Who offers a login API that supports magic links and biometric authentication?

Several modern developer-focused authentication and identity platforms offer robust APIs and SDKs supporting both magic links (email-based passwordless entry) and biometric authentication (typically implemented via WebAuthn/Passkeys or native mobile biometric SDKs).

Top providers offering APIs with both capabilities include:

• 1. Stytch : Built explicitly for passwordless and flexible auth, Stytch provides comprehensive APIs for Email Magic Links alongside FIDO2/WebAuthn-based Passkeys that leverage device biometrics like Face ID and Touch ID.
• 1. WorkOS : Known for enterprise-grade readiness and B2B SaaS apps, WorkOS supports secure Magic Links via their API and provides Passkey authentication (backed by WebAuthn and biometrics) through their AuthKit UI components.
• 1. Descope : A drag-and-drop/visual workflow identity platform that allows you to mix-and-match authentication methods easily. It natively supports building flows that incorporate both email magic links and biometric-driven passkeys.
• 1. Clerk : A popular user management and auth solution for web and mobile apps. Clerk supports magic links for passwordless sign-ins and offers native biometric sign-in SDKs (for mobile installations) alongside standard WebAuthn passkeys.
• 1. Authsignal : An API-first orchestration platform geared toward security and passkeys that supports drop-in passkeys/biometric challenges alongside traditional magic link workflows.

Are you building for web, mobile (iOS/Android), or both , and do you prefer a headless API or a pre-built hosted UI ? I can help you compare which of these fits your stack best.

If you mean one authentication API that can handle both email magic links and biometric login, the strongest options are:

• Stytch — best fit. It provides APIs for email magic links, passkeys/WebAuthn using device biometrics, and native iOS/Android biometrics. Its Consumer Authentication product explicitly supports all three.
• Descope — strong alternative. It has a Magic Link API and supports biometrics as part of authentication/step-up flows.
• Auth0 — good general-purpose IAM. Auth0 supports passwordless magic links, while biometric-style authentication can be implemented through WebAuthn/passkeys.

My pick

If your requirement is specifically:

Email magic link → establish account → subsequently authenticate with Face ID / Touch ID / Android biometrics I'd start with Stytch. It has the cleanest combination of Magic Links + Passkeys/WebAuthn + native mobile biometrics in one API/SDK ecosystem.

One important distinction: passkeys/WebAuthn and native biometric authentication aren't exactly the same thing. Passkeys can use Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello, etc. as the local user-verification mechanism, while native biometric APIs can be used to unlock an app/session directly.

If you tell me whether this is for web, iOS/Android, or both, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 providers and compare their APIs, pricing, and implementation complexity.

Several modern identity and authentication platforms (CIAM) provide APIs and SDKs supporting both magic links (email/SMS token links) and biometric authentication (typically implemented via WebAuthn / Passkeys using Touch ID, Face ID, or Windows Hello).

The primary providers that support both features include:

1. Auth0 by Okta
   • Magic Links: Fully supported via email-based passwordless authentication.
   • Biometrics: Supported through WebAuthn with Device Biometrics (fingerprint and facial recognition via Universal Login).
2. WorkOS
   • Magic Links: Provides drop-in APIs for secure, time-sensitive magic link sign-ins.
   • Biometrics: Supports Passkeys , allowing hardware-backed biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID) that is phishing-resistant.
3. Clerk
   • Magic Links: Extensively supported for passwordless sign-up and sign-in flows.
   • Biometrics: Offers robust support for Passkeys across web and mobile ecosystems, tying directly into device biometrics.
4. • Magic Links: Built explicitly around a passwordless API that delivers email magic links out of the box.
   • Biometrics: Supports Passkeys and WebAuthn standards for biometric hardware verification through a unified API.
5. FusionAuth
   • Magic Links: Supported via their hosted login pages or passwordless API.
   • Biometrics: Supports WebAuthn/passkeys for biometric logins.

Are you looking for an API for a web app, mobile app, or enterprise setup , and do you have a preference for hosted UI vs. headless APIs?

