Building a better web is a team sport, which is why we’re introducing the Auth0 extension for Netlify and deprecating Netlify Identity. If you’re an existing Identity user, you can jump ahead to see how this impacts you (spoiler: you can continue using Identity as-is or we can help you transition).
Making Netlify a platform for the whole web
We’re unabashedly anti-walled gardens. Great things on the web come from everywhere, and as a platform for the web, we’re investing in our own extensibility to make that true for Netlify too. We don’t want to limit you to just what our team builds–we want you to use the best tool for the job, always.
This reflects our belief that the future of web development is modular and composable. Your tools should work in harmony to make it faster to build. By focusing on extensibility, we create a foundation where the best solutions—whether built by Netlify or our partners—can come together.
Netlify Extensions
A few months ago, we announced Netlify Extensions to help tools deeply integrate with the Netlify platform. Since then:
- Tens of thousands of developers have added extensions
- Several Enterprise customers now run 10+ extensions across their organization, including their own custom extensions
- We’ve welcomed extensions from Contentful, Contentstack, Adobe Experience Manager, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Shopify, Supabase, and more
One of my favorite capabilities is that starter templates can include required extensions, prompting users to install them automatically. This creates an onboarding experience where templates automatically connect their critical components without manual setup.
In the future, combining this with the recent Build API opens exciting possibilities for AI code generation platforms. These tools can deploy more complex, fullstack apps to Netlify by defining required extensions that handle specific functionality like authentication, CMS integration, or ecommerce. As the AI development ecosystem evolves, extensions can provide a standardized way to connect generated code with production-ready services.
By prioritizing extensibility, Netlify gives you greater flexibility and choice without sacrificing the workflow you love. For teams, this means more modular, composable solutions that adapt to your needs, not the other way around.
Introducing the Auth0 Extension
Today, we’re adding the Auth0 extension to our growing ecosystem, making it simpler to connect Auth0’s authentication with your Netlify apps. To start, this extension:
- Sets up your Auth0 environment variables automatically
- Creates a connection between Auth0 and Netlify
- Maintains a consistent developer experience
We’re partnering with Auth0 because they’re authentication experts. Their platform brings capabilities that go beyond what Netlify Identity offered with single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, and integration with 20+ social providers and a developer experience to match.
While Identity worked well for simpler projects, Auth0 provides a more robust solution as your authentication needs grow.
What this means for Netlify Identity users
With our shift to extensible authentication, Netlify Identity is now deprecated. Here’s what that means for you:
- Keep using Identity as-is, we aren’t forcing migrations
- Existing implementations continue working, there’s no immediate or near-term disruption
- Support is changing, we’re focusing on helping with migrations rather than fixing Identity-specific issues
If you decide to move to Auth0 or your auth provider of choice, here’s how we’ll help:
- We’ll export your data: Contact our support team for a secure export of your Identity data, including hashed passwords. Auth0 provides tools to import this format.
- We’ll share the process: Find guides for moving to Auth0, with specific instructions for handling password hashing.
For new projects, we recommend the Auth0 extension or your preferred auth solution. Sign up with Auth0 today and get started.
What’s next for Netlify Extensions
Auth0 is just the beginning. Our extensibility roadmap includes:
- More partner extensions from leading technology providers
- Better developer tools for building custom extensions
- Deeper integration capabilities across Netlify
We’re creating an ecosystem where you can build exceptional web experiences with the best tools for each specific need. Ready to dive in? Here’s where to go next:
- For new projects: Install the Auth0 extension from your Dashboard
- For current Identity users: Contact support for a data export when you’re ready
- For developers interested in extensions: Explore our Extensions SDK docs
By embracing extensibility, we’re building a more open and flexible platform that helps you deliver better apps, faster.
