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Cybersecurity · head to head

Clerk vs PublicInput

Clerk logo

Clerk

Cybersecurity

Drop-in user authentication and management for developers

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ClerkFull review
PublicInput logo

PublicInput

Government

Inclusive Community Engagement

From
$400/month
Free plan
No
Visit PublicInputFull review

The short version

  • Clerk has a free plan, then $25/mo; PublicInput starts at $400/mo.
  • Only Clerk lists prebuilt UI components; only PublicInput lists virtual Public Meetings.
  • Where Clerk falls short: pricing scales with monthly retained users, which can grow expensive quickly for consumer apps with large user bases.
  • Where PublicInput falls short: all three plans, Listen, Engage and Engage Plus, are listed as Request Pricing with no published rate, minimum or cost driver.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clerk and PublicInput actually diverge.

Attributes where Clerk and PublicInput differ
AttributeClerkPublicInput
Starting priceFree$400/month
Pricing modelFreemiumSubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APIWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment

Not yet recorded: founded for Clerk.

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Clerk

  • Prebuilt UI components
  • Organization management
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Social sign-on
  • Billing
  • Enterprise connections

Only in PublicInput

  • Virtual Public Meetings
  • Online Surveys
  • Comment Management
  • Multi-language Support
  • Engagement Analytics
  • Zoom
  • Microsoft Teams
  • GovDelivery

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Clerk

  • Adding sign-in and user profiles to a web or mobile app quicklynot PublicInput
  • B2B SaaS apps needing organizations and role-based accessnot PublicInput
  • Startups wanting prebuilt UI instead of building auth in-housenot PublicInput
  • Apps needing MFA and fraud detection out of the boxnot PublicInput

PublicInput

  • Civic engagementnot Clerk
  • Government consultationnot Clerk
  • Public input collectionnot Clerk

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Clerk

  • Pricing scales with monthly retained users, which can grow expensive quickly for consumer apps with large user bases
  • Enterprise SSO connections beyond the first are billed as add-ons, adding cost for larger organizations
  • The Business tier's extra dashboard seats cost $20/month each, which adds up for larger teams
  • Enterprise-tier features like the 99.99% uptime SLA require annual contracts rather than flexible monthly billing

PublicInput

  • All three plans, Listen, Engage and Engage Plus, are listed as Request Pricing with no published rate, minimum or cost driver
  • HTML and CSS customization, custom workflows and approvals, and external system integration with Accela and ESRI are listed as Enterprise Capabilities rather than core platform features
  • Public meetings functionality is sold under a separate Meetings plan rather than being included with the Engagement plans
  • Getting a plan requires booking a consultation and a tailored demo rather than self serve signup

Pricing, plan by plan

Clerk

Free
  • HobbyFree
    • 50,000 MRU limit per app
    • Up to 3 dashboard seats
    • Unlimited applications
  • Pro$25/mo
    • 50,000 MRUs included, $0.02/MRU overage
    • Up to 3 dashboard seats
    • 1 Enterprise Connection included
  • Business$300/mo
    • 50,000 MRUs included with volume pricing
    • 10 dashboard seats included
    • SOC2 report and priority support
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • Custom pricing, annual billing
    • 99.99% uptime SLA
    • HIPAA available, dedicated Slack channel

PublicInput

$400/month
  • Enterprise$400/mo
    • Virtual Meetings
    • Surveys
    • Comment Management

Which should you pick?

Choose Clerk if

  • You need prebuilt ui components.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want organization management.
Clerk review

Choose PublicInput if

  • You need virtual public meetings.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want online surveys.
PublicInput review

Questions people ask

Is Clerk or PublicInput better?
Neither clearly leads. Clerk starts at Free and PublicInput at $400/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clerk or PublicInput?
Clerk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Clerk and $400/month for PublicInput.
Does Clerk or PublicInput run on more platforms?
Clerk runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. PublicInput runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Clerk for free?
Yes. Clerk has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PublicInput starts at $400/month.
What is Clerk best used for?
Clerk is most often used for adding sign-in and user profiles to a web or mobile app quickly, b2b saas apps needing organizations and role-based access, startups wanting prebuilt ui instead of building auth in-house, apps needing mfa and fraud detection out of the box. Of those, adding sign-in and user profiles to a web or mobile app quickly and b2b saas apps needing organizations and role-based access are not what PublicInput is typically brought in for.
What can Clerk do that PublicInput cannot?
Clerk covers Prebuilt UI components, Organization management, Multi-factor authentication, Social sign-on. PublicInput covers Virtual Public Meetings, Online Surveys, Comment Management, Multi-language Support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Clerk: What does Clerk cost?

Clerk's Hobby plan is free with a 50,000 MRU limit; Pro is $25/month ($20/month billed annually), Business is $300/month ($250 annually), and Enterprise uses custom annual pricing.

Source
PublicInput: How much does PublicInput cost?

PublicInput does not publish pricing on their website. Customers must request a demo or book a meeting to receive a quote based on their specific needs.

Source
Clerk: Is there a free plan and what are its limits?

Yes, the Hobby plan is free with a 50,000 monthly retained user (MRU) limit per app, up to 3 dashboard seats, and unlimited applications, with no credit card required.

Source
PublicInput: What pricing plans does PublicInput offer?

PublicInput offers Engagement Plans and Meetings Plans, but specific pricing for each plan is not publicly available and requires contacting their sales team.

Source
Clerk: How is usage metered?

Clerk meters by monthly retained users (MRUs) — users who return to the app at least a day after signing up — with overage billed at $0.02 per MRU beyond the included 50,000 on paid plans.

Source
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