# Accounts and sign-in

Create an account with Google, GitHub, email, or a passkey, and sign in to manage organisations and instances.

One account gets you into [SurrealDB Studio](https://app.surrealdb.com), where you manage [organisations](/docs/manage/organisations.md) and [instances](/docs/manage/instances.md).

An account needs no payment details. The free instance type carries no charge, so you can deploy before you add a payment method.

To create an account or to sign in, open [app.surrealdb.com](https://app.surrealdb.com) and continue to the authentication page.

## Choose a sign-in method

Four methods are available. Use the same method every time. If you sign up with Google and later sign in by email on the same address, you create a second account. The first account is not recovered.

| Method | What happens | Suited to |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Google** | You authorise SurrealDB on Google's own sign-in page | Teams already on Google Workspace |
| **GitHub** | You authorise SurrealDB on GitHub's own sign-in page | Developers already signed in to GitHub |
| **Email and password** | You set a password, then confirm the address from a verification link | Anyone who prefers not to link a third-party account |
| **Passkey** | Your device authenticates you with biometrics or a device PIN, and stores no password | The strongest option where your device supports it |

> [!IMPORTANT]
> Google and GitHub sign-in uses OAuth2. The provider's own page collects your password, so SurrealDB never receives it. SurrealDB requests your email address and name only. After you authorise the connection, the provider returns a token that confirms your identity.

Two-factor authentication configured with Google or GitHub also applies to your SurrealDB account. It is the shortest route to a second factor.

## Create an account

With Google or GitHub:

1. Select **Sign up with Google** or **Sign up with GitHub**.
2. Choose your account in the provider's window.
3. Allow the requested permissions.

Studio signs you in as soon as the provider returns.

With email:

1. Select **Sign up with Email**.
2. Enter your email address.
3. Set a password, or register a passkey.
4. Open the verification link sent to your inbox to confirm the address.

## Sign in

1. Open [app.surrealdb.com](https://app.surrealdb.com).
2. Select the method you registered with: **Continue with Google**, **Continue with GitHub**, **Sign in with Email**, or **Continue with Passkey**.
3. Complete any two-factor step the provider asks for.

To reset a forgotten email password, select **Forgot password?** on the authentication page. Follow the instructions sent to your address.

An account created through Google or GitHub has no SurrealDB password to reset. Recover the provider account instead.

## Accounts for a team

Each person needs their own account. Invite colleagues to the organisation instead of sharing credentials. Separate accounts let each member hold a different role, and let you remove someone without changing a password the rest of the team uses. See [Members and roles](/docs/manage/organisations/members-and-roles.md).

For automation, use a token from [`surrealctl`](/docs/manage/surrealctl/authentication.md) rather than an interactive account.

## Next steps

1. [Create an organisation](/docs/manage/organisations.md) to hold your instances and billing.
2. [Deploy an instance](/docs/manage/instances/create.md).
3. [Connect to it](/docs/manage/instances/connect.md) from SurrealDB Studio, the CLI, an SDK, or over HTTP.