6 Greatest Multi-Issue Authentication (MFA) Options for 2024

• Greatest free MFA app for people: Google Authenticator
• Greatest MFA software program for small to medium-sized companies: Cisco Duo
• Greatest MFA resolution for builders in startups and nonprofits: Auth0
• Greatest MFA software program for enterprises: PingID
• Greatest MFA resolution for builders constructing self-hosted purposes: FusionAuth
• Greatest for constructing a personalized workforce IAM resolution: Okta

Multi-factor authentication requires customers to current two or extra items of proof to show their identification, akin to a password and a one-time code despatched to a licensed machine. Requiring a secondary authentication issue reduces the danger of breaches brought on by brute pressure assaults, social engineering and different strategies used to steal or guess passwords, enhancing an organization’s general safety posture.

For an instance of how MFA prevents knowledge breaches, learn How you can Forestall Phishing Assaults with Multi-Issue Authentication.

MFA software program options present multi-factor authentication for particular person end-users, organizational workforces and customer-facing purposes. Some platforms additionally provide identification and entry administration (IAM) options like single sign-on or further performance like menace detection. This information compares the highest multi-factor authentication instruments primarily based on use case, options and value.

High MFA software program comparability

Every of the MFA instruments on this record is one of the best for a selected use case or deployment atmosphere because of their pricing construction, distinctive function choices and ease of use.

Google Authenticator is a free MFA app for Android, iOS, Put on OS and Blackberry. It generates time-based one-time passwords for a variety of third-party software program with little or no setup. Google Authenticator is an awfully helpful MFA device for particular person end-users as a result of it supplies TOTPs for thus many alternative purposes and providers in a single place. Nevertheless, it doesn’t natively provide any multi-user administration performance for organizations with out being built-in with one other administration platform.

Need to strive one other free MFA app? Learn our overview of the High 6 Google Authenticator Options.

Why we selected Google Authenticator

This device is sort of a free skeleton key for end-users, granting them TOTPs for a lot of totally different purposes and providers in a single place.

Pricing

Options

• Software program token authentication with TOTPs.
• Cell push authentication that permits customers to just accept or deny an authentication with out a code.
• Permits the non-obligatory use of tokens on a number of units.

Professionals

• Utterly free.
• Supplies TOTPs for a lot of totally different apps and providers.
• Straightforward to combine with different software program.

Cons

• Doesn’t provide multi-user administration performance for organizations.

For extra data, learn our comparability of Authy vs. Google Authenticator.

Duo (now owned by Cisco) is a cloud-based entry administration device that gives free MFA for as much as 10 customers, making it a terrific alternative for budget-conscious small companies in search of fundamental performance. For SMBs in search of enhanced IAM capabilities, paid plans unlock further options akin to single sign-on, passwordless authentication, adaptive and risk-based authentication, machine visibility and menace detection. The Premier plan additionally gives Zero Belief Community Entry for VPN-less distant entry to enterprise sources.

Why we selected Cisco Duo

Cisco Duo gives an entire MFA platform free of charge to organizations with 10 or fewer customers, and SMBs can get a full suite of IAM options + ZTNA for an inexpensive value.

Pricing

• Free MFA for as much as 10 customers.
• Necessities plan provides SSO, cell push and passwordless authentication for $3 per person per thirty days.
• Benefit plan provides adaptive MFA, machine visibility and menace detection for $6 per person per thirty days.
• Premier plan provides ZTNA and endpoint safety for $9 per person per thirty days.

Options

• Software program and {hardware} token authentication with OTPs.
• Cell push authentication.
• Helps biometric authenticators through WebAuthn and USB-based Quick Identification On-line safety keys.
• Integrates with Microsoft Home windows for servers and workstations to supply MFA for native log-ons, Distant Desktop and Consumer Account Management (UAC) elevation prompts.

Professionals

• Supplies free MFA for as much as 10 customers.
• Paid plans are inexpensive for SMBs whereas offering sturdy options.
• Uniquely gives each ZTNA and Microsoft Home windows integrations.

Cons

• Doesn’t present as a lot granular person and machine management as different options.
• Cell push notifications will be gradual, relying on the service.

For extra data, view Duo Passwordless: Skilled Suggestions and Your Questions Answered.

Auth0 is a buyer identification and entry administration resolution that builders combine into their customer-facing (or partner-facing) purposes to supply performance like MFA and SSO. Auth0 hosts the answer of their cloud, however they provide personal clouds for patrons who want devoted sources. MFA is out there free of charge within the public cloud for as much as 7,500 energetic customers and contains machine to machine authentication and customizable logins.

