RocketMVPRocketMVP
Essential for most MVPs

User Authentication for MVPs

Secure login and registration systems including email/password, social auth, and passwordless options.

2-5 days
Typical Timeline
$500 - $2,000
Typical Cost

When to Include

  • Users need personal accounts or profiles
  • You need to store user-specific data
  • Access control is required
  • Personalization features are planned

When to Skip

  • Public-only content with no user data
  • Simple landing pages or brochure sites
  • Anonymous-first products (add later)

Technology Options

TechnologyProsCons
Supabase Auth
Open-source Firebase alternative with PostgreSQL backend
  • Free tier available
  • Built-in row-level security
  • Social auth included
  • Self-hostable
  • Smaller ecosystem than Firebase
  • Less documentation
Firebase Auth
Google backed authentication service
  • Massive scale
  • Excellent documentation
  • Many auth providers
  • Free tier
  • Vendor lock-in
  • NoSQL only
  • Google dependency
Auth0
Enterprise-grade authentication platform
  • Highly customizable
  • Enterprise features
  • Compliance certifications
  • Expensive at scale
  • Complex for simple needs
NextAuth.js
Open-source auth for Next.js applications
  • Free
  • Highly flexible
  • Database agnostic
  • Great Next.js integration
  • Requires more setup
  • Self-managed security

Implementation Steps

1
Choose authentication provider based on requirements
2
Set up user database schema
3
Implement registration flow with email verification
4
Add login with session management
5
Configure password reset flow
6
Add social login providers (optional)
7
Implement protected routes and middleware
8
Add logout and session cleanup

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Storing passwords in plain text (always hash)
  • Not implementing email verification
  • Weak password requirements
  • Missing rate limiting on auth endpoints
  • Not handling session expiration properly
  • Exposing user IDs in URLs

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use social login or email/password?

Start with email/password for ownership of user data, then add social login as a convenience. Social-only auth creates dependency on third parties.

How do I handle password resets securely?

Use time-limited tokens (1-24 hours), one-time use, and send reset links via email. Never expose whether an email exists in your system.

Is passwordless auth worth it for MVPs?

Magic links reduce friction but add email deliverability concerns. Consider it for B2B products where users have reliable email access.

Related Features

Role-Based Access Control

Permissions systems for controlling what users can see and do based on their roles.

Learn more

Need Help Implementing User Authentication?

We'll build it right the first time. User Authentication is included in our $3,999 MVP package.

Get Started