Securing authentication is non-negotiable in today’s API-driven ecosystem. As applications scale across cloud platforms and microservices, choosing the right API authentication method has become a core concern for developers. Robust, scalable security starts at the API layer—and that’s where authentication frameworks like JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) and OAuth come into play.
When evaluating options, developers often compare JWT vs OAuth as if they’re interchangeable. But here’s the thing: they’re not.
JWT is a token format used to securely transmit data, while OAuth is an authorization framework designed to delegate access. Conflating the two can lead to misconfigurations, security vulnerabilities, or overly complex auth systems.
This guide clears up that confusion.
You’ll learn how JWTs and OAuth actually work, when to use each, where they complement one another, and how to implement them correctly. We’ll break down their security implications, architectural differences, and practical use cases—so you can make confident decisions about your app’s authentication flow.
By the end, you’ll understand how to protect your APIs using the right tools in the right contexts. That’s especially useful if you’re working with modern headless CMS platforms like Strapi 5, which supports local auth, JWT, third-party providers, and role-based access control out of the box.
In brief:
- JWT is a stateless token format; OAuth is a full authorization framework. They solve different problems—and often work better together.
- Architecture matters: JWTs are self-contained and ideal for quick validation. OAuth handles fine-grained permission control and delegated access.
- Security depends on setup: JWT requires careful token storage and expiration logic, while OAuth centralizes control through scopes and grant flows.
- Modern stacks often combine both, using OAuth to manage access and JWTs as the transport layer.
JWT vs OAuth: Understanding Self-Contained Authentication Tokens and Authorization Frameworks
JWTs and OAuth solve different problems. JWT is a compact token format used for securely passing information, while OAuth is a full authorization framework for granting scoped access to resources.
Choosing between them—or combining both—depends on your authentication and authorization needs. Let's break down how they work, what roles they play, and how to implement them effectively.
JWT: Self-Contained Authentication Tokens
A JSON Web Token (JWT) is a stateless, compact token format that allows users to authenticate and carry necessary claims without relying on server-side sessions.
JWTs are great for distributed architectures and microservices. They’re easy to verify, easy to transmit across platforms, and don’t require server-side state management, making them ideal for scaling authentication across modern systems.
Structure of JWT
A JWT consists of three distinct parts:
- Header - Contains metadata about the token type and the signing algorithm being used (e.g., HMAC SHA256 or RSA).
- Payload - Contains claims about the entity (typically the user) and additional data. Claims might include user ID, roles, permissions, and token expiration time.
- Signature - Created by combining the encoded header, encoded payload, and a secret key using the algorithm specified in the header. This ensures the token hasn't been tampered with.
These three components are Base64URL encoded and concatenated with periods to form the complete JWT: header.payload.signature
.
Stateless Authentication
The beauty of JWTs lies in their stateless nature. Here's how the authentication flow works:
- The server checks your credentials and creates a JWT containing your identity and permissions.
- You receive this token and store it (typically in memory, cookies, or local storage).
- When you make requests, you attach your JWT in the Authorization header.
- The server checks the token's signature and processes your request based on what's inside.
Since all your information lives inside the token itself, the server doesn't need to store session data or check a database for each request. This removes the need for server-side storage, making JWTs perfect for distributed systems and microservices. Understanding the key differences between JWT and cookies helps clarify why JWTs are often preferred for stateless authentication.
Portability Across Platforms
JWTs shine in mixed environments because they're based on JSON, a universal data format. They work seamlessly across different domains, services, and programming languages. Whether your backend runs on Node.js, Python, Java, or anything else, JWT libraries exist to handle your tokens.
This universal compatibility makes JWTs particularly valuable when your services use different technologies but need to share user information.
While JWTs do have some limitations around token revocation and size, for most modern apps needing stateless, distributed authentication, they offer an elegant and efficient solution. For developers working with frameworks like Next.js, implementing JWT with Next.js can leverage these benefits to build secure and scalable applications.
OAuth: Framework for Delegated Authorization
OAuth is an authorization framework designed to delegate access to resources without exposing user credentials, enabling secure, limited access across applications. If you’re new to OAuth, start by understanding OAuth 2.0 to see how its roles and flows work in real-world implementations.
OAuth defines a standardized way to authorize third-party applications and manage permissions using access tokens and scopes. It's the backbone of secure integrations—from enterprise APIs to social login systems.