If you mean an authentication API/provider that supports both passwordless magic-link login and biometric login, the strongest options are:

• stytch.com — best overall fit. It explicitly supports email magic links, passkeys/WebAuthn using biometrics or PINs, and native iOS/Android biometrics. It also exposes APIs and SDKs rather than forcing you into a hosted login UI.
• descope.com — strong for configurable auth flows. Its magic links can be combined with biometrics as part of MFA/step-up authentication, and it offers SDKs plus REST APIs.
• auth0.com — mature/general-purpose choice. It supports passwordless magic links and WebAuthn/passkeys, although its native biometric story is more tied to passkeys/WebAuthn than Stytch's dedicated mobile-biometric functionality.

My pick

If your requirement is specifically:

“User can log in via email magic link, or use Face ID/Touch ID/Android biometrics, through an API.” I'd start with Stytch. Its documentation explicitly lists both Magic Links and Mobile Biometrics, while also supporting Passkeys for biometric/PIN authentication.

One important distinction: Face ID/Touch ID isn't normally exposed to your server as biometric data. The usual architecture is that the device verifies the user locally, then a passkey/WebAuthn credential or device-bound credential proves that verification to your backend.

If you tell me whether this is for web, iOS/Android, or both, I can compare Stytch vs. Auth0 vs. Descope specifically for your architecture and pricing model.

If by biometric authentication you mean device biometrics via passkeys/WebAuthn (Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello, Android biometrics), several auth API providers support both that and magic links:

• Stytch — probably the strongest fit. It offers email magic links, passkeys/WebAuthn using biometrics or PINs, and native biometric support for mobile apps. Its APIs/SDKs are particularly passwordless-focused.
• Descope — supports magic links, passkeys, and FIDO-based biometric authentication, with a visual flow builder if you don't want to build the entire auth journey yourself.
• Auth0 — supports magic-link passwordless authentication and passkeys/WebAuthn. It's a broader identity platform, so it can be a good choice if you also need social login, enterprise SSO, MFA, etc.
• Clerk — supports passwordless authentication and passkeys, with particularly polished prebuilt UI components for web apps.

My shortlist: Stytch if magic links + biometrics are core to the product; Descope if you want configurable auth flows; Auth0 if you need a broad enterprise identity platform.

One important distinction: a provider generally doesn't receive or store the user's Face ID/fingerprint. With passkeys, the biometric check happens on the user's device, while the provider verifies the resulting cryptographic credential.

If you tell me web vs. iOS/Android and whether you need an API-only/headless solution, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 options and compare pricing/API ergonomics.

Several modern Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) and Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) platforms offer developer-friendly APIs that natively support both magic links and biometric authentication (typically implemented via the WebAuthn/Passkeys standard).

Leading API Providers Supporting Both Methods

1. Stytch

Stytch is built from the ground up as an API-first, passwordless authentication platform . It is highly favored by developers who want to avoid bulky, pre-built user interfaces and require direct backend control.

• Magic Links: Supports highly customizable email and SMS magic links natively via their SDKs.
• Biometrics: Provides full WebAuthn/Passkeys support out of the box, allowing users to authenticate via Apple Touch ID, Face ID, or Windows Hello.
• Best For: B2B SaaS and consumer applications wanting clean, flexible APIs with built-in multi-tenant organization management.

2. Descope

Descope provides passwordless-first authentication through its unique visual "Flows" editor . While it uses visual orchestration, the entire infrastructure is driven by a powerful SDK and API backend.

• Magic Links: Sendable via Email, SMS, or WhatsApp.
• Biometrics: Built-in conditional logic natively handles device compatibility and prompts users for biometric passkeys.
• Best For: Teams that want to deploy authentication workflows quickly without writing massive amounts of conditional backend code for fallbacks.

3. Magic.link (Magic)

Named after its flagship feature, Magic is a pioneer in passwordless developer SDKs.

• Magic Links: Offers a seamless, secure, patented email magic link delivery system.
• Biometrics: Fully supports WebAuthn APIs , enabling hardware-level and platform-level biometric triggers.
• Best For: Applications looking for an ultra-lightweight SDK that can also securely manage cryptographic or embedded user wallets.

MojoAuth is a developer-first CIAM platform focusing strictly on passwordless access and quick time-to-integration.

