I Used AWS Cognito for a Startup. I Wouldn't Do It Again

AWS Cognito's documentation is fragmented and difficult to follow, attempting to serve multiple audiences simultaneously without providing a clear learning path, while the JavaScript library (Amplify) underwent a fundamental architectural redesign between versions that broke existing code and required complete rewrites rather than simple updates. The author, despite prior experience with authentication systems, found Cognito significantly more frustrating than alternatives like Auth0 and Firebase Auth, ultimately regretting the decision to use it despite its initial appeal of AWS ecosystem integration and free tier pricing.