User Accounts
Authentication, authorization, user profiles — what happens when visitors become users.
Authentication Complexity Levels
User authentication ranges from simple to complex. Choose the minimal level your business needs:
Level 1: Newsletter Subscriber
Email address + double-opt-in confirmation. No login. No authentication needed. Use email service (Mailchimp, ConvertKit).
Level 2: Community / Forum Member
Create account, username, email, password. Simple login. Can post comments or forum posts. Minimal authentication complexity.
Level 3: Membership Site
Login access to restricted content. Subscription billing tied to account. Account tied to payment. Increased complexity.
Level 4: SaaS Platform
Account, teams/workspaces, permissions, API tokens, session management. Complex authentication AND authorization. Significant complexity.
Level 5: Enterprise SSO
SAML/OAuth/OpenID for corporate account federation. Multi-tenant. Compliance (SOC2, HIPAA). Audit logging. Extreme complexity.
Authentication Methods
How users prove they are who they claim to be:
Traditional. Users create password. You hash it (bcrypt, Argon2). Users remember password. High friction. Still most common.
No password. User clicks link in email to login. Reduces friction. Relies on email security. Growing adoption.
OAuth delegation. User logs in with existing account. Low friction. Good conversion. Requires privacy policy clarity.
Enterprise only. User authenticates through corporate directory (Okta, Azure AD). Required for enterprise sales.
Biometric or hardware key. Most secure. Growing support (iOS, Windows, Chrome). User friction slightly higher than password.
The Password Problem
If you accept passwords, you have responsibility for security. Users reuse passwords across sites. A breach on your site exposes accounts on other platforms where they use the same password.
Never store passwords as plaintext. Use bcrypt (industry standard) or Argon2 (newer, stronger). Hashing is one-way; if breached, passwords remain secure.
User forgets password → clicks "reset" → receives email link → sets new password. Link must expire (15 min). Must be cryptographically unique. Weak implementation is common security flaw.
Long > Complex. Require 12+ characters. Don't require special characters (reduces usability). Allow passphrases. Check against common password lists.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA adds a second verification step. User enters password, then proves identity via second method:
Authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy). User enters 6-digit code. Most secure consumer option. Requires backup codes if device lost.
Codes sent via text. Convenient. Susceptible to SIM swapping attacks. Don't use as sole MFA for security-sensitive apps.
Link sent to email. Low friction but relies on email security.
Physical USB key (YubiKey). Impossible to phish. High security. High friction and cost ($40+/key).
Most startups don't require MFA. Enterprise customers demand it. SaaS platforms should offer it optional; security-focused apps (fintech, healthcare) should require it.
User Account Capabilities by Platform
| Platform | Native Auth | Social Login | MFA | Custom Fields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Built-in | Yes | Optional | Limited |
| Webflow | Limited | No | No | No |
| WordPress | Built-in | Plugin | Plugin | Full |
| Firebase | Excellent | Yes | Yes | Custom |
| Custom | Build yourself | OAuth | You choose | Full control |