Best Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Solutions for Business

Posted By Cyber Max on Nov 1, 2026 | 0 comments

The MFA solutions most often shortlisted by businesses are Cisco Duo, ESET Secure Authentication, LoginTC, Microsoft Entra ID, miniOrange, Okta, Protectimus, RSA ID Plus, Rublon, and Thales SafeNet Trusted Access. They differ most in deployment (cloud only or self-hosted), hardware token support, and VPN and Windows coverage. Published starting prices range from about $1.40 to $7 per user per month.

How We Compared MFA Solutions

Every vendor on this list does the basics: a second factor after the password, a mobile app, an admin console. The differences that decide a purchase sit elsewhere, so each solution was checked against the same criteria:

• Deployment. Cloud only, self-hosted on your own servers, or hybrid.
• Hardware tokens. Whether the vendor offers its own tokens, accepts third-party OATH tokens, or supports only security keys.
• OTP delivery methods. App, push, SMS, email, voice, messengers.
• Key integrations. VPN through RADIUS, Windows login and RDP, Microsoft 365, and on-premise directories.
• Pricing. Published starting price per user per month, free tier, minimums.

Prices come from each vendor’s official pricing page. Where a vendor does not publish prices, the table says “Quote-based.” Features are taken from vendor product pages and documentation.

Data checked: October 2026.

MFA Solutions at a Glance

The 10 MFA Solutions Reviewed

Each review follows the same format, so the solutions can be compared block by block.

Cisco Duo

Overview. Duo is a cloud MFA service from Cisco, known for its Duo Mobile app and a long list of ready-made integrations. On-premise systems such as VPNs connect through the Duo Authentication Proxy, which runs in your network and forwards requests to the cloud.

Key features:

• Push, passcodes, SMS, phone call, and FIDO2 in one app-centric service
• Duo-branded D-100 hardware tokens, plus import of third-party OATH HOTP tokens and YubiKeys
• Windows login and RDP protection, VPN through RADIUS
• Device trust and risk-based policies in higher tiers

Pricing. Free for up to 10 users. Paid plans: Essentials $3, Advantage $6, Premier $9 per user per month. Self-service licenses are sold in increments of 10 below 100 users and 25 above. See the official Duo pricing page.

Best for. Teams that want a hosted service with many prebuilt integrations and do not need to keep authentication data on their own servers.

Limitations. No self-hosted version of the service. Duo’s documentation points to OATH HOTP for third-party tokens, so TOTP hardware tokens need checking before purchase. For a side-by-side look at both vendors, see the Protectimus vs Duo comparison.

ESET Secure Authentication

Overview. ESET Secure Authentication is the MFA product of the ESET security suite, available on-premise or in the cloud through ESET PROTECT Hub. It is sold standalone or as part of ESET business bundles.

Key features:

• Push and app-based OTP, SMS, hardware tokens, and FIDO
• Plugins for Windows login and Remote Desktop
• VPN protection through a built-in RADIUS server
• AD FS and web application protection, including Outlook Web App

Pricing. Not published. ESET quotes per number of users or devices. See the official ESET MFA page.

Best for. Companies that already run ESET endpoint protection and want MFA managed from the same vendor.

Limitations. No public pricing and no free tier. ESET does not make its own hardware tokens, so tokens come from third parties.

LoginTC

Overview. LoginTC is a Canadian MFA provider with a focus on VPN, Windows, and remote access. It offers both cloud plans and a managed on-premise deployment.

Key features:

• Push with number matching, authenticator app, passcode grids, and bypass codes
• Hardware token OTP on Professional and higher plans; SMS, voice, email, and security keys on Business
• RADIUS/VPN and AD/LDAP on every plan
• Windows logon and RDP, Outlook Web App, AD FS on Business and On-Premises Managed

Pricing. Cloud Starter is free for up to 3 users. Cloud Professional $3, Cloud Business $5, On-Premises Managed $7 per user per month, billed annually, with a 15-user minimum on paid plans. See the official LoginTC pricing page.

