What’s the deal with Auth0’s free tier vs essentials?

That free tier's a great start! Just be aware it’s limited to one application. If you reach the cap, you'll have to upgrade to keep your users going. Just weigh your options, depending on how quick you need to scale.

I'm in the same boat! Who actually uses Auth0? I figured most serious businesses handle authentication in-house, while solopreneurs might rely on it. It's interesting to see the variety of users on the platform.

The free tier only lets you have one tenant (app environment), but other than that, it seems pretty solid without catches. I've been using it for almost a year, and I think it's awesome!

The free tier isn't really a trap. Many of these services rely on paid tiers and hope free users convert eventually. Just keep in mind that free tiers often get limited or removed if too many people abuse them. Auth0's free tier offers 25,000 active users, which is pretty generous! It's managed authentication, so if you're comparing it, Clerk's free tier caps at 10,000 but includes some extra features. If you're okay with managing it yourself, consider alternatives like Better Auth or Auth.js—they're simpler and give you more control. Otherwise, Auth0 and Clerk are great for less hassle once you're established.