Key Roles in the OAuth Framework
OAuth defines four essential roles that work together to create a secure authorization process:
- Resource Owner: This is the user who owns the protected resources (like data or accounts) and grants permission for access.
- Client: The application requesting access to the protected resources on behalf of the Resource Owner.
- Authorization Server: This server issues tokens after authenticating the Resource Owner and obtaining authorization. It's the central authority for managing access.
- Resource Server: The server hosting the protected resources that can validate tokens and serve the resources when presented with valid authorization.
Common OAuth Flows
OAuth provides several flows (also called grant types) to accommodate different scenarios:
- Authorization Code Flow: The most secure flow, typically used for server-side applications. It involves a front-channel request for authorization and a back-channel exchange for tokens.
- Implicit Flow: Designed for client-side applications (like JavaScript SPAs) that can't securely store secrets, though it's now considered less secure than newer alternatives.
- Client Credentials Flow: Used for server-to-server authentication where no user context is needed.
- Resource Owner Password Credentials: Allows direct exchange of username/password for tokens but is only recommended in specific high-trust scenarios.
OAuth and Authentication
Though OAuth is fundamentally an authorization protocol rather than an authentication protocol, it often serves as the foundation for authentication through extensions like OpenID Connect (OIDC). OIDC adds an identity layer on top of OAuth 2.0, allowing clients to verify a user's identity and obtain basic profile information.
OAuth's strength comes from its token-based approach. Issuing access tokens with specific scopes (permissions) enables granular access control. Think of it like a valet key for your car—it gives limited access to just what's needed.
OAuth excels in scenarios where users need to grant third-party apps limited access to their accounts without sharing credentials, like when you use "Login with Google" on other websites. This makes OAuth ideal for implementing OAuth for social login, enabling users to sign in securely with their existing social media accounts.
Architectural Differences in JWT vs. OAuth: Tokens vs Protocols
JWT and OAuth serve different roles—one defines how information is structured and transmitted, while the other governs how access is delegated. Understanding their architectural differences helps you design more secure, scalable authentication systems.
Token Format vs Authorization Protocol
The fundamental difference is that JWT is a token format, while OAuth is an authorization protocol:
- JWT defines how tokens are structured, encoded, and validated—it's about the format of information exchange.
- OAuth outlines how different parties interact to enable secure access delegation—it's about the process.
This means JWT and OAuth aren't competing alternatives but technologies serving different purposes. They can actually work together quite well.
Stateless vs Stateful Architecture
JWT embraces statelessness, while OAuth typically follows a more complex, stateful approach:
- JWT tokens carry all user information within themselves. The server doesn't store session data since it extracts everything it needs from the token after verifying its signature.
- OAuth's framework involves multiple components, including authorization servers that track issued tokens, their permissions, and lifetimes.
Implementation Complexity
These architectural differences create very different implementation requirements:
- JWT implementation tends to be straightforward since tokens are self-contained and verified locally without database lookups. This suits microservices particularly well.
- OAuth implementation involves more complexity, requiring careful setup of authorization servers, resource servers, and clients, plus configuration of different grant types.
Token Structure and Validation
The tokens themselves differ significantly in structure and validation:
- JWT tokens follow a standardized three-part structure, letting any service with the right key validate them independently.
- OAuth tokens are often opaque and need server-side validation against an authorization server, though OAuth frequently uses JWT as its token format.
Flexibility and Purpose
The primary strengths of each technology reflect their architectural differences:
- JWT offers flexibility for various authentication scenarios, shining in stateless environments and distributed systems.
- OAuth provides robust authorization through scopes, token revocation, and sophisticated permission models.
Performance in Distributed Systems
Architectural differences directly impact performance in modern distributed systems:
- JWT's stateless approach eliminates database queries for token validation, making it highly efficient in microservices where reducing communication between services matters.
- OAuth's more comprehensive framework may introduce additional communication points between services, though this overhead brings benefits in access control and security.
Understanding these architectural differences in JWT vs. OAuth helps you choose the right technology—or combine them—based on your application needs, security requirements, and scalability goals.
Security Considerations in JWT vs. OAuth: Vulnerabilities and Protections
JWT and OAuth each come with unique security tradeoffs. Choosing the right approach—and implementing it securely—depends on your project’s risk profile, token lifecycle needs, and infrastructure.
