Convex vs Clerk
Convex and Clerk side by side: what each one is, verified plan pricing and install commands where we have them, and the full review of each.
Convex
This SiteReactive backend - database, server functions, real-time sync, cron jobs, file storage. All TypeScript. This site's backend (courses, videos, user data) runs on Convex.
Clerk
This SiteDrop-in auth for React/Next.js. Pre-built sign-in UI, session management, user profiles, org management. This site uses Clerk for authentication.
At a glance
| Field | | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Infrastructure | Infrastructure |
| Website | convex.dev | clerk.com |
| Pricing | Free - $0/mo with built-in limits: 1M function calls, 0.5 GB database storage, 1 GB file storage, 1-6 developers; Starter - pay as you go beyond the free limits, e.g. $2.20 per additional 1M function calls; Professional - $25 per developer/mo: 25M function calls, 50 GB database storage and 100 GB file storage included, 1-20 developers; Business and Enterprise - $2,500/mo minimum: 50+ developers, SAML/SSO, service SLAs, dedicated deployments; AI Gateway - model usage billed at OpenRouter rates with no markup, paid plans only | Hobby - free: 50,000 monthly retained users per app, up to 3 dashboard seats, unlimited applications; Pro - $25/mo, or $20/mo billed annually: 50,000 MRUs included per app, then from $0.02 per MRU; MFA, passkeys, 1 SSO connection included; Business - $300/mo, or $250/mo billed annually: 10 dashboard seats, SOC2 report, priority support; Enterprise - custom, billed annually: 99.99% uptime SLA, HIPAA with BAA; Add-ons - enhanced B2B Authentication or Administration $100/mo ($85/mo billed annually); Billing 0.7% of billing volume plus Stripe fees |
| Install | npm create convex@latest or npm install convex or npx convex dev | npx -y clerk@latest init or npm install @clerk/nextjs |
| Models | Not a model host. AI Gateway, available on paid plans including Starter, lets Convex actions call hundreds of models through the @convex-dev/ai-sdk-provider package or an OpenAI-compatible endpoint without provider API keys; you pick a model by passing its slug to convexGateway. | Not a model host. Clerk's MCP server lets coding agents create applications, configure authentication and manage users through your Clerk account, and the Clerk CLI's init command detects agent environments and sets up a Next.js app non-interactively. |
| Last verified | October 26, 2026 | October 26, 2026 |
In Depth
Convex
Convex replaces your database, API layer, and real-time sync with a single TypeScript platform. You write queries and mutations as TypeScript functions, and your React frontend automatically re-renders when data changes - no websocket setup, no polling. It includes scheduled functions (cron jobs), file storage, full-text search, and vector search for AI apps. This site uses Convex for the course database (90 lessons), video catalog, AI news feed, and user management. The cron job syncs new YouTube videos daily at midnight. Free tier includes 1M function calls/month.
Clerk
Clerk handles authentication on this site. It provides pre-built React components for sign-in, sign-up, and user profile management. Integration with Next.js is seamless - wrap your app in ClerkProvider, add SignInButton, and you're done. It handles OAuth (Google, GitHub), email/password, MFA, session management, and user metadata. The developer experience is genuinely good - I chose it for this site before I ever made a video about it. The free plan covers up to 50,000 monthly retained users per app.
FAQ
Answers taken from each tool's verified fact sheet, with the date it was last checked.
How much does Convex cost?
As of October 26, 2026: Free - $0/mo with built-in limits: 1M function calls, 0.5 GB database storage, 1 GB file storage, 1-6 developers; Starter - pay as you go beyond the free limits, e.g. $2.20 per additional 1M function calls; Professional - $25 per developer/mo: 25M function calls, 50 GB database storage and 100 GB file storage included, 1-20 developers; Business and Enterprise - $2,500/mo minimum: 50+ developers, SAML/SSO, service SLAs, dedicated deployments; AI Gateway - model usage billed at OpenRouter rates with no markup, paid plans only. Source: Convex pricing, React quickstart, convex-js CHANGELOG, convex-js release tags, Introducing Convex AI Gateway.
How do I install Convex?
Official install commands as of October 26, 2026: npm create convex@latest or npm install convex or npx convex dev.
Which models does Convex use?
As of October 26, 2026: Not a model host. AI Gateway, available on paid plans including Starter, lets Convex actions call hundreds of models through the @convex-dev/ai-sdk-provider package or an OpenAI-compatible endpoint without provider API keys; you pick a model by passing its slug to convexGateway.
How much does Clerk cost?
As of October 26, 2026: Hobby - free: 50,000 monthly retained users per app, up to 3 dashboard seats, unlimited applications; Pro - $25/mo, or $20/mo billed annually: 50,000 MRUs included per app, then from $0.02 per MRU; MFA, passkeys, 1 SSO connection included; Business - $300/mo, or $250/mo billed annually: 10 dashboard seats, SOC2 report, priority support; Enterprise - custom, billed annually: 99.99% uptime SLA, HIPAA with BAA; Add-ons - enhanced B2B Authentication or Administration $100/mo ($85/mo billed annually); Billing 0.7% of billing volume plus Stripe fees. Source: Clerk pricing, Next.js quickstart, Clerk changelog, Clerk MCP server, Multiple signing certificates for SAML connections, Self-serve Directory Sync.
How do I install Clerk?
Official install commands as of October 26, 2026: npx -y clerk@latest init or npm install @clerk/nextjs.
Which models does Clerk use?
As of October 26, 2026: Not a model host. Clerk's MCP server lets coding agents create applications, configure authentication and manage users through your Clerk account, and the Clerk CLI's init command detects agent environments and sets up a Next.js app non-interactively.
