Portnox vs Yubico YubiKey comparison

Portnox Security and Yubico are both solutions in the Passwordless Authentication category. Portnox Security is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.7, while Yubico is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.0. Portnox Security holds a 16.1% mindshare in PA, compared to Yubico’s 10.8% mindshare. Additionally, 94% of Portnox Security users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Yubico users who would recommend it.

Portnox

Read 24 Portnox reviews

1,848 Views
166 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Yubico YubiKey

Read 5 Yubico YubiKey reviews

3,635 Views
109 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Portnox

Yubico YubiKey

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 21, 2025

Portnox and Yubico YubiKey are competing products in the network security solutions category, with Portnox having the advantage due to its comprehensive network access control features suitable for enterprise environments.

Features: Portnox offers real-time network visibility, risk assessment, and endpoint management. It is ideal for enterprises needing extensive control over network access. Yubico YubiKey provides robust security through strong two-factor authentication using a physical key, which is excellent to protect against phishing and account takeovers.

Room for Improvement: Portnox could enhance its user interface to be more intuitive and improve integration with third-party applications. It might also consider offering more competitive pricing plans for smaller businesses. Yubico YubiKey might improve by offering more seamless integration with diverse authentication systems, expanding its compatibility, and developing more accessible resources for enterprise-level use.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Portnox has a cloud-based solution that facilitates easy deployment across diverse networks, complemented by effective customer service. Yubico YubiKey is straightforward for individuals but may require additional support for integration into existing authentication systems.

Pricing and ROI: Portnox requires a higher initial investment but offers substantial long-term ROI for businesses needing detailed network control, with scalable pricing options for larger organizations. Yubico YubiKey presents a lower upfront cost, appealing to individuals and small businesses focused on immediate security enhancements without extensive infrastructure changes.

To learn more, read our detailed Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey

September 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Portnox

Ranking in Passwordless Authentication

1st

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Access Control (NAC) (6th), ZTNA (12th)

Yubico YubiKey

Ranking in Passwordless Authentication

3rd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Authentication Systems (5th), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Passwordless Authentication category, the mindshare of Portnox is 16.1%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Yubico YubiKey is 10.8%, down from 14.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Passwordless Authentication Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Portnox	16.1%
Yubico YubiKey	10.8%
Other	73.1%

Passwordless Authentication

Featured Reviews

Scott Kerr

President at TrackerSoft

It is seamless and integrates well with our Azure setup

We use devices like PLCs and controllers, and when we receive a request to allow one on the network, we bypass typical authentication, associate it with a group account, and push it to a firewalled VLAN. However, problems arise when the same MAC address is requested for a different project. Our current system only finds authenticated MAC addresses, making it difficult to troubleshoot when the same device is used for multiple purposes. Ideally, we should be able to search for any MAC address in the database, regardless of its authentication status, to see all its associated groups and potential conflicts.

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OmerKhan1

IT Specialist at Friendly Solutions Corp

A stable solution that is efficient, user-friendly, and easy to use

It would be better if the product can come up with a serial number for the keys. It would be nice if they had a numbering system as a configuration identity that would help the IT and technical teams to identify the keys because they look all the same. It would be more like putting a tag on them.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Technical support was very helpful when we needed them."

"Portnox ensures system compliance through policy enforcement, including antivirus updates, Windows operating system updates, and system patches, helping network administrators maintain system health and security across the network."

"The minute people have issues on their network, we can see what is happening right away."

"Previous to the deployment we didn't have complete visibility of all the endpoints, all the devices that are connected to the network. But with the deployment of portnox, we could see all the devices and where they're connecting. We can equally segregate and apply different rules, policies to each location that we didn't monitor specifically."

"I like the fact that you can take your device anywhere and still have that visibility from anywhere because it's agent-based."

"This is a self-sufficient network monitoring and security product that saves time and employee resources."

"It's easy to manage and troubleshoot thanks to the lightweight components."

"The cloud-based feature is very nice. We use Meraki for our switching, and it is simple to point all of our networks and offices to Portnox. It is pretty seamless."

More Portnox pros

"The solution is simple to use and we have installed it in our clients' endpoints. The tool is just plug-and-play for the end user. The end user can just put in the key to the security computer and log in without any hassle. The solution is efficient, user-friendly, and easy to use."

"It's small and lightweight. Like a phone, it doesn't run out of battery. It also doesn't have to be unlocked. It doesn't break. Moreover, they're very durable and it's very convenient."

"Yubico YubiKey is highly valued for its anti-phishing feature, which prevents phishing of OTPs that are normally obtained through phones."

"The most valuable feature of Yubico YubiKey is security."

"YubiKey is a hardware security device with advanced security features."

Cons

"The solution did have some stability issues, however, all I had to do was restart it."

"Ideally, we should be able to search for any MAC address in the database, regardless of its authentication status, to see all its associated groups and potential conflicts."

"From a resource perspective, the OEM can do better in terms of resource utilization."

"In terms of operational efficiency, things are more complicated now. It takes more time to get devices on the network, but we increased security quite a bit."

"It would be good to integrate Portnox CORE with CLEAR."

"The support team is very limited. They don't have much support during Asia Pacific hours; the team sits in during the EMI and US hours."

"As there are no agents in Portnox Clear, the customers of the product cannot download any agents on their devices, making them unsure if the product offers proper security."

"The integration between Portnox CORE and Portnox CLEAR can be better. These are two different systems, and there is no unique console for both devices. Portnox CORE is agentless, whereas Portnox CLEAR is not agentless."

