7 Best Alternatives to Duo Security in 2026

Why look beyond Duo Security

Duo Security, acquired by Cisco in 2018, specializes in multi-factor authentication (MFA) and secure access, offering solutions for identity verification, device trust, and adaptive access policies across various applications and environments. Its core strength lies in its user-friendly interface and rapid deployment for MFA, making it a common choice for organizations seeking to strengthen their security posture. However, organizations may consider alternatives for several reasons. Some may require a more comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) suite that integrates beyond MFA into areas like advanced privileged access management (PAM) or deep identity governance and administration (IGA) capabilities, which are often found in broader IAM platforms. Others might be seeking solutions with stronger integration into specific cloud ecosystems, such as Microsoft Azure or AWS, where native services might offer tighter coupling and lower operational overhead. Cost considerations, particularly for very large enterprises or those with specific licensing needs, can also drive the search for alternatives. Additionally, organizations prioritizing open standards or a highly customized developer experience for embedding authentication into bespoke applications may find certain platforms more flexible than Duo's offerings.

Top alternatives ranked

1. 1. Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) — Microsoft's cloud identity and access management service

   Microsoft Entra ID, previously known as Azure Active Directory, is a cloud-based identity and access management service that provides single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and conditional access policies to protect users from cyberattacks. It integrates deeply with Microsoft 365 services, Azure resources, and thousands of SaaS applications, making it a primary choice for organizations operating within the Microsoft ecosystem. Entra ID offers features such as identity protection, privileged identity management (PIM), and external identities for managing customer and partner access. Its capabilities extend beyond basic MFA to include advanced threat detection and automated responses, essential for large enterprises. For developers, Entra ID provides APIs and SDKs to integrate identity into custom applications, supporting various authentication protocols like OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect. The platform's extensive documentation assists with configuration and development tasks for securing access across diverse environments. For more information, see the Microsoft Entra documentation.

   • Best for: Organizations heavily invested in Microsoft 365 and Azure, large enterprises requiring comprehensive IAM with advanced threat protection, and businesses needing seamless integration with Microsoft's cloud services.

2. 2. Okta — Independent cloud identity platform for workforce and customer access

   Okta is a cloud-native identity and access management (IAM) provider that offers solutions for both workforce and customer identity. For workforce identity, Okta provides SSO, adaptive MFA, lifecycle management, and privileged access management (PAM), enabling secure access to various applications from any device. Its Customer Identity Cloud (formerly Auth0, which Okta acquired) focuses on developer-centric tools for embedding identity into customer-facing applications, supporting a wide range of authentication methods and customizable user experiences. Okta's platform is designed for interoperability, integrating with a broad ecosystem of enterprise applications and IT infrastructure. The platform includes features such as API access management, identity governance, and advanced security capabilities to detect and mitigate threats. Developers can utilize Okta's extensive APIs and SDKs to build secure authentication flows into their applications. For more information, refer to the Okta documentation.

   • Best for: Organizations requiring a vendor-neutral cloud identity platform, businesses with a mix of on-premises and cloud applications, and enterprises needing robust workforce and customer identity solutions with extensive integrations.

3. 3. Auth0 — Developer-focused platform for secure authentication and authorization

   Auth0, now part of Okta's Customer Identity Cloud, provides a highly customizable identity platform for developers looking to integrate authentication and authorization into their applications. It supports a variety of use cases, including single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), passwordless login, and social login, with pre-built integrations for many frameworks and platforms. Auth0 emphasizes developer experience, offering extensive SDKs, APIs, and detailed documentation to simplify the implementation of complex identity features. The platform is designed to be flexible, allowing developers to manage user data, integrate with external identity providers, and customize the user registration and login flows. Auth0's rules and hooks provide powerful extensibility for custom logic during the authentication pipeline. While it can be used for workforce identity, its primary strength lies in securely managing customer identities and enabling rapid development of authentication features. For more information, visit the Auth0 documentation.

   • Best for: Developers building customer-facing applications requiring flexible and customizable authentication, organizations prioritizing rapid development and deployment of identity features, and businesses needing to integrate with various identity providers.

4. 4. ServiceNow — Enterprise service management platform with integrated identity capabilities

   ServiceNow is an enterprise platform known for its IT Service Management (ITSM), IT Operations Management (ITOM), and IT Business Management (ITBM) offerings, but it also provides robust identity and access management capabilities as part of its broader platform. ServiceNow's Security Operations (SecOps) and Integrated Risk Management (IRM) modules include features for identity governance, privileged access management, and security incident response that often involve identity verification. While not a dedicated MFA provider like Duo, ServiceNow can integrate with various identity providers and MFA solutions through its platform capabilities, enabling organizations to manage access to ServiceNow applications and other integrated systems securely. Its workflow automation engine allows for streamlined provisioning, de-provisioning, and access request processes, often critical components of an IAM strategy. Developers can leverage the ServiceNow platform and its APIs to build custom applications that incorporate secure access controls. For more information, refer to the ServiceNow documentation on User Administration.

   • Best for: Large enterprises already using ServiceNow for IT service management and operations, organizations seeking to integrate identity governance and privileged access within a broader ITSM framework, and businesses requiring extensive workflow automation for identity-related processes.

5. 5. Amazon Web Services (AWS) — Cloud platform with a suite of identity and access management services

   Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a comprehensive suite of identity and access management (IAM) services that can serve as alternatives or complements to dedicated MFA solutions. AWS IAM is the foundational service, allowing granular control over who can access AWS resources and what actions they can perform. For multi-factor authentication, AWS supports various MFA devices and services, including virtual MFA, U2F security keys, and hardware tokens, integrated directly with AWS accounts. Beyond basic MFA, AWS provides services like AWS Single Sign-On (AWS SSO) for managing access to AWS accounts and business applications, and Amazon Cognito for customer identity and access management (CIAM) in web and mobile applications. These services enable developers to build scalable and secure applications with integrated authentication flows. AWS also offers AWS Directory Service for integrating with existing Microsoft Active Directory or creating new managed directories. For more information, see the AWS Identity and Access Management User Guide.