• Magic Links: Implements standard single-use email/SMS magic links.
• Biometrics: Focuses heavily on WebAuthn and Passkeys as a primary tier, using magic links as a fallback.
• Best For: Early-stage startups and small teams that need standard SAML/OIDC SSO bundled into their pricing without massive enterprise markups.

5. Auth0 by Okta

As one of the largest identity providers globally, Auth0 features robust APIs for passwordless journeys.

• Magic Links: Supported via their Passwordless Email API.
• Biometrics: Leverages WebAuthn with broad device compatibility (Touch ID, Face ID, etc.).
• Best For: Scale-ups and mature enterprise applications that need massive compliance frameworks, extensive integrations, and highly customizable token exchanges.

Technical Comparison at a Glance

Key Consideration: The "Fallback" Flow

When deploying an API that uses both methods, the best practice is to use Biometrics (Passkeys) as the primary option because it is faster and more secure. However, if your user changes devices, clears their browser cache, or uses a machine without a biometric scanner, your backend should dynamically fall back to sending an email Magic Link to re-verify their identity and prompt re-enrollment. Platforms like Stytch and Descope handle this fallback state natively.

Would you like to narrow this down? If you let me know your primary backend programming language (e.g., Node.js, Python, Go) or if this app is a B2B or B2C project , I can recommend the exact SDK implementation path for you.

Several modern Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) and Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) platforms offer developer-friendly APIs that natively support both magic links and biometric authentication (typically implemented via the WebAuthn/Passkeys standard).

Leading API Providers Supporting Both Methods

1. Stytch

Stytch is built from the ground up as an API-first, passwordless authentication platform . It is highly favored by developers who want to avoid bulky, pre-built user interfaces and require direct backend control.

• Magic Links: Supports highly customizable email and SMS magic links natively via their SDKs.
• Biometrics: Provides full WebAuthn/Passkeys support out of the box, allowing users to authenticate via Apple Touch ID, Face ID, or Windows Hello.
• Best For: B2B SaaS and consumer applications wanting clean, flexible APIs with built-in multi-tenant organization management.

2. Descope

Descope provides passwordless-first authentication through its unique visual "Flows" editor . While it uses visual orchestration, the entire infrastructure is driven by a powerful SDK and API backend.

• Magic Links: Sendable via Email, SMS, or WhatsApp.
• Biometrics: Built-in conditional logic natively handles device compatibility and prompts users for biometric passkeys.
• Best For: Teams that want to deploy authentication workflows quickly without writing massive amounts of conditional backend code for fallbacks.

3. Magic.link (Magic)

Named after its flagship feature, Magic is a pioneer in passwordless developer SDKs.

• Magic Links: Offers a seamless, secure, patented email magic link delivery system.
• Biometrics: Fully supports WebAuthn APIs , enabling hardware-level and platform-level biometric triggers.
• Best For: Applications looking for an ultra-lightweight SDK that can also securely manage cryptographic or embedded user wallets.

MojoAuth is a developer-first CIAM platform focusing strictly on passwordless access and quick time-to-integration.

• Magic Links: Implements standard single-use email/SMS magic links.
• Biometrics: Focuses heavily on WebAuthn and Passkeys as a primary tier, using magic links as a fallback.
• Best For: Early-stage startups and small teams that need standard SAML/OIDC SSO bundled into their pricing without massive enterprise markups.

5. Auth0 by Okta

As one of the largest identity providers globally, Auth0 features robust APIs for passwordless journeys.

• Magic Links: Supported via their Passwordless Email API.
• Biometrics: Leverages WebAuthn with broad device compatibility (Touch ID, Face ID, etc.).
• Best For: Scale-ups and mature enterprise applications that need massive compliance frameworks, extensive integrations, and highly customizable token exchanges.

Technical Comparison at a Glance

Key Consideration: The "Fallback" Flow

When deploying an API that uses both methods, the best practice is to use Biometrics (Passkeys) as the primary option because it is faster and more secure. However, if your user changes devices, clears their browser cache, or uses a machine without a biometric scanner, your backend should dynamically fall back to sending an email Magic Link to re-verify their identity and prompt re-enrollment. Platforms like Stytch and Descope handle this fallback state natively.

