Cisco Duo
Cisco Duo is a user-friendly identity security platform providing multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and device visibility to protect your applications and data from unauthorized access and credential-based cyberattacks.
Nhost
Nhost is an open-source Firebase alternative that provides a complete backend-as-a-service platform with GraphQL, authentication, storage, and serverless functions to help you build and scale web and mobile applications.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cisco Duo | Nhost |
|---|---|---|
| Website | duo.com | nhost.io |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2010 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, USA | Stockholm, Sweden |
Overview
Cisco Duo
Cisco Duo helps you secure your workforce by verifying the identity of every user and the health of every device before they access your applications. You can implement strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) that is easy for your team to use, reducing the risk of data breaches caused by compromised passwords. The platform gives you a clear view of every device connecting to your network, whether it is company-issued or a personal mobile phone.
You can also simplify your team's workday with single sign-on (SSO), allowing them to access all their cloud and on-premise apps with one secure login. It scales effortlessly from small startups to global enterprises, offering a 30-day free trial to get you started. By enforcing risk-based access policies, you ensure that only the right people and healthy devices can reach your sensitive data.
Nhost
Nhost provides you with a complete, open-source backend so you can focus on building your frontend without worrying about infrastructure. It combines a PostgreSQL database, Hasura for instant GraphQL APIs, and built-in authentication and storage into a single unified platform. You can manage your entire data layer through a visual dashboard or via the command line, making it easy to transition from a local development environment to a production-ready cloud setup.
Whether you are building a simple MVP or a complex enterprise application, you can use Nhost to handle user management, file uploads, and real-time data syncing. The platform also supports serverless functions, allowing you to write custom logic in Node.js or Python that scales automatically. By integrating these core backend components, you save weeks of configuration time and can deploy your applications globally with just a few clicks.
Overview
Cisco Duo Features
- Duo Push Approve login requests with a single tap on your smartphone using the most secure and user-friendly MFA method.
- Single Sign-On Access all your cloud and on-premise applications through one secure dashboard to save time and reduce password fatigue.
- Device Visibility Get a full inventory of every laptop and mobile device accessing your applications without installing intrusive agents.
- Passwordless Authentication Log in to your work applications using biometrics like TouchID or FaceID for a faster, more secure experience.
- Risk-Based Policies Set custom access rules based on user location, network, and device health to automatically block suspicious login attempts.
- Verified Push Prevent push harassment by requiring users to enter a numeric code from the login screen into their mobile app.
Nhost Features
- Instant GraphQL API. Generate a production-ready GraphQL API automatically from your PostgreSQL schema so you can query data instantly.
- Managed PostgreSQL. Store your data in a dedicated PostgreSQL database that you can manage visually through a built-in dashboard.
- Built-in Authentication. Secure your apps with ready-to-use authentication including email/password, social logins, and magic links for your users.
- Serverless Functions. Deploy custom backend logic using Node.js or Python without managing any server infrastructure or scaling issues.
- Cloud Storage. Upload and serve files securely with integrated storage that includes image transformation and granular access controls.
- Real-time Subscriptions. Build reactive applications by subscribing to data changes in real-time through the GraphQL API without extra setup.
Pricing Comparison
Cisco Duo Pricing
- Up to 10 users
- Unlimited MFA methods
- Duo Mobile app
- Self-service portal
- Standard integrations
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Passwordless authentication
- Trusted Endpoints visibility
- Basic policy enforcement
- User group management
Nhost Pricing
- Shared infrastructure
- 500MB PostgreSQL database
- 1GB File storage
- 5GB Bandwidth
- 10,000 Monthly Active Users
- Community support
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Dedicated infrastructure
- 8GB PostgreSQL database
- 10GB File storage
- 50GB Bandwidth
- 50,000 Monthly Active Users
- Email support
Pros & Cons
Cisco Duo
Pros
- Extremely easy for employees to use daily
- Fast setup process for IT administrators
- Reliable mobile app with instant push notifications
- Broad support for various hardware security keys
Cons
- Advanced reporting requires higher-tier paid plans
- Mobile app registration can be tricky for some
- Pricing can scale quickly for large organizations
Nhost
Pros
- Fast setup for GraphQL-based applications
- Open-source core prevents vendor lock-in
- Seamless integration between database and auth
- Generous free tier for initial development
- Excellent documentation for modern frontend frameworks
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Google Firebase
- Limited serverless function language support
- Learning curve for Hasura permissions logic