Better Auth Raises $5M for Open Source Authentication Platform
Better Auth has raised $5 million in seed funding for its open source authentication framework. The TypeScript-based platform allows developers to implement user login systems directly in their codebases without relying on external authentication services.
The company's framework addresses limitations in existing authentication solutions. Traditional services like Auth0 and Firebase require storing user data externally and limit customization options. Better Auth keeps all authentication data within company databases.
Founded by Bereket Engida, the platform launched on GitHub in September 2024 and has gained significant developer adoption. The library generates over 150,000 weekly downloads and has collected 15,000 GitHub stars. A Discord community of 6,000 developers actively uses the framework.
Better Auth targets the developer infrastructure market with a focus on flexibility and data control. Companies can implement authentication features without external dependencies while maintaining full ownership of user information.
"The idea was that you could add advanced features in just two or three lines of code," Engida said about the platform's design philosophy.
The platform has found particular traction among AI startups that need custom authentication flows. These companies require integration with proprietary APIs and secure token management while controlling costs at scale.
Peak XV, Y Combinator, P1 Ventures, Chapter One, and Pioneer Fund participated in the funding round. Better Auth graduated from Y Combinator's spring 2025 batch.
The framework supports common enterprise features like organizational roles and team permissions without additional development work. Developers can build authentication systems that scale from simple login flows to complex enterprise implementations.
Better Auth currently operates as a free open source project. The company plans to introduce paid enterprise services that complement the existing framework. This model allows developers to choose between self-hosting and managed cloud services.
Authentication represents a fundamental requirement for web applications but often requires significant development time. Better Auth's approach reduces implementation complexity while giving developers control over their authentication infrastructure.
The funding will support product development and team expansion. Engida plans to hire developers to maintain the codebase and build enterprise features while preserving the platform's community-driven development model.
Open source authentication tools compete with established managed services that handle infrastructure complexity but limit customization. Better Auth positions itself as offering both flexibility and ease of implementation.