Best for. Organizations protecting VPN access first that want the option to move to an on-premise deployment.

Limitations. Windows logon and RDP start from the Business tier. Annual billing only.

Microsoft Entra ID MFA

Overview. MFA built into Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), the identity layer behind Microsoft 365. Basic MFA is available in Entra ID Free; Conditional Access policies need a P1 or P2 license.

Key features:

• Microsoft Authenticator push, OATH software and hardware tokens, SMS, voice, FIDO2, and passkeys
• Native coverage of Microsoft 365 and apps connected to Entra ID
• RADIUS-based VPN through the NPS extension on a Windows NPS server
• Windows sign-in through Windows Hello for Business

Pricing. MFA is included in Entra ID Free. Entra ID P1 is $7, P2 $10, Entra Suite $12 per user per month, paid yearly. See the official Microsoft Entra pricing page.

Best for. Organizations whose users and apps already live in Microsoft 365.

Limitations. Cloud service only. Importing hardware tokens through a CSV file requires P1 or P2. The NPS extension supports a limited set of methods with some RADIUS protocols, and an OTP prompt at on-premise Windows sign-in is not built in.

miniOrange

Overview. miniOrange offers MFA as part of a broader identity platform with SSO, available in the cloud or as an on-premise Identity Server.

Key features:

• Push, authenticator apps, SMS, email, hardware tokens, and passwordless FIDO2 and passkeys
• MFA for VPN and VDI
• Desktop login MFA for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Microsoft 365 SSO, AD FS, and LDAP integrations

Pricing. Workforce plans: Essential $2 and Premium $3 per user per month in the cloud, billed on active usage monthly or prepaid annually. On-premise prices are listed separately, and the Enterprise IAM Suite is quote-based. See the official miniOrange pricing page.

Best for. Mixed environments that want MFA and SSO from one vendor at a low entry price.

Limitations. No free tier for workforce use, only a 30-day trial. Usage-based billing makes the monthly total depend on how many users sign in.

Okta

Overview. Okta Workforce Identity is a cloud identity platform where MFA sits alongside SSO and lifecycle management. MFA is included from the Starter suite, while adaptive, risk-based MFA comes in higher suites or as an add-on.

Key features:

• Okta Verify push, OTP, SMS, voice, and FIDO2 security keys
• A large catalog of prebuilt app integrations through SSO
• RADIUS Server Agent for VPN
• Desktop MFA for Windows and macOS through Okta Device Access

Pricing. Starter $6, Essentials $17 per user per month, billed annually, with a $1,500 annual contract minimum. Professional and Enterprise are quote-based. See the official Okta pricing page.

Best for. Cloud-first companies that are rolling out SSO and want MFA in the same platform.

Limitations. Cloud only, with no self-hosted option. No Okta-made OTP hardware tokens. Device Access is included in the Professional suite or available as an add-on to lower tiers. A detailed breakdown is in Protectimus vs Okta.

Protectimus

Overview. Protectimus is an MFA provider available as a cloud service or as a self-hosted Protectimus MFA platform on your own servers, with a lifetime license option. It also offers its own hardware tokens.

Key features:

• Own OATH hardware tokens (classic TWO and SHARK, programmable Slim NFC and Flex) plus third-party OATH tokens
• Protectimus SMART app with push and cloud backup, messenger chatbots, SMS, and email
• VPN through the Protectimus RADIUS Server, with setup guides for common gateways
• Windows login and RDP, Active Directory, Outlook Web App, AD FS, and Microsoft 365

Pricing. Free for up to 10 users. Cloud Starter is $33 per month for 23 users (about $1.43 per user), Business $111 per month for 77 users, Custom $2 per user. The On-Premise Platform starts at $199 per month for 99 users. See the official Protectimus pricing page.

Best for. Organizations that need hardware tokens, self-hosted deployment, or both.

Limitations. Methods are OTP- and push-based; FIDO2 security keys and passkeys are not in the list of supported methods. SMS is billed separately at $2 per user per month.

