Ruby on Rails 8: Native Authentication Made Simple

Ruby on Rails 8 adds a new tool for authentication.
This feature helps you set up user login without using third-party gems like Devise.
It’s fast, lightweight, and built into the framework.

Why Native Authentication Matters in Ruby on Rails

Before Rails 8, developers had two ways to handle authentication:

• Writing it yourself using has_secure_password
• Using a full gem like Devise

Devise is powerful, but it’s often too complex for smaller apps.
You may not need all of its advanced features.
Rails 8 now provides a built-in authentication generator.
It saves time and keeps your app light.

What the Ruby on Rails 8 Authentication Generator Provides

When you run the generator, Rails creates a complete set of authentication features, including:

• It creates a User model with secure passwords using bcrypt.
• Controllers for sessions and registrations
• Pre-built views for login, signup, and logout
• Routes to handle the full authentication lifecycle

With this, you can build login systems quickly and keep full control of your code.

Ruby on Rails Native Authentication vs Devise

Let’s compare Rails 8’s built-in authentication with the Devise gem:

Feature	Rails 8 Native Auth	Devise Gem
Setup Complexity	Very low	Moderate
Customization	Full control	Requires overrides
Features (2FA, Lock, etc.)	Minimal	Extensive
Best For	Small/medium apps	Complex apps with advanced auth needs

Pick Rails 8’s auth when you need a simple setup and full control. Choose Devise if your app requires features like:

• Email confirmation
• Two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Account locking or throttling
• Password recovery workflows

When Should You Use the Built-in Generator?

Go with Rails 8’s native authentication if:

• You want to avoid extra gems
• Your app just needs login and signup
• You prefer simple, clear code
• You need full control over your auth system

It’s great for startups, MVPs, internal tools, or any app where you want to keep things minimal and secure.

How to Set Up Native Authentication in Rails 8

Run the following command:

   bin/rails generate authentication User

Rails will create:

• A migration for the users table
• A User model with has_secure_password
• Controllers: sessions_controller.rb and registrations_controller.rb
• Views for login and signup
• Route definitions

Finally, run rails db:migrate and add bcrypt to your Gemfile if it’s not already included.

Final Thoughts

The new native authentication feature in Ruby on Rails 8 is simple, fast, and effective.
It gives you a clean way to manage users without external gems.
For many apps, this is all you need.
If you later need more advanced features, you can always add Devise or another gem.

More Ruby on Rails Insights

Check out more tutorials and guides at SaasTrail — your go-to resource for modern Ruby on Rails development tips.