With proper configuration, both JWT and OAuth provide strong security for authentication and authorization, but your choice should match your specific security requirements. For more on API security best practices, consider reading resources that focus on implementing robust protection in your applications.
Modern CMS platforms like Strapi 5 implement various security practices in their authentication systems, including multiple authentication methods such as local and social authentication and support for JWT tokens. For enhanced security, Strapi Enterprise security features offer Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities and integration with third-party systems for two-factor authentication (2FA), along with a robust Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) system for managing user roles and permissions. Detailed guidance on securing API access is available in their documentation.
A clear understanding of API security fundamentals is essential for making the right decision.
JWT Security Features and Vulnerabilities
JWTs offer fast, stateless authentication, but without proper safeguards—like secure algorithms, short expirations, and safe storage—they can introduce serious risks.
Here's what you need to watch for:
Signature Verification
JWT tokens use signatures to ensure they haven't been tampered with.
- Vulnerability: Weak algorithms or using the "none" algorithm leaves your tokens open to forgery.
- Protection: Stick with secure algorithms like HMAC-SHA256, RSA, or ES256. Never use the "none" algorithm except in testing.
Token Expiration
Unlike OAuth, JWTs don't have built-in revocation mechanisms.
- Vulnerability: A compromised JWT remains valid until it expires, creating a security risk.
- Protection: Use short-lived tokens (minutes, not days) paired with refresh tokens. For high-security systems, consider a token blacklist despite the added complexity.
Sensitive Data in Payloads
JWT payloads are encoded, not encrypted.
- Vulnerability: Anyone with the token can decode and read the payload.
- Protection: Never put sensitive data like passwords or personal information in JWT payloads. For sensitive information, use encrypted JWTs (JWEs).
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks
Token storage affects security.
- Vulnerability: Tokens stored in JavaScript-accessible storage can be stolen through XSS attacks.
- Protection: Store JWTs in HttpOnly, secure cookies, and implement proper Content Security Policies to block XSS attempts.
OAuth Security Features and Vulnerabilities
OAuth provides granular access control and token revocation but relies on strict implementation of flows, validated redirects, and secure transport to avoid common attack vectors.
Here are some things to watch out for:
Token Revocation
Unlike JWT, OAuth supports immediate token invalidation.
- Feature: OAuth tokens can be revoked right away, giving you better access control.
- Implementation: Make sure your authentication service properly handles token revocation and tracks token status.
Scope-Based Access Control
OAuth uses scopes to define permissions.
- Feature: Scopes allow fine-grained control over resource access.
- Protection: Follow the principle of least privilege by limiting scopes to only what's absolutely necessary.
Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks
Secure token transmission is vital in OAuth.
- Vulnerability: Without encryption, tokens can be intercepted during transmission.
- Protection: Always use HTTPS for all OAuth communications and token exchanges.
Redirect URI Manipulation
OAuth relies heavily on redirects.
- Vulnerability: Attackers can manipulate redirect URIs to steal authorization codes or tokens.
- Protection: Strictly validate redirect URIs and avoid using wildcards or loose matching in configuration.
State Parameter Exploitation
The state parameter prevents cross-site request forgery.
- Vulnerability: Skipping or poorly implementing the state parameter exposes you to CSRF attacks.
- Protection: Always use and validate the state parameter in all OAuth transactions.
Common Security Considerations for Both
Regardless of which method you choose, security best practices like HTTPS, token validation, and safe storage must be enforced to protect user data and maintain trust.
Look out for the following:
Token Storage
Both JWT and OAuth tokens need secure storage.
- Vulnerability: Poor storage can lead to token theft.
- Protection: For web apps, use HttpOnly and Secure cookies. For mobile apps, use secure, platform-specific storage.
HTTPS Implementation
Secure transport is essential for both technologies.
- Vulnerability: Unencrypted communications expose tokens to interception.
- Protection: Always use HTTPS and implement certificate validation to prevent MITM attacks.
Token Validation
Proper validation is critical for security.
- Vulnerability: Insufficient validation can lead to accepting invalid tokens.
- Protection: Validate all aspects of tokens, including signatures, expiration times, issuers, and audiences.
Decision Framework: Choosing Between JWT vs. OAuth
Deciding between JWT vs. OAuth depends on your application's specific needs. Here's a practical framework to guide your decision.
