Laravel Sanctum vs Passport: Which One Should You Use?

rahul.laravel821

17 June 2026

Laravel Sanctum vs Passport: Which One Should You Use?

When building APIs in Laravel, authentication is one of the most important aspects to consider.

Laravel provides two official solutions for API authentication: Sanctum and Passport.

In this article, we will compare Laravel Sanctum vs Passport, understand their differences, and help you decide which one to use for your project.

What is Laravel Sanctum?

Laravel Sanctum is a lightweight authentication system designed for simple API token authentication. It is ideal for:

Single Page Applications (SPA)
Mobile applications
Simple token-based APIs

Sanctum uses a simple token system without the complexity of OAuth2.

What is Laravel Passport?

Laravel Passport is a full OAuth2 server implementation. It is designed for more complex authentication systems that require:

OAuth2 flows (authorization code, client credentials, etc.)
Third-party API authentication
Enterprise-level security

Passport is more powerful but also more complex compared to Sanctum.

Key Differences Between Sanctum and Passport

Feature	Laravel Sanctum	Laravel Passport
Complexity	Simple	Complex
Authentication Type	Token-based	OAuth2
Use Case	SPA, Mobile apps	Enterprise, third-party APIs
Setup	Easy	Advanced
Performance	Lightweight	Heavier
Learning Curve	Low	High

When to Use Laravel Sanctum

You should use Sanctum when:

You are building a Single Page Application (Vue, React, etc.)
You need simple API authentication
You don’t require OAuth2 features
You want quick setup and minimal configuration

Example: Sanctum Token Creation

$user = User::find(1);

$token = $user->createToken('api-token')->plainTextToken;

$user = User::find(1);

$token = $user->createToken('api-token')->plainTextToken;

Protecting Routes

Route::middleware('auth:sanctum')->get('/user', function (Request $request) {
    return $request->user();
});

Route::middleware('auth:sanctum')->get('/user', function (Request $request) {

return $request->user();

});

When to Use Laravel Passport

You should use Passport when:

You need OAuth2 authentication
Your API is consumed by third-party applications
You are building enterprise-level systems
You need advanced security and access control

Example: Passport Token Creation

$token = $user->createToken('App Token')->accessToken;

1	$token = $user->createToken('App Token')->accessToken;

Protecting Routes

Route::middleware('auth:api')->get('/user', function (Request $request) {
    return $request->user();
});

Route::middleware('auth:api')->get('/user', function (Request $request) {

return $request->user();

});

Installation Comparison

Laravel Sanctum Installation

composer require laravel/sanctum
php artisan migrate

composer require laravel/sanctum

php artisan migrate

Laravel Passport Installation

composer require laravel/passport
php artisan migrate
php artisan passport:install

composer require laravel/passport

php artisan migrate

php artisan passport:install

Performance Comparison

Sanctum is faster and more lightweight because it uses simple token-based authentication.

Passport, on the other hand, includes OAuth2 features, making it slightly heavier but more powerful.

Security Comparison

Sanctum provides sufficient security for most applications
Passport provides advanced OAuth2 security features

If you need token scopes, refresh tokens, or third-party access, Passport is the better choice.

Real-World Use Cases

Use Sanctum for:

SaaS dashboards
Admin panels
Mobile apps
Simple APIs

Use Passport for:

Public APIs
Multi-client systems
Third-party integrations
Enterprise applications

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Laravel Sanctum if:

You want simplicity
You are building internal APIs
You don’t need OAuth2

Choose Laravel Passport if:

You need OAuth2 authentication
You are building a public API
You require advanced authorization

Conclusion

Laravel Sanctum and Passport both solve API authentication problems but serve different purposes.

Sanctum is simple, fast, and ideal for most applications, while Passport is powerful and suited for complex systems requiring OAuth2.

Understanding your project requirements will help you choose the right tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sanctum better than Passport?

Sanctum is better for simple applications, while Passport is better for complex OAuth2-based systems.

Can I use Sanctum and Passport together?

It is not recommended to use both together in the same project.

Which one is faster?

Sanctum is faster because it is lightweight and does not include OAuth2 overhead.

Does Passport support mobile apps?

Yes, Passport supports mobile apps using OAuth2 flows.

Final Tip

If you are unsure, start with Sanctum. You can always switch to Passport later if your application grows and requires more advanced features.

You can also hire laravel developers to build your custom solutions on laravel. For exploring the available extensions for Bagisto, you can check out the bagisto extension marketplace.