TemplateFREE⏱️ 1-2 hours
Authentication Flow Template for PMs
A structured template for designing authentication flows with user journey mapping, security requirements, error handling, and implementation checklists.
Updated 2026-03-05
Authentication Flow
| # | Item | Category | Priority | Owner | Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||||
| 2 | |||||||
| 3 | |||||||
| 4 | |||||||
| 5 |
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Edit the values above to try it with your own data. Your changes are saved locally.
Get this template
Choose your preferred format. Google Sheets and Notion are free, no account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should we support passwordless login from day one?+
It depends on your audience. For developer tools and technical products, [magic link authentication](/templates/magic-link-template) and passkeys have high adoption because the audience is comfortable with the concept. For non-technical B2B users, email/password is still the expected default. Start with what your users expect, then layer in passwordless options as a differentiator.
How do we handle users who forget which auth method they used?+
This is one of the most common auth support tickets. Implement an "email-first" login flow: the user enters their email, and the system detects which auth method is associated with that account (password, SSO, social). Then show only the relevant option. This eliminates the "I forgot if I signed up with Google or email" confusion.
What session duration should we use?+
For B2B SaaS, 8-hour idle timeout and 30-day absolute timeout is the most common pattern. Enterprise customers often require shorter timeouts (4 hours idle) for compliance. Make session duration configurable per organization for Enterprise plans. For consumer apps, longer sessions (90 days) reduce friction but require re-authentication for sensitive actions.
Should we build or buy authentication?+
Buy. Authentication is a solved problem with mature providers (Auth0, Clerk, WorkOS, Firebase Auth, Supabase Auth). Building from scratch takes 2-6 months and requires ongoing maintenance for vulnerabilities, compliance updates, and new standards (passkeys, FIDO2). The only exception is if your product IS an auth product. ---
Explore More Templates
Browse our full library of PM templates, or generate a custom version with AI.