Cisco Duo Passwordless vs Rublon MFA

Cisco Duo Passwordless9.4Visit Rublon MFA8.9Visit

Higher score Cisco Duo Passwordless #1 in Multi-Factor Authentication Software 9.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Cisco Duo

vs

Rublon MFA #4 in Multi-Factor Authentication Software 8.9/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Rublon

• Cisco Duo Passwordless fits best

  Teams wanting a mature free MFA tier

• Rublon MFA fits best

  Organizations needing flexible hybrid MFA

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Side by side

Feature	Cisco Duo Passwordless 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Rublon MFA 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.9
Ranking	#1 in Multi-Factor Authentication Software	#4 in Multi-Factor Authentication Software
Best for	Teams wanting a mature free MFA tier	Organizations needing flexible hybrid MFA
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$3/user/mo	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	30 days	30 days
Free trial length	30 days	30 days · no card needed
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs	Email, Phone, Community
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, 2FA	PCI DSS, ISO 27001
Integrations	500+ integrations	6 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Cisco Duo Passwordless 0/3 · Rublon MFA 2/3
Adaptive access policies	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Passwordless authentication	Not checked yet	—
Device trust controls	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment	Not checked yet	Hybrid
Supported factors	Not checked yet	Mobile Push; Passcode (TOTP); FIDO2/U2F security keys; FIDO2 passkeys; QR Code; YubiKey OTP; Email Link; SMS Passcode; SMS Link; Phone Call; RFID
App integration methods	Not checked yet	Connectors and plugins; Rublon Authentication Proxy; Rublon Access Gateway; SAML; RADIUS; LDAP; Microsoft Active Directory
Our review
Pros	Free Duo tier includes strong MFA and a free authenticator app Supports passkeys, biometrics, FIDO2 keys, and Duo Push Works across web, desktop, mobile, directories, and cloud apps	Supports mobile, hardware, passcode, QR code, email, SMS, phone, and RFID factors Integrates with directories, VPNs, RDP, Linux SSH, SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect Includes adaptive policies, device trust, activity logs, and centralized administration
Cons	Complete passwordless mode starts with the $3 Essentials plan Advanced risk and session protections require Duo Advantage VPN-less private-resource access is limited to Duo Premier	The Free plan protects only 1 user Business requires a minimum of 15 licenses Enterprise requires a minimum of 300 licenses
Our verdict	Cisco Duo Passwordless provides password-free access to web applications through Duo Single Sign-On. It is designed for businesses and enterprises that need phishing-resistant authentication, centralized policy controls, directory… Read the review →	Rublon MFA is a multi-factor authentication platform for organizations securing employee and partner access across networks, servers, cloud applications, VPNs, workstations, and on-premises applications. It suits teams that need… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Cisco Duo Passwordless — where it wins

  • Free Duo tier includes strong MFA and a free authenticator app
  • Supports passkeys, biometrics, FIDO2 keys, and Duo Push
  • Works across web, desktop, mobile, directories, and cloud apps

  Where it doesn't

  • Complete passwordless mode starts with the $3 Essentials plan
  • Advanced risk and session protections require Duo Advantage
  • VPN-less private-resource access is limited to Duo Premier

• Rublon MFA — where it wins

  • Supports mobile, hardware, passcode, QR code, email, SMS, phone, and RFID factors
  • Integrates with directories, VPNs, RDP, Linux SSH, SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect
  • Includes adaptive policies, device trust, activity logs, and centralized administration

  Where it doesn't

  • The Free plan protects only 1 user
  • Business requires a minimum of 15 licenses
  • Enterprise requires a minimum of 300 licenses

• Cisco Duo Passwordless9.4/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A broad MFA platform with a capable free tier and paid passwordless access.

  Visit Cisco DuoFull verdict →
• Rublon MFA8.9/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A flexible MFA platform with broad factors, hybrid deployment, and a one-user free plan.

  Visit RublonFull verdict →