%

How has the Better Auth and Clerk comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Better Auth was ahead of Clerk in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Better Auth’s share of searches among authentication platforms worldwide moved from 3.1% to 1.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 40.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Clerk’s share of searches among authentication platforms worldwide moved from 0.63% to 0.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 9.9K.

How did search popularity change for authentication platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Clerk fell from 9th to 10th among authentication platforms worldwide.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Better Auth worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 40.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Better Auth’s and Clerk’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Better Auth

1 branded search term

  • better auth

Clerk

2 branded search terms

  • authentication clerk
  • clerk auth

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among authentication platforms

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