When to Choose JWT
JWT works best when you need:
- Stateless Authentication
- You want a lightweight, self-contained token carrying all user information.
- You're building distributed systems where centralized session storage would create bottlenecks.
- Platform-Agnostic Requirements
- Your services use different programming languages or frameworks.
- You need standardized tokens across diverse technologies.
- Performance-Critical Applications
- API response times must be minimized.
- You have high traffic and need to reduce latency.
- Service-to-Service Communication
- You need secure API authentication between microservices.
- Services must validate requests independently without external calls.
- Resource-Constrained Environments
- Server resources are limited.
- You're building IoT applications where efficient communication matters.
When to Choose OAuth
OAuth makes more sense when you need:
- Third-Party Integrations
- You want to allow external apps to access user resources (like "Sign in with Google").
- You need user consent and delegated permissions.
- Complex Authorization Requirements
- You need fine-grained access control with multiple permission levels.
- Your application requires the ability to revoke tokens.
- Delegated Access Needs
- Third-party applications need limited access to user accounts.
- You want to enable secure resource sharing without exposing credentials.
- Fine-Grained Permission Controls
- Different clients need different access scopes.
- You want to consistently apply the principle of least privilege.
Decision Factors
Consider these key factors when making your choice:
Factor JWT Considerations OAuth Considerations Implementation Complexity Simpler implementation, minimal infrastructure More complex, requires authorization server setup Scalability Excellent for distributed systems Can introduce bottlenecks without proper design Security Requirements Limited revocation options, self-contained Strong token lifecycle management, revocation Interoperability Works across platforms and languages Standard protocol for third-party integrations
Hybrid Approach
Many modern applications combine both technologies:
- Use OAuth for the authorization framework and delegated permissions.
- Implement JWT as the token format within the OAuth flow.
- This approach leverages OAuth's robust permission model with JWT's stateless efficiency.
Real-World Examples
- Microservices Architecture: A fintech company uses JWT for inter-service authentication, allowing each microservice to validate tokens locally without dependencies.
- SaaS Platform: A productivity suite implements OAuth to securely connect with third-party apps while using JWT as the token format for efficient validation.
- Headless CMS: Platforms like Strapi 5 support multiple authentication methods, including local and third-party providers. They use JWT tokens for secure authorization and have a built-in RBAC system for precise control over user permissions, allowing secure API access with flexibility for third-party integrations. Understanding headless CMS advantages can help you see how an API-first approach facilitates choosing the right authentication method.
By evaluating your requirements against these factors, you can select the approach that best fits your needs or create a hybrid solution combining the strengths of both.
Implementation Patterns for JWT
Implementing JWT effectively requires thoughtful decisions about storage, transmission, and validation. Here are practical patterns to ensure security and performance.
Token Storage Options
Where you store your JWT affects security:
- Cookies
- Use HttpOnly cookies to block JavaScript access.
- Add the Secure flag to ensure HTTPS-only transmission.
- Set the SameSite attribute to block CSRF attacks.
- Local Storage
- Easy to use but vulnerable to XSS attacks.
- Only suitable for less sensitive applications.
- Never store sensitive data in the payload.
According to security experts at curity.io, HttpOnly cookies provide better protection against script-based attacks compared to browser storage options.
Token Transmission
The safest way to send your JWT is through the Authorization header:
1Authorization: Bearer eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9...
This approach works across platforms and keeps the token out of URLs and browser history.
Token Expiration and Renewal
Short-lived tokens improve security but need a renewal strategy:
- Token Expiration
- Keep tokens short-lived (15-30 minutes).
- Include an "exp" claim in your payload.
- Refresh Token Pattern
- Issue a longer-lived refresh token alongside the JWT.
- Store refresh tokens securely (server-side or HttpOnly cookie).
- Implement token rotation for better security.
1// Example refresh token flow
2async function refreshAccessToken() {
3 const response = await fetch('/api/refresh', {
4 method: 'POST',
5 credentials: 'include' // Sends HttpOnly cookies
6 });
7
8 if (response.ok) {
9 const { accessToken } = await response.json();
10 return accessToken;
11 } else {
12 // Handle failed refresh (redirect to login)
13 window.location.href = '/login';
14 }
15}
Backend Validation
On your server, always validate thoroughly:
- Signature Verification
- Check the token signature using your secret or public key.
