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Duo Security

Duo Security Pricing Plans & Tiers

Multi-factor authentication and secure access by Cisco

Securityper-seatFrom $0/mo

Pricing last verified: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin, Founder & Lead Analyst
Updated March 16, 2026
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Pricing Analysis

Duo Security's per-user pricing ($3-9/mo) represents the most competitive MFA market segment. By bundling single sign-on, passwordless authentication, and device trust across all tiers, Duo eliminates the unbundled pricing patterns competitors (Okta Workflows at $0.50-2/automation) use to inflate effective costs.

The free tier (10 users) matches JumpCloud's strategy of creating free-to-paid conversion via organic growth. Small teams use Duo Free at zero cost, and once headcount exceeds 10, the Essentials tier ($3/mo) becomes unavoidable, creating high-intent conversions without sales friction.

Duo's ownership by Cisco (acquired 2010 for $2.3B) enables bundling advantages unavailable to competitors. Duo integrates natively with Cisco's access control and endpoint products, creating switching costs across Cisco's entire security stack.

Strengths

  • Free tier supports up to 10 users with full MFA and passwordless authentication capabilities, enabling zero-friction adoption.
  • Essentials tier ($3/mo) bundles SSO, passwordless MFA, and Duo Directory, eliminating surprise costs from unbundled add-ons.
  • Premier tier ($9/mo) includes Cisco Identity Intelligence and device trust, enabling Zero Trust security without separate licensing.

Considerations

  • Passwordless authentication availability differs by tier; Essentials offers basic FIDO2, Premier adds passkeys and advanced biometrics.
  • Cisco integration advantages may not translate for customers in non-Cisco ecosystems running pure-cloud infrastructure.
Ideal For

Mid-market organizations seeking per-user MFA with bundled SSO and passwordless authentication without premium per-feature pricing.

Pricing Takeaway

Duo's bundled tier structure eliminates the unbundled add-on pricing that inflates effective costs — each tier increase adds capabilities, not surprise fees.

Best choice: Duo Security

Try Duo Security free

Pricing Plans (4)

Duo Free

Popular
$0/mo
  • ✓Add up to 10 users
  • ✓Strong MFA
  • ✓Seamless integrations
  • ✓Free authenticator app
Start with Duo Free

Duo Essentials

Popular
$3/mo
  • ✓Duo Directory
  • ✓Phishing-resistant MFA
  • ✓Complete passwordless authentication
  • ✓Single sign-on
  • ✓Trusted Endpoints
  • ✓Unlimited applications
Start with Duo Essentials

Duo Advantage

Popular
$6/mo
  • ✓Cisco Identity Intelligence (Cross-identity visibility, ISPM, and ITDR)
  • ✓Duo Passport
  • ✓Session theft protection
  • ✓Device health checks
  • ✓Risk-Based Authentication
Start with Duo Advantage

Duo Premier

Popular
$9/mo
  • ✓A comprehensive package for complete Zero Trust access
  • ✓VPN-less remote access to private resources
  • ✓Complete device trust with endpoint protection check
Start with Duo Premier

How does Duo Security pricing compare?

See how Duo Security's 4 pricing plans stack up against similar Security tools.

Compare Duo SecurityView all alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Duo Security cost?
As of March 2026, You can use Duo Security for free. Upgrading starts at $3/mo across 4 tiers using per-seat pricing.
Does Duo Security offer a free plan?
As of March 2026, yes, Duo Security includes a free tier with 4 features. It allows teams to evaluate the security capabilities before committing to a paid subscription.
What pricing model does Duo Security use?
As of March 2026, Duo Security follows a per-seat pricing structure where costs are determined by the number of users on your team. This model is common among security platforms.
What is Duo Security's most popular plan?
As of March 2026, the Duo Free plan is Duo Security's most popular tier, priced at free. With 4 features, it covers the core security needs of most teams.
What features are included in Duo Security's plans?
As of March 2026, Duo Security plans offer between 3 and 6 features. Lower tiers provide core functionality, with each upgrade unlocking additional tools and integrations for growing teams.

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Sources

  1. Duo Security Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page

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