M
API Matrix

Stytch API

Authentication & Authorization / API Key Intermediate HTTPS
Varies by plan (check documentation)
69 Score
Grade C
Visit Official Site Compare Alternatives

Overview

Stytch provides ready-to-use user authentication infrastructure including magic links, OAuth, OTPs, and session management. It handles user storage and token lifecycle so you don't have to build auth from scratch.

💡

Beginner Tip

Use the sandbox environment (https://test.stytch.com) with test credentials before touching production — Stytch gives you a free project with no billing required to start.

Available Data

Stytch data via REST API
JSON-formatted response data
Requires API key authentication

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "result": "Data from Stytch",
    "description": "User infrastructure for modern applications",
    "timestamp": "2025-01-15T10:00:00Z"
  }
}

Field Reference

request_id Unique ID for this API call, useful for debugging and support tickets.
user_id Stytch's internal identifier for the user; use this to reference the user in future API calls.
email_id Identifier for the specific email address associated with this magic link send.
status_code HTTP status code echoed in the JSON body alongside the top-level HTTP response code.

Implementation Example 

const url = "https://stytch.com/";
// Replace headers or query params with the values required by this API.
const response = await fetch(url, {
  headers: {
  "X-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"
  }
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

401 Unauthorized Incorrect project_id or secret used for Basic Auth
✓ Base64-encode 'project_id:secret' and pass it as 'Authorization: Basic <encoded>' — both values are found in your Stytch dashboard.
400 – email_not_found Attempting to authenticate a user that hasn't been created yet
✓ Create the user first via POST /v1/users, or use the 'create_user_as_pending' flag on login endpoints.
429 Too Many Requests Hitting rate limits on OTP or magic link send endpoints
✓ Implement exponential backoff and respect the Retry-After response header; avoid sending multiple OTPs to the same address in quick succession.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 5/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 9/20
✓ Reliability 10/15

Partially tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth API Key
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS NO
Category Authentication & Authorization
Difficulty Intermediate
Verified: 2026-04-04

Alternatives to Stytch

Technical alternatives for different use cases.

Auth0

Most comprehensive auth platform with SSO and RBAC

Better For

Enterprise SSO, RBAC, and compliance requirements

Trade-off

Modern passwordless-first authentication flows

MojoAuth

Lightweight passwordless auth with quick setup

Better For

Minimal auth setup for small projects

Trade-off

Session management and advanced security policies

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