Back to Workshop resources
Vercel + Namecheap stack1 min read

When to add auth to your Next.js site.

Auth adds friction. Add it when you genuinely need to gate something — not before.

Haojun See
Haojun See

Founder & Director, On The Ground

Updated 6 June 2026

Overview

Auth is one of the more complex things to get right. Don't add it unless you genuinely need to gate something behind a login.

You don't need auth if

Your site is read-only (marketing, blog). Your forms route to email. Your content is the same for every visitor.

You need auth when

Users have accounts. Content is personalised. You're running a product, not a marketing site.

What to use

Better Auth or Clerk. Both have good Next.js integrations. Clerk is fastest to set up; Better Auth is more flexible long-term.

Want to Apply This to Your Business?

We're a Singapore AI development and automation agency. Let's discuss how we can help solve your specific challenges.