Magic
Magic is a developer SDK that lets you integrate passwordless authentication into your applications using magic links, social logins, and secure Web3 wallets without managing complex infrastructure.
Nhost
Nhost is an open-source Firebase alternative that provides a complete backend-as-a-service platform with GraphQL, authentication, storage, and serverless functions to help you build and scale web and mobile applications.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Magic | Nhost |
|---|---|---|
| Website | magic.link | nhost.io |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2018 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Stockholm, Sweden |
Overview
Magic
Magic provides a seamless way for you to onboard users without the friction of traditional passwords. By using the SDK, you can implement secure authentication methods like email magic links, SMS, and social logins (Google, Apple, GitHub) with just a few lines of code. It handles the heavy lifting of security and identity management so you can focus on building your core product features.
Beyond standard logins, you can use Magic to create non-custodial Web3 wallets for your users instantly. This allows you to bridge the gap between traditional web apps and decentralized technologies effortlessly. Whether you are a solo developer or part of a large enterprise, the platform scales to support millions of users while maintaining high security standards and a smooth user experience.
Nhost
Nhost provides you with a complete, open-source backend so you can focus on building your frontend without worrying about infrastructure. It combines a PostgreSQL database, Hasura for instant GraphQL APIs, and built-in authentication and storage into a single unified platform. You can manage your entire data layer through a visual dashboard or via the command line, making it easy to transition from a local development environment to a production-ready cloud setup.
Whether you are building a simple MVP or a complex enterprise application, you can use Nhost to handle user management, file uploads, and real-time data syncing. The platform also supports serverless functions, allowing you to write custom logic in Node.js or Python that scales automatically. By integrating these core backend components, you save weeks of configuration time and can deploy your applications globally with just a few clicks.
Overview
Magic Features
- Passwordless Magic Links Send secure, one-time login links to your users' email addresses so they can sign in without remembering passwords.
- Social Logins Enable one-click registration using Google, Apple, GitHub, and other popular social providers to speed up your onboarding process.
- Web3 Wallet Creation Generate secure, non-custodial blockchain wallets for your users automatically upon login to enable decentralized app features.
- Customizable UI Match the login interface to your brand's look and feel using pre-built widgets or fully custom components.
- Multi-Factor Authentication Add an extra layer of security to your application with built-in support for secondary verification methods.
- Enterprise SSO Connect your application to corporate identity providers like Okta or Azure AD to support large-scale business clients.
Nhost Features
- Instant GraphQL API. Generate a production-ready GraphQL API automatically from your PostgreSQL schema so you can query data instantly.
- Managed PostgreSQL. Store your data in a dedicated PostgreSQL database that you can manage visually through a built-in dashboard.
- Built-in Authentication. Secure your apps with ready-to-use authentication including email/password, social logins, and magic links for your users.
- Serverless Functions. Deploy custom backend logic using Node.js or Python without managing any server infrastructure or scaling issues.
- Cloud Storage. Upload and serve files securely with integrated storage that includes image transformation and granular access controls.
- Real-time Subscriptions. Build reactive applications by subscribing to data changes in real-time through the GraphQL API without extra setup.
Pricing Comparison
Magic Pricing
- Up to 1,000 monthly active users
- Passwordless email login
- Standard social logins
- Base Web3 wallet features
- Community support access
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Higher monthly active user limits
- Advanced security features
- Custom branding options
- Priority technical support
- SLA guarantees
Nhost Pricing
- Shared infrastructure
- 500MB PostgreSQL database
- 1GB File storage
- 5GB Bandwidth
- 10,000 Monthly Active Users
- Community support
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Dedicated infrastructure
- 8GB PostgreSQL database
- 10GB File storage
- 50GB Bandwidth
- 50,000 Monthly Active Users
- Email support
Pros & Cons
Magic
Pros
- Extremely fast implementation with well-documented SDKs
- Significantly reduces user drop-off during registration
- Simplifies Web3 onboarding for non-technical users
- Reliable infrastructure with high uptime for logins
Cons
- Pricing can scale quickly with high user volume
- Limited customization on the lowest pricing tiers
- Dependency on third-party email delivery for links
Nhost
Pros
- Fast setup for GraphQL-based applications
- Open-source core prevents vendor lock-in
- Seamless integration between database and auth
- Generous free tier for initial development
- Excellent documentation for modern frontend frameworks
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Google Firebase
- Limited serverless function language support
- Learning curve for Hasura permissions logic