Stytch

Overview

Stytch provides an API-first platform for integrating user authentication and authorization into applications. Founded in 2020, Stytch focuses on modern authentication methods, particularly passwordless solutions, to reduce reliance on traditional passwords. The platform offers a suite of tools for developers to implement various login flows, including magic links, one-time passcodes (OTPs) via email or SMS, and social logins. This approach aims to enhance both security and user experience by eliminating the friction associated with password management and retrieval.

The core offering of Stytch revolves around its RESTful API and comprehensive SDKs, which support multiple programming languages and frameworks such as Python, Node.js, Ruby, Go, Java, React, iOS, and Android. This broad language support facilitates integration into diverse development environments. Stytch's developer experience is characterized by its organized documentation and consistent API structure, with clear error handling across its endpoints, which can streamline the implementation of authentication features. The platform also includes features for multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and B2B-specific authentication patterns like organization management and just-in-time provisioning.

Stytch is suited for companies looking to modernize their user authentication infrastructure, implement passwordless strategies, or enhance existing security with MFA. Its B2B authentication capabilities are designed for applications requiring complex user management within organizational structures, providing features like role-based access control and invitation flows. Compliance is a stated focus, with adherence to standards such as SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA, and readiness for HIPAA, addressing common regulatory requirements for user data handling and security. The platform's free Developer Plan allows up to 1,000 monthly active users (MAUs), making it accessible for testing and small-scale deployments before scaling to paid tiers.

Key features

• Passwordless Authentication: Supports login via magic links, OTPs (email/SMS), Google OAuth, Apple OAuth, and WebAuthn (biometrics), reducing reliance on traditional passwords for enhanced security and user experience. More details are available in the Stytch passwordless authentication documentation.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Integrates various secondary verification methods, including TOTP (authenticator apps), SMS OTPs, email OTPs, and WebAuthn, to add an extra layer of security to user accounts.
• B2B Authentication: Provides tools for managing multi-tenant applications, including organization and member management, role-based access control, and domain-based auto-enrollment, suitable for SaaS products.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Enables users to access multiple applications using a single set of credentials, supporting protocols like OAuth and SAML for enterprise integrations. The Stytch SSO overview provides additional context.
• Device Management: Offers capabilities to track and manage user devices, enabling features like session revocation and detection of suspicious login activity.
• SDKs and APIs: Provides RESTful APIs and client SDKs for various languages and platforms (Python, Node.js, Ruby, Go, Java, React, iOS, Android) to simplify integration. Stytch's API reference details available endpoints.
• User Management: Tools for creating, updating, and managing user profiles, sessions, and authentication methods.

Pricing

Stytch offers a tiered pricing model that includes a free developer plan and scales with monthly active users (MAUs).

As of 2026-06-26. For detailed pricing information, refer to the Stytch pricing page.

Common integrations

• Identity Providers: Integrates with Google and Apple for social login, streamlining user registration and login processes. The Stytch OAuth provider documentation details these integrations.
• SAML/OAuth SSO: Connects with enterprise identity providers like Okta, Auth0, and Microsoft Azure AD for single sign-on capabilities, often used in B2B contexts. Learn more about SAML SSO with Stytch.
• Email and SMS Services: Works with various email and SMS APIs to deliver magic links and OTPs, although Stytch often handles this delivery internally.
• Database/CRM Systems: Can be integrated with user databases or CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Notion) to synchronize user information post-authentication via webhooks or direct API calls. For example, Salesforce's API documentation outlines integration methods.
• Monitoring and Logging: Integrates with logging and monitoring tools for security event analysis and debugging, often through webhook notifications.

Alternatives

• Auth0: A comprehensive identity platform offering a wide range of authentication, authorization, and user management features, including traditional passwords, social logins, and enterprise connections.
• Okta: An enterprise-grade identity management service providing SSO, MFA, and lifecycle management for employees, partners, and customers.
• Magic: Specializes in passwordless authentication, focusing on magic links and WebAuthn to provide a frictionless login experience, similar to Stytch's core offering.
• Firebase Authentication: Google's backend-as-a-service offering, including authentication via email/password, phone number, and various social providers. The Firebase Authentication documentation covers its features.

Getting started

To begin using Stytch, you would typically sign up for an account, obtain your project ID and secret, and then integrate one of the SDKs. The following Python example demonstrates how to create a user and send a magic link for login using the Stytch Python SDK:

import stytch

mfa_client = stytch.Client(project_id="project-test-xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx", secret="secret-test-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx")

# Create a user (optional, can also use login_or_create_user_by_email)
def create_and_send_magic_link(email_address: str):
    try:
        # Authenticate with the Stytch API to create a new user and send a magic link
        response = mfa_client.magic_links.email.login_or_create(
            email=email_address,
            login_magic_link_url="https://example.com/authenticate",
            signup_magic_link_url="https://example.com/authenticate"
        )
        print(f"Magic link sent successfully to {email_address}!")
        print(f"Stytch response: {response.status_code}")
    except stytch.errors.StytchError as e:
        print(f"Error sending magic link: {e}")

# Example usage
# create_and_send_magic_link("[email protected]")

This Python code snippet initializes the Stytch client using a project ID and secret. It then calls the magic_links.email.login_or_create method, which will either create a new user with the provided email address or find an existing one, and subsequently send a magic link to that email. The login_magic_link_url and signup_magic_link_url parameters specify the redirect URLs after the user clicks the magic link in their email. For a complete guide and API reference, consult the Stytch documentation.