Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microsoft Authenticator VS Duo Security

Compare Microsoft Authenticator VS Duo Security and see what are their differences

Microsoft Authenticator logo Microsoft Authenticator

One app to quickly and securely verify your identity online, for all of your accounts.

Duo Security logo Duo Security

Duo Security provides cloud-based two-factor authentication. Duo’s technology can be deployed to protect users, data, and applications from breaches, credential theft, and account takeover.
  • Microsoft Authenticator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26
  • Duo Security Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

Microsoft Authenticator features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    Microsoft Authenticator provides additional layers of security through multi-factor authentication (MFA) which significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access.
  • Ease of Use
    The app is user-friendly with an intuitive interface, making it simple for both technically savvy and non-technical users to set up and utilize.
  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem
    It seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products and services, including Azure Active Directory, Office 365, and more, providing a unified security experience.
  • Push Notifications
    Users receive push notifications for authentication requests, allowing them to approve or deny access quickly without the need for manually entering a code.
  • Support for Multiple Accounts
    Microsoft Authenticator can handle multiple accounts, including non-Microsoft accounts, making it a versatile tool for managing various authentication needs.
  • One-time Password (OTP) Generation
    The app can generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) for services that require them, ensuring secure logins even when push notifications are unavailable.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Authenticator

  • Dependency on Mobile Device
    If the user's mobile device is lost, stolen, or damaged, accessing accounts that rely on Microsoft Authenticator can become challenging.
  • Limited Platform Support
    Microsoft Authenticator primarily supports mobile platforms (iOS and Android), which could be a drawback for users who rely on desktop or other operating systems.
  • Potential Privacy Concerns
    Some users may have concerns about privacy and data collection practices given Microsoft's extensive ecosystem and its handling of personal information.
  • Requires Initial Configuration
    Setting up Microsoft Authenticator and linking it with various services can be time-consuming, especially for users with multiple accounts.
  • Reliance on Internet Connection
    Push notifications and certain features within Microsoft Authenticator require an active internet connection, which might not always be available.
  • Lock-in to Microsoft Services
    The best features and integrations of Microsoft Authenticator are geared towards the Microsoft ecosystem, which might limit its effectiveness if users engage primarily with non-Microsoft services.

Duo Security features and specs

  • Easy Integration
    Duo Security offers seamless integration with a wide range of applications and services, making it easier for organizations to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • User-Friendly
    The platform is designed with simplicity in mind, providing a straightforward user experience for both end-users and administrators.
  • Comprehensive MFA Options
    Duo supports a variety of authentication methods including push notifications, biometrics, and hardware tokens, giving users flexibility in how they authenticate.
  • Strong Security Features
    Duo incorporates advanced security features such as device health checks and endpoint visibility, enhancing the overall security posture of an organization.
  • Good Customer Support
    Duo Security is known for its responsive and knowledgeable customer support, helping organizations address issues quickly.
  • Scalability
    The platform can easily scale to accommodate organizations of varying sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Possible disadvantages of Duo Security

  • Cost
    The service can be expensive compared to other MFA solutions, particularly for smaller organizations with limited budgets.
  • User Management Complexity
    Managing a large number of users can become complex, particularly in organizations with high employee turnover.
  • Dependency on Mobile Devices
    Many of Duo's authentication methods rely on mobile devices, which can be inconvenient or impractical for users without access to smartphones.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite being user-friendly, there is still a learning curve for administrators new to the platform, particularly for advanced features.
  • Internet Dependence
    The service requires a reliable internet connection to function properly, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Offline Options
    Duo Security has limited options for offline authentication, which may pose challenges in environments where internet access is intermittent.

Microsoft Authenticator videos

Microsoft Authenticator for Android

More videos:

  • Review - Using Microsoft Authenticator App to Protect Your Online Credential

Duo Security videos

What is DUO Security 2FA and How it Works With Windows Remote Desktop

More videos:

  • Review - Powerful New Features from Duo Security
  • Review - An Introduction to Duo Security

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft Authenticator and Duo Security)
Identity And Access Management
Two Factor Authentication
Authentication
33 33%
67% 67
Password Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft Authenticator and Duo Security