Paid plans can get expensive, however they embrace options like SSO, identification administration and step-up MFA, which requires stronger authentication to entry extra delicate sources. Plus, Auth0 gives particular pricing for startups and nonprofits.

Why we selected Auth0

We selected Auth0 for its concentrate on CIAM and design with startup builders in thoughts. The answer is free for as much as 7,500 customers, and startups and nonprofits get discounted pricing on paid plans.

Pricing

• Free MFA for as much as 7,500 energetic customers.
• Necessities plan provides passwordless authentication and extra administrative options for $35 per thirty days (for 500 customers).
• Skilled plan provides cross-app SSO, M2M capability and plenty of different options for $240 per thirty days (for 500 customers).
• Enterprise plan is customizable and supplies 99.99% SLA and enterprise assist.

Options

• {Hardware} and software program OTP authentication.
• Cell push, SMS, voice, e mail and WebAuthn authentication.
• Customized-branded login screens, domains and e mail notifications.
• Extremely extensible with integrations and add-on options.

Professionals

• Supplies free customer-facing MFA for as much as 7,500 energetic customers and gives vital reductions to startups and nonprofits.
• Paid plans provide a extremely customizable expertise with sturdy identification administration options.
• Enterprise prospects can improve to a personal cloud to get devoted sources.

Cons

• Doesn’t present out-of-the-box workforce identification.
• Pricing is excessive, with many options restricted to Enterprise plans that may price greater than $30k per thirty days, in line with buyer critiques.

For extra data, learn our comparability of Auth0 vs. JumpCloud.

PingID is the MFA part of the PingOne cloud platform for identification and entry administration. At a minimal, this platform additionally contains SSO and Microsoft integration, whereas upgraded plans present adaptive MFA, superior safety features and VPN/distant entry integrations. The PingID cell app helps fingerprint, facial recognition, swipe, software program tokens and Apple Watch authentication. PingID additionally gives MFA through desktop software program tokens, third-party {hardware} tokens, and e mail, SMS and voice OTPs. Plan costs are inexpensive per person, however there’s a 5,000 person minimal, favoring enterprises and different very massive organizations.

Why we selected PingID

PingID is a part of a complete workforce identification platform with options like SSO and Home windows integrations, and Ping Identification gives aggressive per-user pricing for even its most superior workforce IAM plans.

Pricing

• Important plan supplies SSO, MFA, SaaS director, and Microsoft integration for $3 per person per thirty days (min. 5,000 customers).
• Plus plan provides adaptive MFA and passwordless authentication for $6 per person per thirty days (min. 5,000 customers).
• Premium plan is customizable and provides VPN/distant entry integrations and API entry management.
• Buyer-facing MFA is out there with PingOne for patrons, beginning at $40k per yr.

Options

• MFA cell app supporting fingerprint, facial recognition, swipe, software program tokens and Apple Watch authentication.
• Desktop software program token, cell push, e mail, SMS, voice and third-party {hardware} token authentication.
• SSO, Microsoft integrations, adaptive MFA and VPN/distant entry integrations obtainable.

Professionals

• A part of an entire workforce IAM resolution with SSO and Microsoft integration.
• Supplies a strong MFA cell app supporting a wide range of authentication strategies.
• Provides aggressive per-user pricing for giant organizations.

Cons

• Authentication will be gradual or buggy.
• Will need to have at the very least 5,000 energetic customers to obtain marketed pricing.

For extra data, learn our comparability of Ping Identification vs. Okta.

FusionAuth is a customer-facing authentication resolution that integrates with customized software program. Along with MFA, it supplies passwordless, biometric, and M2M authentication, in addition to SSO, superior menace detection, person administration and password management. FusionAuth, like Auth0, targets builders constructing customized purposes and supplies options like no-code configuration and seamless API integration to make their jobs simpler. What differentiates FusionAuth is the client’s capacity to self-host the answer of their on-premises, personal cloud or public cloud atmosphere (e.g., AWS). This function offers builders full management over entry and safety, simplifying compliance in heavily-regulated industries like healthcare and federal authorities contracting.

Why we selected FusionAuth

FusionAuth gives essentially the most versatile internet hosting choices, together with managed cloud (private and non-private) and self-hosted plans. It’s additionally a complete customer-facing authentication resolution designed with builders in thoughts.

