better-auth/better-auth

The most comprehensive authentication framework for TypeScript

Summary

Better Auth is a framework-agnostic authentication and authorization framework written in TypeScript. The project positions itself as an alternative to building auth yourself, offering a plugin ecosystem for capabilities beyond basic login flows. It is released under the MIT License.

What it is useful for

Better Auth targets TypeScript engineers who need production-grade authentication without stitching multiple libraries together. The README states it covers common authentication scenarios out of the box and extends functionality through plugins, with 2FA and multi-tenant support cited as concrete examples. The repository's listed topics include OAuth, OAuth2, OIDC, and SSO, indicating support for standard federation and single sign-on flows. A "stripe" topic is also listed, suggesting the project includes or anticipates billing-related integrations, although specific Stripe functionality is not described in the README itself. Because the framework is described as framework-agnostic, it can be used across different TypeScript stacks rather than locking engineers into a single one. The motivation in the README is that authentication in the TypeScript ecosystem is "a half-solved problem," and Better Auth aims to fill that gap with a self-contained library rather than only acting as a wrapper for third-party services.

How engineers can use it

The README itself does not include installation commands or a quickstart guide. It directs readers to the project website for setup details, with a Discord server available for community support and GitHub Issues used for bug and feature reports. Engineers evaluating the library should consult the official website to find current installation steps, configuration examples, and plugin usage, since none are reproduced in the README. Security issues have a dedicated reporting channel through GitHub Security Advisories, and contributors can follow the linked CONTRIBUTING guide. The MIT License permits using the code in commercial or open source projects at no cost. A limitation worth noting from the source: the README is light on technical specifics, so engineers should rely on the linked website and community channels rather than this README alone for implementation guidance.