Microsoft Authenticator Reviews

7 Best Google Authenticator Alternatives For Android And iOS
I’m still not sure why Google is not providing any passcode or app lock for their app when everybody else is doing it. Take Microsoft Authenticator, for example, this also lets you secure your accounts with the app lock.
The Best Authenticator Apps for 2023
Along with standard TOTP multi-factor support, Microsoft Authenticator includes optional secure password generation and lets you log in to Microsoft accounts with a button press or by tapping a two-digit number in a push notification. The app also enables schools and workplaces to register users’ devices. If you use this app, you can turn on account recovery. That way, when...
Source: www.pcmag.com
Top 6 Google Authenticator Alternatives in 2023
Available for both Android and iOS, Microsoft Authenticator offers a similar experience to Google’s, working with both Microsoft and non-Microsoft accounts.
The Best 2FA Apps 2021: Locking Down Your Online Accounts
The app supports passwordless authentication for Microsoft apps, including OneDrive and Office 365. With the app, you can approve your login using your phone’s fingerprint scanner, a face scan or any other way you can prove that you are who you say you are on your device. Microsoft Authenticator supports cloud backup, too, either through Microsoft’s own servers on...
10 best two-factor authenticator apps for Android
Microsoft Authenticator is Google Authenticator’s biggest competitor. It’s popular, it works well, and it works for stuff other than Microsoft apps. Otherwise, it’s actually a fairly simple app not unlike Google Authenticator. You log into a site or an app, it asks for a code, and you open this app to get one. We usually recommend Google Authenticator to people who use...

Duo Security Reviews

20 Identity Management Solutions You Should Know
Used by WhatsApp and Etsy, Duo Security was designed with modern companies in mind. That means it prioritizes speed. The DuoMobile app, for instance, simplifies multi-factor authentication. Users can merely tap on a push notification instead of typing in an SMS code to complete their login. Duo also allows for a modern, mobile-friendly work culture by letting organizations...
Source: builtin.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Microsoft Authenticator should be more popular than Duo Security. It has been mentiond 124 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microsoft Authenticator mentions (124)

  • Ask HN: Is there hope for Microsoft 365 support?
    It has been a few years since I have dealt with Microsoft's postmasters team for email delivery issues but the link to to use to submit an email delivery issues is: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=614866. - Source: Hacker News / 3 days ago
  • [PostgreSQL][Entity Framework Core] Try ASP.NET Core Identity with React
    An error occurred while accessing the Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting services. Continuing without the application service provider. Error: The entry point exited without ever building an IHost. Unable to create a 'DbContext' of type 'RuntimeType'. The exception 'Unable to resolve service for type 'Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.DbContextOptions`1[OfficeFileAccessor.OfficeFileAccessorContext]' while attempting to... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Terraform Cookbook: Development Environment Recipe
    # Follow the [VSCode installation guide](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/setup/linux) for other instalation methods. Sudo apt-get install curl Curl -L -o vscode.deb https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=760868 Sudo apt install ./vscode.deb Code # After VSCode launch, use Quick Open (Ctrl+P), paste the command "ext install HashiCorp.terraform" and press enter. # Or install the extension... - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Run godoc Automatically
    { // See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558 // for the documentation about the tasks.json format "version": "2.0.0", "tasks": [ { "label": "godoc", "type": "shell", "command": "godoc", "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}", "shell": { "args": ["-c"], ... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • gRPC: um panorama do contexto histórico às aplicações práticas!
    Using GrpcDocumento.Services; Var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args); // Add services to the container. Builder.Services.AddGrpc(); Var app = builder.Build(); // Configure the HTTP request pipeline. App.MapGrpcService(); App.MapGet("/", () => "Communication with gRPC endpoints must be made through a gRPC client. To learn how to create a client, visit:... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
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Duo Security mentions (31)

  • A list of SaaS, PaaS and IaaS offerings that have free tiers of interest to devops and infradev
    Duo.com — Two-factor authentication (2FA) for website or app. Free for ten users, all authentication methods, unlimited, integrations, hardware tokens. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Additional computer log-in protection
    You could use Duo - https://duo.com/. It can be set to require MFA when logging in locally or only when logging in via RDP (or both). It's free for up to 10 users. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • [Data-Mining] Upcoming tunnels from the May 23 patch
    A quick google tells me that Duo is a 2FA service from Cisco. Maybe that's what Anet is using to manage the 2FA in the launcher behind the scenes? Source: almost 2 years ago
  • what do you use for ssh brute force protection: fail2ban or sshguard ? or something else ? for ubuntu and fedora
    I have Duo (https://duo.com) enabled on my internet facing SSH server. It sits behind sslh on port 443 and uses public key authentication only. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Duo MFA with Serverless API Gateway for authentication
    Our organization uses Duo, which is an MFA tool that competes with Okta. I created a serverless application with API Gateway and Lambda that gives users access to Salesforce resources where they can directly update records. This was a workaround for getting around Salesforce community clouds expensive community licenses. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft Authenticator and Duo Security, you can also consider the following products

Google Authenticator - Google Authenticator is a multifactor app for mobile devices.

Authy - Best rated Two-Factor Authentication smartphone app for consumers, simplest 2fa Rest API for developers and a strong authentication platform for the enterprise.

LastPass Authenticator - LastPass is an online password manager and form filler that makes web browsing easier and more secure.

Okta - Enterprise-grade identity management for all your apps, users & devices

Aegis Authenticator - Aegis Authenticator is a free, secure and open source app to manage your 2-step verification tokens...

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication - Azure Multi-Factor Authentication helps safeguard access to data and applications while meeting user demand for a simple sign-in process.