Pricing

• Fundamental internet hosting within the FusionAuth cloud supplies all of the authentication options named above for $37 per thirty days.
• Enterprise internet hosting supplies a devoted server within the FusionAuth cloud for $225 per thirty days.
• Excessive Availability internet hosting supplies devoted, redundant server configurations within the FusionAuth cloud with backups and an SLA for $500 per thirty days.
• Self-hosted Starter plan supplies MFA, breached password detection, M2M authentication and extra for $125 per thirty days (for first 10k customers).
• Self-hosted Necessities plan provides superior connectivity and safety features, Webauthn biometrics and e mail assist for $850 per thirty days (for first 10k customers).
• Self-hosted Enterprise plan provides superior menace detection and 24/7 assist (together with Kubernetes tech assist) for $3,300 per thirty days (for first 10K customers).
• Notice: There’s a free self-hosted plan that gives core authentication, however not MFA.

Options

• MFA utilizing passwordless, biometric, M2M, cell push, SMS and e mail authentication.
• SSO, superior menace detection, step-up MFA, person administration and breached password detection.
• Limitless social media, gaming and enterprise login integration.
• Custom-made and localized MFA messages.

Professionals

• Provides many self-hosting choices for builders who want better management over authentication and safety.
• Cloud-based plans all embrace a complete function set.
• Supplies excessive availability managed cloud options like redundant server configurations and backups for mission-critical purposes.

Cons

• Prospects report a steep studying curve to get began with most options.
• Pricing is excessive in comparison with related options.

Okta is a cloud-based IAM platform that lets prospects mix-and-match a la carte identification options to construct personalized options that handle all their necessities with out forcing them to pay for issues they don’t want. The fundamental MFA function authenticates through Okta’s cell OTP and push apps, in addition to e mail, SMS, biometrics, voice and third-party {hardware} and software program tokens. It additionally supplies some context-aware authentication capabilities, although the upgraded Adaptive MFA plan supplies much more context elements. Different Okta merchandise embrace SSO, lifecycle administration, API entry administration, automation workflows and extra. Most of those options are very affordably priced, although there’s a $1,500 annual contract minimal.

Why we selected Okta

Okta permits prospects to construct their very own workforce IAM resolution by combining a la carte identification options at aggressive costs. The fundamental MFA providing contains a number of cell app choices and context-aware authentication.

Pricing

• Fundamental MFA is $3 per person per thirty days ($1,500 annual contract minimal).
• Adaptive MFA is $6 per person per thirty days ($1,500 annual contract minimal).
• Different options obtainable for $2–$15 per person per thirty days.
• Buyer IAM plans with MFA don’t use a la carte pricing and begin at $240 per thirty days.

Options

• MFA cell app in addition to cell push, passwordless, e mail, SMS, voice, U2F and third-party {hardware} and software program token authentication.
• Context-aware adaptive MFA (with further context elements obtainable with the Adaptive MFA plan).
• Many further options obtainable to add-on a la carte.

Professionals

• Supplies MFA as a standalone function at a extremely aggressive value.
• Helps many alternative authentication strategies and seamlessly integrates with many alternative purposes.
• Permits corporations to construct personalized IAM options to realize all of the options they want.

Cons

• $1,500 annual contract minimal could also be prohibitive to small companies.

For extra data, learn the full Okta overview.

How do I select one of the best MFA software program for my enterprise?

Every multi-factor authentication product on this record excels in a number of use instances.

Google Authenticator is one of the best resolution for particular person finish customers in search of a free MFA app. Cisco Duo is an inexpensive but highly effective device for budget-conscious SMBs. Auth0’s developer-focused CIAM platform targets startups and nonprofits with particular pricing gives. PingID gives aggressive pricing packages for giant enterprise workforce or buyer identification. FusionAuth supplies a developer-friendly buyer authentication resolution with versatile, cloud-based or self-hosting choices. Okta’s cloud-based workforce identification platform gives MFA and different incorporates a la carte so corporations can construct a personalized IAM resolution.

The totally different function units and pricing constructions of every resolution could make it troublesome to make direct comparisons, so that you’ll want to investigate your necessities to find out which MFA device is one of the best match.

Assessment methodology

We carried out a radical evaluation of the capabilities, options and pricing construction of every product to find out which MFA device was one of the best for every use case. This concerned reviewing public-facing knowledge from vendor web sites and datasheets, studying person critiques from websites like G2 and Gartner Peer Insights, and, when potential, downloading free trial variations for hands-on testing.