More Portnox cons

"It's a hardware device, so it isn't cost-effective to use for all your accounts. You might have a hard time getting budget approval. It's better to take a strategic approach and use it only for critical accounts. You can use other forms of authentication for the rest."

"It would be better if the product can come up with a serial number for the keys. It would be nice if they had a numbering system as a configuration identity that would help the IT and technical teams to identify the keys because they look all the same. It would be more like putting a tag on them."

"Yubico YubiKey is inconvient. No one likes the idea of having to put a USB device into the system, having to remember to take it out, and having passwords. It may be very good for security but it is not great for people to use."

"Currently, an area where the product lacks is in addressing service needs."

"Yubico YubiKey could be improved by allowing for centralized administration, which is not currently available in India."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We pay for port licensing and support on a yearly basis, and it's not cheap."

"The users are not very happy with the new licensing option where there is only a subscription license. There is no perpetual license."

"Portnox CORE's pricing is adequate and cheaper compared to other complex solutions. Its licensing costs are yearly and include support. Cost is calculated per device."

"Pricing is quite reasonable."

"It's not cheap. It's not expensive. It's in the middle."

"The cost of Portnox Clear is reasonable."

"It is not bad. It is a bit on the high side, but considering the cloud features and how much it costs to run the instance in the cloud, it is not unreasonable. We do have RADIUS servers for the US, Asia, and Europe."

"The tool is more expensive than Fortinet."

More Portnox pricing and cost advice

"We paid 100 bucks for one Yubikey."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

Healthcare Company

Government

12%

Computer Software Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	12
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	7

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Portnox CORE?

It's easy to manage and troubleshoot thanks to the lightweight components.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Portnox CORE?

It's not cheap. It's not expensive. It's in the middle, so I'll probably give it a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Portnox CORE?

We have been having some issues with it. That's why we're considering migrating to Portnox Clear due to some limitations with CORE. At the end of the day, Portnox Clear's capabilities are much more...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Yubico YubiKey?

Yubico YubiKey could be improved by allowing for centralized administration, which is not currently available in India. In India, administrators typically have control over all security devices, bu...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Yubico YubiKey?

I primarily use Yubico YubiKey ( /products/yubico-yubikey-reviews ) for authentication in environments such as Active Directory, cloud administration, trading room, and dealing room where phones ar...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Yubico YubiKey?

From an individual perspective, no improvements are required for Yubico YubiKey. However, at a corporate or enterprise level, a central control mechanism is necessary, which is currently lacking in...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Portnox

Compared 25% of the time

Aruba ClearPass vs Portnox

Compared 24% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Portnox

Compared 15% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Portnox

Compared 14% of the time

Keytos vs Portnox

Compared 8% of the time

More Portnox Competitors

RSA SecurID vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 41% of the time

Fortinet FortiToken vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco Duo vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 9% of the time

Thales Authenticators vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 8% of the time

Fortinet FortiAuthenticator vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 6% of the time

More Yubico YubiKey Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Portnox

September 2025

Download Portnox product report

Buyer's Guide

Authentication Systems

September 2025

Download Yubico YubiKey product report

Also Known As

Access Layers Portnox, Portnox CLEAR

YubiKey

Interactive Demo

Portnox Security

Demo not available

Yubico

Overview

Portnox offers Network Access Control to manage user access based on policy, securing both wired and wireless networks while ensuring compliance. It supports endpoint security and prevents unauthorized access across industries such as banking, IT, and energy distribution.

Designed for both on-premises and cloud deployments through CORE and Clear versions, Portnox delivers a straightforward interface aiding in deployment. It integrates effectively with equipment from multiple vendors and security solutions, enhancing endpoint profiling and ensuring compliance. Portnox provides real-time alerts and network activity insights, bolstered by excellent technical support and scalability. It also automates monitoring, reducing the need for dedicated resources while offering a comprehensive view of network activities.

What are the essential features of Portnox?

Comprehensive Network Visibility: Delivers detailed insights into network activity.
Agentless Operation: Simplifies deployment without requiring additional software on endpoints.
Seamless Integration: Works well with diverse equipment and security systems.
Real-Time Alerts: Immediate notifications for unauthorized activities.
Scalability: Accommodates growing network needs without adding complexity.

What benefits should users focus on in Portnox reviews?

Ease of Deployment: Quick setup without complex processes.
Security Capabilities: Strong defense against unauthorized access and breaches.
Automatic Monitoring: Continuously observes network traffic, requiring fewer resources.
Intuitive Insights: Clear visualization of network operations aids decision-making.
Reliable Support: Access to helpful technical assistance when needed.

Across industries like banking and IT, organizations rely on Portnox for endpoint profiling and compliance, ensuring remote worker security. Electricity distributors leverage its robust features for managing secure network access. Improvements like better third-party integration, enhanced graphical interface, and expanded support are desired, along with licensing adjustment and expanded use of AI and behavioral analytics.

Portnox Security

The YubiKey works with hundreds of enterprise, developer and consumer applications, out-of-the-box and with no client software. Combined with leading password managers, social login and enterprise single sign on systems the YubiKey enables secure access to millions of online services.

Yubico

Sample Customers

Data Realty, Royal London, Wales Millennium Centre, McLaren Construction Group, EL AL Israeli Airlines,

Google Inc., Salesforce, Novartis, Facebook, GitHub, CERN, Duke University, Code Enigma, Luther Burbank High School, ZorgSaam, Agfa, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Dyson Ltd, Portugal Telecom, Boral, Canonical Ltd

Buyer's Guide

Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey

September 2025

Free Report: Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey

Find out what your peers are saying about Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.

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