This article summarizes the key points of “4 Ways to Implement User Authentication for Sharing Next.js AI Apps Privately Within Your Organization”. If you’d like full code samples and a deeper trade-off analysis, be sure to check out the complete version:
Four Authentication Methods for Sharing Next.js AI Apps Privately
With the arrival of the Vercel AI SDK, Next.js has become a leading framework for building AI applications. However, if you want to share your Next.js–based AI app only within your organization, you need a proper user authentication layer. Below is a concise comparison of four implementation patterns that minimize development effort.
Three Essentials for Organization-Scoped Authentication
Sign-up Restriction
Prevent unauthorized sign-ups even if the URL leaks by allowing only invited users to register — or by disabling self-service sign-up entirely.
Role Management
When running multiple apps concurrently, you need a system that grants each user different permissions per app.
Log Collection & Monitoring
For data governance, it’s important to link auth data with access and error logs so you can trace who did what.
1. Squadbase
Features : Built-in invite-only auth, role management, and analytics.
Pros : Zero code changes — just deploy. CI/CD integration automatically handles secure deployments.
Cons : You depend on Squadbase hosting.
2. Clerk
Features : Rich Next.js UI components, invite-only sign-up, and SSO configurable from the dashboard.
Pros : Add a modern login experience in just a few lines of code.
Cons : Organization-level role management costs $25+/month; switching roles across multiple apps requires extra work.
3. Auth0
Features : Enterprise-grade auth with OAuth, SAML, Okta integration, and more.
Pros : Fine-grained roles and audit logging out of the box.
Cons : Higher learning curve; invitation flows and per-app scoping add complexity.
4. IP Whitelisting (Middleware)
Features : Restrict access by IP range instead of individual users.
Pros : Extremely simple to implement.
Cons : No user tracking or role management — only suitable for minimal access controls (e.g., office LAN).
Top comments (4)
pretty cool seeing more ways to lock things down for teams - been cool seeing steady progress with this stuff lately. you think most growth with tools like these comes from habits or just people sticking with whatever’s easy over time?
Love how you broke down the trade-offs so clearly. Which of these do you reach for first yourself when launching a new internal Next.js app?
Thanks for summarising about these products 👍🏾
Been through enough messy auth setups to appreciate a rundown like this. Super useful.