- Reject invalid signatures immediately.
- Claims Validation
- Verify expiration time.
- Check issuer, audience, and subject claims.
- Validate any custom claims your app needs.
1// Node.js example with jsonwebtoken package
2const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
3
4function verifyToken(token) {
5 try {
6 const decoded = jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET, {
7 algorithms: ['RS256'], // Be explicit about algorithms
8 audience: 'your-api',
9 issuer: 'your-auth-server'
10 });
11 return { valid: true, payload: decoded };
12 } catch (error) {
13 return { valid: false, error: error.message };
14 }
15}
Cross-Domain Considerations
For applications spanning multiple domains:
- CORS Configuration
- Set proper CORS headers to allow token transmission.
- Be specific with allowed origins instead of using wildcards.
- Mobile App Considerations
- Mobile apps need to use secure storage.
- Use platform-specific secure storage options.
Modern headless CMS platforms like Strapi v5 implement these JWT patterns to secure their API endpoints while providing developers with the flexibility to customize authentication flows according to their specific requirements.
Implementation Patterns for OAuth
Implementing OAuth effectively requires choosing the right patterns for your specific use case. Let's walk through how to implement OAuth in different scenarios.
Selecting the Right Grant Type
Your OAuth grant type should match your application architecture:
- Web Applications: For server-side web apps, the Authorization Code flow offers the best security by keeping tokens server-side.
- Single Page Applications (SPAs): Modern SPAs should use Authorization Code flow with PKCE to protect against code interception attacks.
- Mobile Applications: Like SPAs, mobile apps should implement Authorization Code flow with PKCE, using secure device storage for tokens.
- Service-to-Service: For backend services communicating without user involvement, Client Credentials flow works best.
Implementation Components
A complete OAuth implementation involves three main parts:
- Authorization Server Implementation:
- Validate client applications properly.
- Generate secure tokens with appropriate lifetimes.
- Support token revocation.
- Check scopes correctly.
- Resource Server Implementation:
- Validate tokens independently or via introspection.
- Check scopes to enforce permissions.
- Handle expired tokens gracefully.
- Client Implementation:
- Store client credentials and tokens securely.
- Handle token refreshing.
- Manage redirect flows safely.
Security Best Practices
For secure OAuth implementation, follow these key practices:
- Redirect URI Validation: Check redirect URIs exactly, without wildcards or partial matches. This stops attackers from redirecting authorization codes to malicious sites.
- State Parameter Usage: The state parameter protects against CSRF. Generate a random state value, store it securely, and verify it when processing the callback.
- Scope Definition: Create and enforce specific scopes following the principle of least privilege. Instead of broad
read
access, use targeted scopes likeread:profile
orread:transactions
.
Token Management
Good token management is essential for OAuth security:
- Access Token Handling: Keep access tokens short-lived (5-60 minutes) and store them securely.
- Refresh Token Handling: For longer sessions, implement refresh tokens with proper security:
- Use refresh token rotation where each refresh generates a new refresh token.
- Set refresh token expiration for long-term security.
- Store refresh tokens in HttpOnly, Secure cookies, or similar protected storage.
Implementation Challenges
Watch out for these common challenges:
- Mobile App Deep Linking: For mobile authentication flows, use verified deep links and app-specific redirect schemes.
- SPA Authentication: In SPAs, avoid vulnerable localStorage for tokens and prefer more secure options like HttpOnly cookies.
- Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS): Set up proper CORS settings for your token endpoints to allow secure cross-origin requests.
The latest version of Strapi (Strapi 5) supports OAuth-based authentication flows, enabling secure sign-ins through platforms like Google, Facebook, or GitHub. This ensures secure token management, making it suitable for implementing secure, standardized authentication methods in headless CMS applications.
Hybrid Authentication: Combining JWT vs. OAuth
Combining JWT and OAuth creates powerful authentication systems that leverage the best of both technologies. While sometimes viewed as competitors, these technologies actually complement each other beautifully in real applications.
Common Hybrid Patterns
The most popular hybrid approach uses JWT as the token format inside OAuth flows:
- OAuth handles authorization, managing permissions and scopes.
- JWT serves as the token format, offering self-contained and efficient authentication.
