HOL Guard vs Clerk
Both sit in security & privacy. Here is how they differ on the things you can actually check.
HOL Guard
hol.org
An open-source command-line tool that sits in front of AI coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex and Cursor and reviews shell commands, file access, package installs and MCP tool calls before they run, then allows, blocks or asks for approval according to your policy. It runs locally without an account under the Apache-2.0 licence. The optional paid Guard Cloud adds shared history, team policy and fleet management.
Clerk
clerk.com
Authentication and user management with ready-made components, organisations, MFA and session handling for modern frameworks.
| HOL Guard | Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Custom / not published | $25/mo |
| Entry plan | — | Pro |
| Paid annually | — | $20/mosave 20% |
| Price checked | not verified | 21 Sept 2026 |
| Pricing model | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Category | Security & Privacy | Security & Privacy |
| Around since | — | 2020 |
Every price here was read from the vendor's own pricing page, most recently on 21 Sept 2026. Entry tier only — vendors change pricing without notice.
HOL Guard vs Clerk, answered
- Do HOL Guard or Clerk have a free plan?
- Both do. HOL Guard and Clerk each publish an ongoing free tier rather than a time-limited trial.
- What is the difference between HOL Guard and Clerk?
- HOL Guard: An open-source command-line tool that sits in front of AI coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex and Cursor and reviews shell commands, file access, package installs and MCP tool calls before they run, then allows, blocks or asks for approval according to your policy. It runs locally without an account under the Apache-2.0 licence. The optional paid Guard Cloud adds shared history, team policy and fleet management. Clerk: Authentication and user management with ready-made components, organisations, MFA and session handling for modern frameworks.
