The free React Native auth template with four swappable backends

// Overview

A free Expo login and sign-up template

// Why use it

Expo Auth Starter vs. building auth from scratch

Auth looks small until you build it: form validation, error messages for every SDK, session restore, redirects, dark mode and accessibility. Here is what the template already handles for you.

// Features

Features of this Expo authentication template

// Screens

React Native login and sign-up screens included

Forms use react-hook-form with zod schemas. New passwords need at least 8 characters with one letter and one number.

// Backends

Firebase, Supabase, Appwrite or SQLite auth

Set EXPO_PUBLIC_AUTH_PROVIDER in .env, fill in that provider's keys, then restart with npx expo start -c.

* Appwrite reset emails need EXPO_PUBLIC_APPWRITE_RECOVERY_URL. Leave it empty and the "Forgot password?" link is hidden.

// Get started

How to set up Expo authentication in 3 commands

1. 1

   Download or clone

   Grab the ZIP from GitHub or clone the repo, then install packages.

   Terminal

   git clone https://github.com/developermill22/expo-auth-starter.git
   cd expo-auth-starter
   npm install

2. 2

   Create your .env

   The example file defaults to local SQLite, so nothing else is needed to try it.

   Terminal

   cp .env.example .env

3. 3

   Start the app

   Open it in Expo Go on your phone, or in an iOS simulator, Android emulator or the browser.

   Terminal

   npx expo start

4. 4

   Switch to a cloud backend (optional)

   Change the provider, paste that provider's public keys, and restart with a clean cache.

   Terminal

   # .env
   EXPO_PUBLIC_AUTH_PROVIDER=supabase
   EXPO_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL=https://xyz.supabase.co
   EXPO_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY=your-anon-key
   
   npx expo start -c

// Architecture

How the pluggable auth layer works

App code only talks to AuthAdapter. Actions run as TanStack Query mutations, update a Zustand store on success, and the root layout's Stack.Protected guards redirect between (auth) and (app) when the session changes.

src/auth/
  types.ts        AuthAdapter interface + AuthUser shape  ← the contract
  errors.ts       AuthError + friendly messages
  config.ts       env reading + "missing keys" validation
  index.ts        registry: provider name → lazy-loaded adapter
  adapters/
    sqlite.ts     expo-sqlite + expo-crypto + expo-secure-store
    firebase.ts   firebase JS SDK (AsyncStorage persistence)
    supabase.ts   @supabase/supabase-js (AppState auto-refresh)
    appwrite.ts   react-native-appwrite

// Use cases

Who this React Native auth starter is for

// Customize

Customize the template for your app

import { useCurrentUser } from '@/store/auth-store';
import { useSignOut } from '@/hooks/use-auth';

const user = useCurrentUser();   // AuthUser | null
const signOut = useSignOut();    // signOut.mutate()

// FAQ

Expo auth template FAQ