This combination gives you stateless authentication with OAuth's robust authorization framework. In this setup, the OAuth authorization server issues JWTs as access tokens that resource servers can verify independently.
Benefits of Hybrid Authentication
This combination offers several key advantages:
- Better Security: OAuth provides strong authorization and token management, while JWT's signatures ensure token integrity.
- Less Server Load: Using JWT within OAuth lets resource servers validate tokens locally without checking with the authorization server for every request.
- Greater Scalability: JWTs work perfectly in distributed systems and microservices where multiple services need to verify authentication.
- Efficient Token Management: OAuth's refresh token mechanism complements JWTs by providing a way to issue new tokens without requiring re-login.
Real-World Implementations
Many major platforms use hybrid approaches:
Google's Implementation: Google uses OAuth 2.0 for authorization while issuing JWTs as access tokens. This lets Google APIs verify tokens locally while maintaining OAuth's strong authorization model.
Auth0's Approach: Auth0 combines OAuth flows with JWT tokens, providing immediate access to user data via JWT while securing API interactions through OAuth's authorization framework.
Strapi v5: The latest version of Strapi (Strapi 5) uses JWT tokens in its OAuth implementation, offering a secure and efficient authentication mechanism by allowing token validation without maintaining session state, thus enhancing API scalability. For a practical example of using JWT and OAuth in Strapi, developers can implement hybrid authentication methods efficiently. The documentation explains how their authentication system balances these technologies for headless CMS security. By taking advantage of the benefits of Strapi CMS, developers can implement hybrid authentication methods efficiently.
Best Practices for Hybrid Implementation
When building a hybrid JWT-OAuth solution:
- Security Configuration:
- Use strong signing algorithms (RS256, ES256) for JWT tokens.
- Rotate JWT signing keys regularly.
- Always use HTTPS for all communications.
- OAuth Configuration:
- Define specific scopes to limit permissions.
- Use PKCE for public clients.
- Set reasonable token lifetimes.
- Token Revocation Strategy:
- Since you can't directly revoke JWTs, use a token blacklist for critical systems.
- Issue short-lived JWTs with refresh tokens.
- Consider token introspection endpoints for high-security scenarios.
- Debugging and Monitoring:
- Log token issuance events.
- Monitor for unusual token usage patterns.
- Use error responses that don't leak sensitive information.
By thoughtfully combining JWT vs. OAuth, you can build authentication systems that are both secure and scalable, getting the best of each technology while minimizing their limitations.
JWT vs. OAuth Comparison Table
Feature | JWT (JSON Web Token) | OAuth (Open Authorization) |
---|---|---|
Type | Token format for identity & claims | Authorization framework for delegated access |
Stateless or Stateful | Stateless – no server-side session required | Typically stateful – requires auth server to manage tokens |
Use Case | API authentication, microservices, IoT | Third-party app access, social logins, permission delegation |
Token Validation | Local signature verification | Server-side or introspection-based |
Revocation Support | Not built-in; requires custom handling | Built-in token revocation |
Common Pattern | Used for user auth within systems | Issues JWTs as access tokens in flows |
Future-Proofing Your Authentication Strategy
Modern authentication doesn’t stand still. As threats evolve and applications scale, so must your approach to securing access. Whether you're building with JWT, OAuth, or a hybrid of the two, designing systems that can adapt to emerging standards is key to long-term resilience.
New paradigms like Zero Trust architecture, passwordless login, and continuous authentication are reshaping how developers protect users and data. JWT and OAuth are evolving alongside these shifts—OAuth 2.1 simplifies the spec, JWT continues to refine security practices, and new grants like Device Authorization extend secure access to IoT and limited-input environments.
To stay ahead:
- Abstract authentication behind modular services
- Support multiple auth methods from day one
- Monitor and rotate keys automatically
- Explore new protocols like token binding
Platforms like Strapi 5 are built with this kind of adaptability in mind. From local login to third-party providers and JWT support, Strapi gives you control over how authentication works across your stack—without forcing you into a rigid system. Its Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) lets teams manage permissions precisely, and the documentation walks you through every implementation detail.
For teams comparing options, Strapi’s authentication tools comparison breaks down the strengths of today’s leading solutions. And if you're migrating to a headless CMS, now is the perfect time to revisit your approach to authentication.
The takeaway? Don’t just secure your application—design authentication to grow with it.