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Clerk vs Upstash: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Clerk and Upstash. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Both Clerk and Upstash offer free plans. Clerk has 4 pricing tiers while Upstash has 3.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Clerk vs Upstash: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureClerkUpstash
Starting PriceCustom pricingCustom pricing
Number of Plans43
Free TierYesYes
Pricing Modelusage-basedusage-based
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Clerk and Upstash are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Dev Tools. Together they offer 7 pricing plans with 0 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Dev Tools needs.

Pricing Plans
Tier 1
Hobby
$0/monthCheapest
Start with Hobby
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Start with Free
Tier 2
Pro
Custom pricing
Start with Pro
Pay as you go
$0/monthCheapest
Start with Pay as you go
Tier 3
Business
Custom pricing
Start with Business
Enterprise
$0/monthCheapest
Start with Enterprise
Tier 4
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

Clerk

Drop-in user authentication and management for web apps

View all Clerk plans

Upstash

Serverless Redis and Kafka for edge and serverless workloads

View all Upstash plans

What Reviewers Say

Our Pick

Clerk

Clerk offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 3.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Clerk

Try Clerk free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Clerk if:

  • You prefer Clerk's free tier features—features
  • You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Clerk offers negotiated terms for large deployments

Choose Upstash if:

  • You prefer Upstash's free tier features—features
  • You prioritize Upstash's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • You need predictable billing — Upstash's usage-based model avoids surprise overages

Both Clerk and Upstash offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: Clerk includes multiple features, while Upstash includes multiple features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Clerk vs Upstash

How many pricing plans does Clerk have vs Upstash?
Clerk offers 4 pricing plans, while Upstash offers 3 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Clerk or Upstash offer a free plan?
Yes, both Clerk and Upstash offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
Does Clerk or Upstash offer custom enterprise pricing?
Clerk offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Upstash lists all its pricing publicly.
How do Clerk and Upstash compare for Dev Tools?
Both Clerk and Upstash are Dev Tools. Clerk offers 4 plans starting at Custom pricing, while Upstash offers 3 plans starting at Custom pricing. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Dev Tools needs.

Sources

  1. Clerk Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Upstash Official PricingVendor pricing page

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