Software Alternatives & Reviews

YubiKey VS Microsoft Authenticator

Compare YubiKey VS Microsoft Authenticator and see what are their differences

YubiKey logo YubiKey

The YubiKey is a one-time password device for secure login with two-factor authentication

Microsoft Authenticator logo Microsoft Authenticator

One app to quickly and securely verify your identity online, for all of your accounts.
  • YubiKey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14
  • Microsoft Authenticator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

YubiKey videos

Yubico Yubikey 5 - Setup, Demo and Full Review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - [Explained] Yubikey 5.0 - How to use a Yubikey & LastPass to Secure all your online Accounts!
  • Review - Yubikey 2FA hardware key Review
  • Tutorial - You Should Be Using Yubikeys!

Microsoft Authenticator videos

Microsoft Authenticator for Android

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to YubiKey and Microsoft Authenticator)
Identity And Access Management
Two Factor Authentication
Password Management
29 29%
71% 71
Authentication
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 YubiKey and Microsoft Authenticator

YubiKey Reviews

Top 6 Google Authenticator Alternatives in 2023
Yubico Security Key: Best for a physical security keyYubico security keys are available in different models and configurations, each with varying prices. The pricing depends on factors such as the model, connectivity (USB-A, USB-C, NFC, etc.), and features of the 2FA aupport FIDO2 and U2F support Multi-protocol support Physical 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...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Microsoft Authenticator seems to be a lot more popular than YubiKey. While we know about 117 links to Microsoft Authenticator, we've tracked only 10 mentions of YubiKey. 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.

YubiKey mentions (10)

  • Regarding Yubikey
    People refer to blue keys as 'old' but yubico.com is clear...Security Key Series has been updated to black in 2023 with the same features as the Security Key Series in blue. Blue keys only available through partner sites. Source: about 1 year ago
  • Can't log in on mobile – Yubikey 5C NFC
    Sorry if this has been asked a lot already - I've tried searching yubico.com and this subreddit, but I haven't found a fix for it. Source: about 1 year ago
  • Why passkeys from Apple, Google, Microsoft may soon replace your passwords
    And this is what passkeys fix. So instead you get your parents a set of yubi-keys for their access to 1-pass. * Whenever they are using a known machine (their laptop, phone, etc.) an biometric+device security is used, that's your 2FA. * When in rare machines, or doing things that are probably not ideal (like trying to load and read account information stored in the password manager) they'd have to pull up... Source: about 1 year ago
  • First Yubikey lasted almost 10 years, here’s hoping for another 10!
    You know how sites ask you to use 2FA by texting you a code and having you put it in? It lets you do that by pressing the gold button on the front. It's better than using phone multifactor authentication, because it's possible for hackers to either trick you into giving them 2FA codes (There's a video on the front page of yubico.com right now explaining how that can happen), or to manipulate your phone carrier... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Google Authenticator
    Not a solution to your exact problem, but since you're already in this pickle, I recommend getting a couple security keys (Yubikeys directly from yubico.com). You can then use Yubico's authentication app + security key which works with any service requiring an authetication app (including CDC - this is what I use). It's much easier to restore and a lot more secure. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

Microsoft Authenticator mentions (117)

  • [HELP] Best practices for pagination using EF Core 8
    System.InvalidOperationException: A second operation was started on this context instance before a previous operation completed. This is usually caused by different threads concurrently using the same instance of DbContext. For more information on how to avoid threading issues with DbContext, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2097913. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Azure Cognitive Services in Docker failing
    EULA Notice: Copyright © Microsoft Corporation 2020. This Cognitive Services Container image is made available to you under the terms [https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2018657] governing your subscription to Microsoft Azure Services (including the Online Services Terms [https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2018760]). If you do not have a valid Azure subscription, then you may not use this... Source: 5 months ago
  • Static Analysis Tooling 🐍
    { // See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=827846 to learn about workspace recommendations. // Extension identifier format: ${publisher}.${name}. Example: vscode.csharp // List of extensions which should be recommended for users of this workspace. "recommendations": [ "ms-python.pylint", "ms-python.black-formatter" ], }. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Continuous Error When Trying to Download VMWare Fusion Tech Preview 2023
    Please wait while information is being downloaded from Microsoft for the Professiona/Enterprise) ESDs Dyld: Symbol not found: __ZNKSt3__115basic_stringbufIcNS_11char_traitsIcEENS_9allocatorIcEEE3strEv Referenced from: /Users/mygmail@gmail.com/Desktop/Build/./bin/aria2c (which was built for Mac OS X 14.0) Expected in: /usr/lib/libc++.1.dylib ./w11arm_esd2iso: line 97: 61266 Abort trap: 6 aria2c --dir="$wDir"... Source: 6 months ago
  • AddPooledDbContextFactory & Concurrency issues
    System.InvalidOperationException: A second operation was started on this context instance before a previous operation completed. This is usually caused by different threads concurrently using the same instance of DbContext. For more information on how to avoid threading issues with DbContext, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2097913. at... Source: 7 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing YubiKey and Microsoft Authenticator, 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.

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

SoloKeys - Secure login made open and easy 🔒

FreeOTP - Open source implementation of the two-factor authentication HOTP and TOTP schemes.

Nitrokey - Email Encryption. Encrypt your emails with GnuPG, OpenPGP, S/MIME or your favourite email client.