Self-Host Logto: Open Source Auth0 Alternative for Modern Authentication

What is Logto?

Logto is a powerful, open-source authentication and identity management platform designed as a modern alternative to Auth0, Firebase Auth, and AWS Cognito. This self-hosted identity provider offers enterprise-grade authentication features, social login integration, and passwordless authentication without the high costs and vendor lock-in of commercial solutions. Perfect for startups, growing companies, and enterprises seeking complete control over their user authentication and identity management infrastructure.

Key Features of Logto Authentication Platform

🔐 Modern Authentication Methods

• Passwordless Authentication: Email magic links, SMS OTP, and biometric authentication
• Social Login Integration: Google, Facebook, GitHub, Discord, Apple, and 20+ social providers
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Time-based OTP, SMS, and authenticator app support
• OIDC & OAuth 2.0: Industry-standard protocols with full compliance and security

🎨 Developer-First Experience

• Beautiful UI Components: Customizable sign-in/sign-up flows with modern design
• Multiple SDKs: JavaScript, React, Vue, Angular, iOS, Android, and backend integrations
• Headless API: Complete REST API for custom authentication flows
• Responsive Design: Mobile-optimized authentication UI with dark/light theme support

🏢 Enterprise-Grade Features

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Granular permissions and role management
• Multi-Tenancy Support: Organizations and workspace isolation for SaaS applications
• Single Sign-On (SSO): SAML 2.0, OIDC, and custom SSO implementations
• Audit Logs: Comprehensive security logging and compliance tracking

🔧 Infrastructure & Integration

• Management API: Complete programmatic control over users, roles, and configurations
• Webhook Support: Real-time event notifications for user actions and changes
• Custom Connectors: Extensible architecture for third-party integrations
• Database Flexibility: PostgreSQL, MySQL, and other database backend support

Why Choose Logto Over Commercial Auth Solutions?

Logto vs Auth0 ($23-240/month)

Logto vs Firebase Auth (Google Cloud Pricing)

• Vendor Independence: Avoid Google ecosystem lock-in with open-source flexibility
• Advanced Features: RBAC, organizations, and audit logs vs basic user management
• Cost Predictability: No per-user pricing vs scaling costs with Firebase
• Data Sovereignty: Complete control vs Google's data processing terms

Logto vs AWS Cognito ($0.0055/MAU)

• Ease of Setup: Simple deployment vs complex AWS configuration
• Modern UI: Beautiful, customizable flows vs basic AWS-hosted pages
• Developer Experience: Comprehensive SDKs vs limited language support
• Feature Completeness: Built-in RBAC and organizations vs additional services needed

Quick Deployment Options

Option 1: Docker Compose (Recommended)

Perfect for production deployments with full control.

# Clone Logto repository
git clone https://github.com/logto-io/logto.git
cd logto

# Set up environment variables
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your database and configuration

# Deploy with Docker Compose
docker-compose up -d

Production Docker Configuration:

version: '3.8'
services:
  logto:
    image: svhd/logto:latest
    ports:
      - "3001:3001"
      - "3002:3002"
    environment:
      - DB_URL=postgresql://logto:password@postgres:5432/logto
      - ENDPOINT=https://your-domain.com
      - ADMIN_ENDPOINT=https://admin.your-domain.com
    depends_on:
      - postgres
    volumes:
      - logto_data:/etc/logto

  postgres:
    image: postgres:15
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER=logto
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=secure_password
      - POSTGRES_DB=logto
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

Option 2: Railway One-Click Deploy

Ideal for teams wanting managed infrastructure with automatic scaling.

Benefits:

• Managed Database: PostgreSQL included with automatic backups
• Custom Domain: Free HTTPS certificates and subdomain support
• Auto-Scaling: Handles traffic spikes without configuration
• Zero Maintenance: Automatic updates and security patches

Option 3: Manual Installation

For advanced users requiring maximum customization.

# System requirements: Node.js 18+, PostgreSQL 14+, pnpm

# Clone and setup
git clone https://github.com/logto-io/logto.git
cd logto

# Install dependencies
pnpm install

# Database setup
pnpm cli db seed
pnpm cli db alteration deploy

# Start services
pnpm start

Getting Started with Logto

Initial Configuration

1. Deploy Instance: Choose your preferred deployment method above
2. Access Admin Console: Navigate to your admin endpoint (default: port 3002)
3. Create Admin Account: Set up the initial admin user with secure credentials
4. Configure Application: Create your first application with appropriate settings

Essential Setup Steps

1. Configure Identity Providers: Set up social login providers (Google, GitHub, etc.)
2. Customize UI: Modify sign-in/sign-up flows with your branding and themes
3. Set Up RBAC: Define roles, permissions, and user access controls
4. Configure Webhooks: Set up real-time notifications for user events
5. Test Integration: Implement authentication in your application using Logto SDKs

Security Best Practices

• Environment Variables: Use secure secrets management for sensitive configuration
• HTTPS Enforcement: Always use HTTPS in production deployments
• Database Security: Configure PostgreSQL with proper access controls and encryption
• Regular Updates: Keep Logto updated with latest security patches
• Audit Monitoring: Review audit logs regularly for suspicious activity

Popular Use Cases

SaaS Applications

• Multi-Tenant Architecture: Organizations and workspace isolation
• Subscription Management: Role-based access for different plan tiers
• User Onboarding: Streamlined sign-up flows with email verification
• Team Management: User invitations and role assignments

E-Commerce Platforms

• Customer Authentication: Secure user accounts with social login options
• Admin Panel Access: Separate authentication for store administrators
• Guest Checkout: Optional authentication with account creation prompts
• Order History: Secure access to purchase history and account details

Enterprise Applications

• Single Sign-On (SSO): SAML integration with existing identity providers
• Directory Integration: LDAP and Active Directory synchronization
• Compliance Requirements: Audit logs and security reporting
• API Security: OAuth 2.0 protection for internal and external APIs

Logto Community & Ecosystem

• GitHub Stars: 8,000+ stars with active open-source development
• Community Support: Discord server and GitHub discussions
• Regular Updates: Monthly releases with new features and improvements
• Enterprise Support: Commercial support and consulting services available
• Connector Marketplace: Growing ecosystem of third-party integrations

Migration Guide

From Auth0

1. Export Users: Use Auth0 Management API to export user data
2. Configure Applications: Recreate applications with similar settings in Logto
3. Update SDKs: Replace Auth0 SDKs with Logto equivalents in your applications
4. Test Authentication: Verify all authentication flows work correctly
5. Gradual Migration: Migrate users progressively to minimize downtime

From Firebase Auth

1. User Export: Download user data from Firebase console
2. Social Providers: Reconfigure OAuth applications for Logto endpoints
3. Update Client Code: Replace Firebase Auth SDK with Logto SDK
4. Database Migration: Import user data into Logto's PostgreSQL database
5. Verification: Test all authentication scenarios before going live

Transform your application's authentication with Logto - the developer-friendly, cost-effective alternative to expensive identity-as-a-service platforms.