   • Best for: Organizations heavily relying on AWS for their infrastructure and applications, businesses building cloud-native solutions that require scalable identity services, and developers seeking fine-grained access control for AWS resources and custom applications.

6. 6. SAP — Enterprise software with integrated identity and access governance

   SAP, a leading provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, offers a range of identity and access management (IAM) solutions within its broader ecosystem. While not solely an MFA provider, SAP's offerings like SAP Identity Management, SAP Access Control, and SAP Cloud Identity Services provide comprehensive capabilities for user lifecycle management, access governance, risk analysis, and single sign-on (SSO) across SAP and non-SAP applications. SAP Cloud Identity Services, for instance, includes identity authentication and identity provisioning, enabling secure access and user synchronization for cloud-based SAP applications. These solutions are particularly relevant for large enterprises running SAP ERP, S/4HANA, or other SAP business applications, where managing user access and ensuring compliance are critical. SAP's IAM components integrate deeply with its business applications, providing a unified approach to security and governance. For developers, SAP offers SDKs and APIs to extend and integrate identity services within custom applications and existing IT landscapes. For more information, refer to the SAP Cloud Identity Services - Identity Authentication documentation.

   • Best for: Large enterprises with significant investments in SAP ERP and other SAP business applications, organizations requiring integrated identity governance and access control across their SAP landscape, and businesses with complex compliance requirements related to user access within SAP systems.

7. 7. Salesforce Sales Cloud — CRM platform with robust user authentication and access controls

   Salesforce Sales Cloud, primarily a customer relationship management (CRM) platform, incorporates robust identity and access management features to secure access to its applications and data. While not a standalone MFA provider, Salesforce offers built-in multi-factor authentication for its users, configurable through Salesforce Setup. Beyond MFA, Salesforce provides comprehensive identity features such as single sign-on (SSO) with various identity providers, delegated authentication, and connected apps for integrating external applications securely. Its platform allows administrators to manage user profiles, permission sets, and sharing rules to control data access granularly. For organizations heavily using Salesforce, these native capabilities can reduce the need for separate identity solutions for Salesforce access. Developers building on the Salesforce platform (using Apex, Lightning Web Components, etc.) can leverage Salesforce's identity services to authenticate users and manage permissions within custom applications. Salesforce's security model is designed to protect sensitive customer data and ensure compliance with various regulations. For more information, see the Salesforce Identity Overview.

   • Best for: Organizations deeply integrated with the Salesforce ecosystem, businesses looking for built-in MFA and SSO capabilities within their CRM platform, and teams extending Salesforce with custom applications that require native identity management.

Side-by-side

How to pick

Selecting an alternative to Duo Security requires evaluating your organization's specific identity and access management (IAM) needs, existing IT infrastructure, and strategic priorities. Consider the following factors:

Assess your core use case

• Primarily MFA and secure access: If your main goal is to strengthen MFA and apply adaptive access policies across various applications, dedicated IAM providers like Okta or Microsoft Entra ID offer comprehensive solutions that extend beyond basic MFA to include SSO and identity governance.
• Developer-centric authentication: For building custom applications that require flexible authentication and authorization, Auth0 provides a highly customizable platform with extensive developer resources.
• Enterprise-wide identity governance: If you need to manage complex user lifecycles, access provisioning, and compliance across a large enterprise, especially within specific ecosystems, consider platforms like ServiceNow (for IT operations) or SAP (for SAP landscapes).
• Cloud-native environment: For organizations heavily invested in cloud infrastructure, AWS Identity and Access Management services offer native integration and granular control for cloud resources.
• CRM-centric access: If your primary concern is securing access within a Salesforce environment, Salesforce's native identity features might suffice without needing a separate solution.

Evaluate integration requirements

• Existing ecosystem: If your organization is deeply integrated with Microsoft products (Microsoft 365, Azure), Microsoft Entra ID will likely offer the most seamless integration and reduced administrative overhead. Similarly, SAP's identity solutions are best suited for organizations with significant SAP deployments.
• Third-party applications: Assess how well the alternative integrates with your existing suite of SaaS applications, on-premises systems, and custom-built tools. Platforms like Okta and Auth0 are known for their broad integration capabilities and extensive application catalogs.
• API and SDK support: For custom development or complex integrations, review the availability and quality of APIs and SDKs. Solutions with comprehensive developer documentation and libraries (e.g., Okta, Auth0, AWS, Microsoft Entra ID) can simplify implementation.

Consider scalability and compliance

• Organizational size: Small to medium businesses might find value in simpler, cost-effective solutions or those with strong free tiers. Large enterprises with complex regulatory requirements will need platforms that offer advanced governance, auditing, and reporting features (e.g., Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, ServiceNow, SAP).
• Regulatory compliance: Ensure the chosen alternative meets your industry-specific compliance standards (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, SOC 2). Verify that the vendor provides clear documentation on their compliance certifications and capabilities.

Review pricing and total cost of ownership

• Licensing model: Compare per-user pricing, tiered plans, and usage-based costs. Some platforms may offer more features at a lower entry price, while others scale efficiently for very large user bases.
• Implementation and maintenance: Factor in the costs associated with initial setup, ongoing administration, potential professional services, and training. Cloud-native solutions often reduce infrastructure costs but require expertise in cloud identity management.

By carefully evaluating these factors against your organization's unique context, you can select an alternative that best supports your security, operational, and strategic goals.