Introduction
As we use the internet, there are dangerous parties that are continuously trying to intrude into our online space, and with weak and easy passwords created in the spur of the moment, such parties can prevail.
With software dedicated to protecting and providing online security, we can surf and explore the depths of the internet more safely.
With Duo and Authy, you can be assured of online security and two-factor authentication (2FA), which is one of the best ways to securely access online platforms.
Numerous security platforms exist for different aspects of online and identity security, however, Duo and Authy provide security systems to help deal with the prominent issues.
In this article, we help you understand what both software do, their key features, application (or language) support, pros and cons of each software to make an informed decision for yourself, your team, or your enterprise.
With 2FA, the risks of compromised passwords are reduced and eliminated which helps to remove intruder access. As a startup, enterprise or company provide an internet service, the provision of verification and endpoint security can be helpful for the security of your users.
Therefore, consolidated APIs from security platforms that specialize in this area are important. Duo and Authy provide such APIs and support for your application for your users.
In this review article, we look at the level of solutions Authy and Duo provide for their customer and how that applies to you, and how efficient it is within different contexts.
In overview, Authy provides a free consumer application with time-based one-time passwords across different apps and online services.
In addition, via its Verify API, it provides phone, email, device verification, and multi-channel support for 2FA. The channels supported include SMS, Voice, Email, Push, and WhatsApp.
Moving away from the developer options, for typical internet users, Authy provides steady sync, encrypted backups which are important for private transactions, and numerous platform integrations.
However, Duo delivers endpoint security and scalable security solution for users across all devices, platforms, and environments.
Targeted toward teams and groups, Duo provides engineering offerings for people to deal with compromised credentials across 2FA, secure sign-on, and API support.
Both provide 2FA authentication for users, however, major features are via different contexts as the next sections will explain.
Duo
Duo comes with a free 30-day trial for workspace security, endpoint security, and 2FA authentication. It is designed for organizations and teams, from startups to large-scale enterprises who are looking to secure their work infrastructure.
With its products, you can have multi-factor authentication aside from 2FA, and verify the identities of your users. In addition, you can allow and provide secure remote access to on-premise applications that are required for work.
Also, Single Sign-On (SSO) allows users to access applications from a single point, and with your own set of access rules, you can set up rigid and top-class security policies that are enforced across users.
With different pricing models from small teams to governments, Duo provides security technology that’s usable and flexible across a wide spectrum of people.
With Duo, there are different support means for end-users from the knowledge base to contact support that is found to be efficient during times of need.
Additionally, Duo provides compliance, password, and credential management, and allows administrators to manage all access and security from one dashboard that’s easy to use based on numerous reviews.
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Authy
Authy provides 2FA authentication for different online categories from Cloud Computing to Email.
You can enable 2FA for popular internet/online services such as Grammarly, NordPass, Gmail, and Xero with thorough and detailed guides.
Across different reviews, it is a top authentication platform with an easy-to-use application with useful features that keeps you safe and locked in. From Twilio, you have access to some of the best integrations on market.
Authy is free and available for individual users and is rather designed for the average online user to protect themselves and reduce the hassle of sign-in.
From easy setup process to multiple device support, Authy helps users to secure their accounts via 2FA and encryption.
To support this, backup is available to avoid losing all the 2FA data you have. You can access your 2FA token via the popular OSes and manage all login operations.
With offline support, you don’t have to wait before authenticating securely into your important applications.
With the use of industry-standard secure algorithms (HMAC RFC 4426) and 256 bits keys, your tokens are always safe and secure.
With the Verify APIs (previously Authy APIs), you have full redundant access with high percentage availability for users all day long.
From a developer’s point of view, the transparent REST API allows for easy customization of security and a sign-in experience for end-users.
Comparison
Ease of Use and Setup
Both Authy and Duo are said to be easy to use and set up. With Authy the setup process is seamless and easy to use and maintain with a simple setting page to cover the necessary details that will help you stay secure over the web.
Similarly, Duo allows for easy management, however, for more complex operations, it can get quite hard.
Pricing
Starting with Authy, it is free for all end-users to secure their online logins and accounts. Designed for singular individual users, Authy provides simple, secure 2FA authentication across Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac.
For small teams and people on a budget, Duo is available for free with limited features (identity verification), and with the MFA pricing, you get the desktop and mobile access protection with basic reporting and SSO.
Features
Authy mainly provides secure access controls and permission via 2FA authentication via alerts, notifications, and mobile authentications. Also, with their multi and device sync feature, you don’t have to repeat the process of 2FA authentication for each device.
In addition, every 2FA and security token is constantly backup securely, and can help with a move between old and new devices.
Authy helps with login requests, and verification, and works offline to help with work login seamlessly.
Duo Security brings everything to its users. Everything from MFA to Device trust is available depending on your budget bandwidth.
Aside from the stated, access controls, policy management, and a self-service portal are available for more comprehensive team and user security.
Duo uses zero-trust security to power its single sign-on feature which helps to manage trust and provides intuitive management of the team and individual online security.
