When building authentication in Laravel APIs, one question comes up again and again:
Should I use Sanctum or Passport?
Both are official packages, both solve authentication—but they serve very different purposes. Choosing the wrong one can overcomplicate your system or limit your flexibility.
Let’s break it down with real-world scenarios, not just theory.
Quick Summary
Feature | Sanctum | Passport |
|---|---|---|
Complexity | Simple | Complex |
Token Type | API tokens (personal) | OAuth2 tokens |
Best For | First-party apps | Third-party integrations |
Setup | Minimal | Heavy |
Use Case | SPA / mobile / internal APIs | Public APIs / OAuth providers |
The Core Difference
Sanctum = lightweight token system for your own apps
Passport = full OAuth2 server for external apps
If you remember only one thing, let it be this.
Can You Use Both?
Yes, and sometimes you should.
Example architecture:
Sanctum → for your frontend (SPA / dashboard)
Passport → for external developersDecision Checklist
Use Sanctum if:
You control both frontend and backend
You don’t need third-party integrations
You want simplicity
Use Passport if:
You expose APIs to external developers
You need OAuth2 flows
You manage clients, scopes, and permissions