RSA ID Plus

Overview. RSA ID Plus is the current RSA identity platform that grew out of SecurID. It covers cloud, hybrid, and on-premise deployments and keeps the familiar SecurID hardware tokens.

Key features:

• SecurID hardware tokens (SID700, DS100) and the RSA iShield Key for FIDO2
• Push, OTP, biometrics, SMS and voice, offline authentication
• RADIUS and agents for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Integration with Microsoft Entra ID through External Authentication Methods

Pricing. Cloud IAM (C1) $3, Hybrid auth (E1) $5, Entra ID Enhanced (M1) $6, Hybrid IAM (E2) $7 per user per month; E3 is quote-based. See the official RSA ID Plus page.

Best for. Regulated industries and organizations that already run SecurID and want a path to the cloud.

Limitations. The lowest-priced plan (C1) is cloud only; hybrid and on-premise start from E1. No free tier. More detail in Protectimus vs RSA.

Rublon

Overview. Rublon is a European MFA provider focused on Windows, RDP, and on-premise infrastructure, delivered as a cloud service with connectors that run in your network.

Key features:

• Mobile push, passcodes, QR codes, email and SMS links, phone calls
• YubiKey OTP, FIDO2/U2F security keys, and RFID cards
• Windows logon, RDP, RemoteApp, and Windows Server Core
• RADIUS and SAML for VPNs, Active Directory and LDAP

Pricing. Free for 1 user. Business $2 per user per month (15-license minimum), Enterprise $4 (300-license minimum). SMS and phone calls use paid phone credits. See the official Rublon pricing page.

Best for. Small and mid-size teams whose main goal is protecting Windows logon and Remote Desktop.

Limitations. Generic OATH hardware tokens are not listed among the methods; hardware options are YubiKey, FIDO keys, and RFID. A full comparison is in Protectimus vs Rublon.

Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

Overview. SafeNet Trusted Access is the cloud access management and MFA service from Thales, a large maker of hardware authenticators. On-premise deployments use a separate product, SafeNet Authentication Service PCE.

Key features:

• Thales hardware OTP tokens and FIDO devices, MobilePASS+ app, pattern-based authentication
• RADIUS directly over PEAP or through SafeNet agents for NPS and FreeRADIUS
• SafeNet Agent for Windows Logon
• SAML and OIDC integrations with contextual access policies

Pricing. Not published; quote through Thales sales. A 30-day free trial is available. See the official SafeNet Trusted Access page.

Best for. Enterprises that want hardware tokens, smart cards, and access management from one vendor.

Limitations. No public pricing and no free tier. The on-premise option is a separate product from the cloud service.

How Much Does MFA Cost?

Per-user prices on vendor sites look close, between about $1.40 and $9 for standard plans. The total bill depends on how the price is built and what sits around it.

Per User per Month

This is the standard model: Duo, Okta, Microsoft, RSA, LoginTC, Rublon, and miniOrange all quote a price per user per month. Two things change the real number. Billing period: Okta, Microsoft, and LoginTC bill annually, so the full year is paid up front. Minimums: Okta has a $1,500 annual minimum, LoginTC and Rublon Business require 15 licenses, and Rublon Enterprise starts at 300. For a 20-person company, a $6 plan with a $1,500 minimum costs the same as a $6.25 plan without one.

Some vendors sell user bundles instead. Protectimus cloud plans, for example, are priced per month for a fixed number of users (23 or 77), which works out to about $1.43 per user when the bundle is full.

Usage-Based Billing

miniOrange bills on active usage: a user is counted in a month when they sign in or reset a password. That helps organizations with seasonal or occasional users and makes budgeting less predictable for everyone else.

Free Tiers

Duo and Protectimus offer free plans for up to 10 users, LoginTC for 3, Rublon for 1. Microsoft Entra ID Free includes basic MFA for Microsoft 365 users. Okta, miniOrange, and Thales offer 30-day trials instead. Free tiers are useful for testing and very small teams, but they usually limit policies, support, or the number of protected applications.

