Hanko is an open source passkey authentication platform. Read our 2026 review of features, MAU-based pricing, pros, cons and alternatives to Auth0.
Category
Security
Pricing
Freemium (usage-based on monthly active users), from Free (up to 10,000 MAU)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2018
Headquarters
Kiel, Germany
Free PlanWeb AppAPIOpen SourceFreemiumSelf-Hosted
Overview
Hanko is an open source, developer-first authentication platform built around passkeys, offering passwordless login, traditional passwords, social SSO and multi-factor authentication through a hosted cloud service or self-hosted core.
Founded in Kiel, Germany, in 2018 by Felix Magedanz, Hanko began as a closed-source enterprise vendor before making its authentication server open source in 2022 and raising a venture round in 2023.
Key Features
Hanko's primary differentiator is native passkey (FIDO2/WebAuthn) support alongside fallback password, passwordless email and social SSO login options, delivered via a lightweight HTTP API and client SDKs.
The platform also includes multi-factor authentication, an admin dashboard and Admin API, webhooks, custom domains, custom SMTP, and optional SAML SSO for enterprise identity federation.
Pricing
Hanko's free Starter plan includes up to 10,000 monthly active users across 2 projects with no credit card required, while the Pro plan costs $29/month plus $0.01 per MAU beyond 10,000.
Enterprise pricing is custom with an uptime SLA and private cloud deployment, and a Startup Plan grants up to 1 million free MAUs to qualifying early-stage companies.
Key Features
Passkey authentication — Native FIDO2/WebAuthn passkey registration and login built on the founding team's years of standards implementation experience.
Passwordless and password login — Supports passwords, passwordless email/magic-link login, and passkeys side by side for gradual migration.
Social SSO — Login via Google, Apple and other social identity providers.
Multi-factor authentication — Adds an additional verification layer on top of passkey or password login.
Open source, self-hostable core — The core authentication server is open source and can be self-hosted for full data control.
Admin dashboard and Admin API — Manage users, projects and settings through a dashboard or programmatically via the Admin API.
Webhooks and custom SMTP — React to authentication events with webhooks and route transactional email through custom SMTP.
SAML SSO — Optional enterprise identity federation available as an add-on on the Pro and Enterprise plans.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Generous free tier with 10,000 monthly active users included
Open source with a self-hosting option for full data control
Passkey-first design reduces phishing and credential-stuffing risk
Simple integration via lightweight API and SDKs
Startup program offers up to 1 million free MAUs for qualifying companies
Cons
SAML SSO costs extra at $49/month per connection
Smaller ecosystem and community compared to Auth0 or Clerk
Enterprise pricing is not publicly listed
Relatively young, small company compared to larger incumbents
Open source history is short, dating only to 2022
Pricing
Starter Free Free, up to 10,000 MAU
Pro $29/month plus $0.01 per MAU over 10,000 Monthly
Enterprise Custom, volume discounts available Annual contract
Startup Plan Free, up to 1,000,000 MAU Application required
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hanko?
Hanko is an open source authentication platform focused on passkeys, offering passwordless login, passwords, social SSO and multi-factor authentication via a hosted cloud service or self-hosted core.
Is Hanko open source?
Yes, Hanko's core authentication server became open source in 2022 and can be self-hosted, while Hanko Cloud offers the same functionality as a managed service.
How much does Hanko cost?
Hanko's Starter plan is free for up to 10,000 monthly active users. The Pro plan costs $29/month plus $0.01 per MAU beyond 10,000, and Enterprise pricing is custom.
What are passkeys and why does Hanko use them?
Passkeys are a FIDO2/WebAuthn-based passwordless login standard that replace passwords with device-based cryptographic credentials, reducing phishing and credential-stuffing risk, which is why Hanko built its platform around them.
Can I self-host Hanko?
Yes, Hanko's core authentication server is open source and can be self-hosted for teams that need full control over their authentication data.
What counts as a monthly active user in Hanko's pricing?
Hanko defines a monthly active user as any user who is issued a session token at least once during a given month.