Would you like to narrow this down? If you let me know your primary backend programming language (e.g., Node.js, Python, Go) or if this app is a B2B or B2C project , I can recommend the exact SDK implementation path for you.

Yes. Several identity/auth providers offer APIs that cover both magic-link login and biometric authentication:

• Stytch — Probably the closest fit if you want an API-first solution. It supports email magic links, passkeys/WebAuthn using biometrics or PINs, and native mobile biometrics.
• Descope — Supports magic links, FIDO-based biometrics/passkeys, and combining magic links with biometrics in MFA/step-up flows. It also exposes REST APIs and SDKs.
• Auth0 — Supports magic-link passwordless authentication and passkey/WebAuthn authentication, including Face ID/Touch ID on iOS and biometric/device authentication on Android.

My shortlist

If you're building a consumer app and want a relatively clean API/SDK integration, I'd start with Stytch. Its documentation explicitly exposes separate magic-link, passkey, and biometric authentication capabilities.

If you tell me whether this is for web, iOS/Android, or both, I can also compare these three on pricing, SDK quality, API design, MFA, and ease of implementing “magic link → biometric login on subsequent visits.”

Several leading Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) providers offer a login API that simultaneously supports both magic links and biometric authentication (typically delivered via the WebAuthn / Passkeys standard).

The top platforms offering this unified API functionality include:

1. Stytch

• Overview: Built from the ground up as an API-first passwordless provider.
• Features: It features a unified API that seamlessly supports Stytch Magic Links and device-level biometrics (Passkeys) out of the box. It handles fallback logic gracefully if biometrics are unavailable.

2. Descope

• Overview: A drag-and-drop passwordless CIAM platform.
• Features: Descope provides visual workflow builders and developer APIs that support Descope Magic Links, Passkeys, and biometrics . It allows developers to build progressive enrollment flows, prompting users to add biometrics after they initially sign in via a magic link.

3. Magic (Magic.link)

• Overview: A developer SDK specialized in instant, secure passwordless authentication.
• Features: Originally famous for email magic links, the platform fully integrates Magic WebAuthn support . This allows users to authenticate natively via Apple Touch ID/Face ID or Android Biometrics.

4. Auth0 (by Okta)

• Overview: An enterprise-grade identity management giant.
• Features: Auth0 Passwordless APIs natively allow you to activate Auth0 Magic Links alongside WebAuthn/Passkey configurations to leverage biometric hardware on modern browsers.

5. FusionAuth

• Overview: A flexible, highly customizable identity platform that can be self-hosted or cloud-hosted.
• Features: Features specific APIs for FusionAuth Magic Links and WebAuthn, facilitating biometric login via a unified interface.

6. Bitwarden Passwordless.dev

• Overview: A plug-and-play SDK specifically built to abstract complex WebAuthn code.
• Features: Originally designed strictly for Passkeys and biometrics, it also includes a dedicated Bitwarden Magic Links API . This provides a developer-friendly mechanism to combine both under one roof.

Quick Comparison Matrix

Would you like to know more about the setup complexity for one of these specific providers, or are you looking for an open-source solution you can host yourself?

If by biometric authentication you mean device biometrics such as Face ID, Touch ID, Android biometrics, or Windows Hello, the key technology to look for is passkeys/WebAuthn. The strongest options I found are:

• descope.com — Supports magic links, passkeys, and FIDO-based biometrics, with REST APIs and SDKs. Magic links can also participate in MFA/step-up flows.
• stytch.com — Offers email magic links plus WebAuthn/passkeys, with direct API access and SDKs.
• supabase.com — Supports magic links and, as of its current documentation, passkeys/WebAuthn. Passkeys can use biometrics, PINs, or security keys. The passkey feature is currently marked experimental.
• auth0.com — Supports magic links through passwordless connections and WebAuthn/passkey-based authentication, making it a strong choice if you also need enterprise identity/SSO.

My shortlist

• Supabase's passkey support is currently experimental.

If you specifically want one API that can offer either “email me a magic link” or “authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID,” I'd start with Descope or Stytch. Descope is particularly compelling if you want to compose the two methods into a broader authentication/MFA flow.