Hardware Token Costs

Hardware tokens are a one-time purchase on top of the subscription. Prices are published by some vendors: Protectimus tokens, for example, range from $11.99 (TWO) to $20.99 (Slim NFC) per unit at single-unit prices, with volume discounts. Others, such as RSA and Thales, quote tokens with the license. Plan for a replacement cycle: OTP tokens have a battery life of several years and are then replaced.

SMS, Voice, and Other Hidden Costs

SMS and voice calls cost money to deliver, and vendors pass that on. Rublon and LoginTC use telephony credits, and Protectimus charges $2 per user per month for SMS. Other costs that do not appear in the per-user price: add-ons (Okta sells adaptive MFA separately for the Starter suite), support tiers, and the time your team spends on rollout and help desk tickets.

On Duo pricing specifically: the Essentials tier at $3 covers MFA, SSO, and trusted endpoints; risk-based authentication and Active Directory defense start from Advantage at $6; device trust with endpoint checks is in Premier at $9.

How to Choose an MFA Solution

A shortlist gets shorter quickly when you check requirements in this order.

1. Your environment and integrations. List what has to be protected on day one: VPN, Windows login and RDP, Microsoft 365, web apps. Cloud apps are covered by almost everyone. VPN gateways and Windows logon are where vendors differ, so check the exact gateway models and Windows versions. For a deeper look at the VPN side, see MFA for VPN; for the directory side, see MFA for Active Directory.
2. Deployment and data requirements. If authentication data must stay on your own servers, or the network has no reliable internet access, the list narrows to vendors with a self-hosted version: among the ten above, Protectimus, RSA, ESET, LoginTC, and miniOrange, plus Thales through a separate product.
3. Users without smartphones. Factory staff, shared workstations, and secure areas need hardware tokens. Check whether the vendor makes its own tokens, accepts third-party OATH tokens, or only supports security keys.
4. Compliance. Some regulations and audits expect phishing-resistant methods for privileged access, others a dedicated device per user. Match these to the method list of each vendor.
5. Budget. Compare the yearly total for your actual user count, including minimums, annual billing, SMS, tokens, and add-ons, not the headline per-user price.
6. Support. Check what support is included in the plan you will actually buy, and whether it covers your time zone and language.

FAQ

What is the best MFA solution for small and mid-size businesses?

There is no single answer; it depends on what needs protecting. A business on Microsoft 365 can start with Entra ID MFA. One that needs VPN, Windows login, or hardware tokens should compare vendors such as Duo, LoginTC, Protectimus, and Rublon on those exact integrations and on the total yearly cost.

How much does multi-factor authentication cost per user?

Published prices for standard business plans range from about $1.40 to $9 per user per month as of October 2026. Several vendors also offer free plans for up to 3 to 10 users. The total cost also depends on minimum license counts, annual billing, SMS fees, and hardware tokens.

Is there a free MFA solution for business?

Yes. Duo and Protectimus are free for up to 10 users, LoginTC for 3, and Rublon for 1. Microsoft Entra ID Free includes basic MFA for Microsoft 365. Free plans usually have limits on policies, support, or protected applications.

Which MFA providers support hardware tokens?

Protectimus, RSA, and Thales offer their own hardware tokens, and Duo sells Duo-branded tokens. Microsoft Entra ID, ESET, LoginTC, and miniOrange support hardware OTP tokens from other manufacturers. Okta and Rublon support security keys such as YubiKey and FIDO2 keys rather than classic OTP tokens.

Can MFA be deployed on your own servers?

Yes, with some vendors. Among the ten solutions compared here, Protectimus, RSA ID Plus, ESET Secure Authentication, LoginTC, and miniOrange offer a self-hosted or on-premise version, and Thales offers one as a separate product. Duo, Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, and Rublon run as cloud services, with on-premise connectors for VPN and directories where needed.

What is the difference between MFA and SSO?

MFA checks that the person signing in is who they claim to be, using a second factor after the password. SSO (single sign-on) lets a user sign in once and reach many applications without signing in again. They are often used together: SSO reduces the number of logins, and MFA protects the one login that remains.