Also, different login options are allowed which is helpful to reduce friction for different users. Furthermore, it makes use of contextual data to understand every user to provide up-to-data security.
Customization of access policies per application and support structures for different identity providers is available as well.
Security
The main focus of both software, Duo and Authy, is to provide online security for users. With Duo, the amount of security features is limited to encryption and 2FA.
However, with Duo, there is MFA with 2FA, Credential Management, Single Sigle on, and Biometrics support that helps increase security and deliver better management of online identities.
Application
Authy is available via the Cloud, SaaS, and the web. For end-users, you can access Authy via Windows, Android, and iOS. However, Duo Security is available on Android, iOS, and via the web, and not available via a Desktop medium.
APIs and Language Support
With the APIs that both Authy and Duo, developers can introduce verification, identity, and security to their applications. Such libraries that support such features are available in different popular languages.
For Verify by Authy, Python, Node.js, Java, PHP, Ruby, and .NET Core are available. For Duo, it provides its libraries in Python, Java, Go, PHP, Node.js, and .NET, which is similar to Authy’s.
Furthermore, Duo has more enterprise support than Authy doesn’t across software and Cloud Service Providers such as Asana, Salesforce, AWS, Confluence, JIRA, and Adobe Document Cloud.
Authy, however, has more individual application support than Duo such as Gmail, Grammarly, NordPass, and popular bitcoin applications. To support this, Verify (Authy) supports integration with Auth0 and the popular financial application, Stripe.
Customer support
With infosec eBook materials, Duo provides a wide range of information that is important for users whether individuals or groups to better understand how to take control of their online security.
In addition to this support, the knowledge base, community forum, and how-to videos are essential mediums that can help administrators and end-users find solutions to problems and better use Duo as an online security tool. Contact support is another important means.
Aside from that, there are specific end-user guides and FAQs for the typical team member who isn’t infosec knowledgeable but wants to get things done.
For big enterprises like Microsoft or SAS, Duo care would be a package that would help extend all the help your administrators and end-users can get with Duo.
However, Authy provides typical customer care support and detailed 2FA guides that are easy to understand. To support this, Authy has 24/7 live support, which Duo doesn’t have.
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Pros
Authy is feature-rich and can be applied within individual and enterprise web infrastructure. With their Lookup and Verify API, companies can push 2FA codes to their end users’ devices.
Also, you have complete control and can prevent new devices from synchronizing with your 2FA tokens.
Furthermore, the user experience and interface are fantastic and intuitive, and the QR code feature brings another level of ease to verifying and protecting yourself online. The frequent reminder to re-enter your master password is helpful not to forget.
With Duo Security, there is a variety of log-in options that your team and users can use ranging from mobile devices to hardware tokens, and with a top-class documentation and knowledge base, onboarding and setup are more than easy.
With excellent uptime, easy integration, and multifactor authentication, Duo provides what every team, enterprise, and organization needs without a hassle.
Duo provides a variety of products as stated within the feature sections from MFA, 2FA, remote access, device trust technologies, SSO, and adaptive access policies for flexible but secure internet exploration.
Cons
Authy and Duo are not without their flaws. Authy sign-on process can be made faster by reducing the friction with receiving notifications and approving access, and customers find it overbearing to have to verify with code (as with Microsoft Authenticator).
Also, priority accounts are not available to allow users to place their frequently used accounts sorted at the top. Therefore, a lack of rearrangement or organization of applications or websites can be frustrating.
In addition, site icons don’t update across devices which can be confusing and there is no way to update the name of a 2FA account previously added.
For Duo, customers have reported delays in push requests to their devices, or even no requests at all.
Unlike Authy, moving between devices can be difficult and frustrating, and often, if you close all your browser windows, you will have to reapprove all your internet login, which can be helpful, but often frustrating for typical users.
Also, in contrast to Authy, compatibility issues are common with Duo, and third-party integrations can be very difficult.
Furthermore, it is quite pricey compared to Authy, but looking at the extended features, it could be worth the money.
However, if such extended features are not needed for you, and your team, Authy can be a simple choice.
Moving away from cost, Duo doesn’t support automatic push requests, so you have to click to send the push request which is burdensome.
Conclusion
Authy is the top choice for individual users, and Duo is better for teams and enterprises. Authy provides a lot of integration for individual users across different popular applications.
Also, Duo supports numerous applications, web apps, and custom applications. Both Duo and Authy provide APIs that can help with developer integrations within applications that are built.
With integration with SSH, UNIX, and Microsoft, Duo is the better choice for the industry context. For individual users, Authy doesn’t fail to help users with its easy-to-read 2FA guides that cover the most popular applications across iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux.
However, Duo falls short in the individual context with no pricing model for the singular user, only starting with 10 users.
Although this pricing model is free, it can be overwhelming to a startup where the context is for teams, but if you need it for yourself, it can be applied.
In our verdict, Authy is enough and appropriate for normal, day-to-day internet users who are simply surfing the web hoping to be safe from evil actors.
For people working within teams and enterprises, businesses should use Duo for its team members as it has specific features which help keep them and you safe.
