For most accounts that support them, a passkey is the best default: it is tied to the service’s domain and designed to resist phishing. If passkeys are not available, use a unique password for that account and turn on the strongest multi-factor authentication (MFA) the service supports. Whichever method you choose, make sure you can recover the account if you lose a device.
How passkeys, passwords and MFA differ
Passkeys replace the shared secret
A passkey is a cryptographic credential, not a password stored under another name. During setup, the service keeps a public key; the corresponding private key is used to authenticate you. Each passkey is unique to the online service, which helps prevent a fake site from using a credential intended for the real one. See the FIDO Alliance’s FIDO User Authentication Specifications.
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Passkeys can be managed in different ways. A synced passkey may be available on multiple devices through a credential provider; a device-bound credential stays with a particular authenticator. The sign-in experience and recovery options depend on the provider and the service.
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Passwords are vulnerable to reuse and compromise
A password can be guessed, stolen in a phishing attack, or exposed in a service breach. If you reuse it, a leak at one site may put other accounts at risk. A unique password for every account limits that spillover, and MFA can add protection if a password is compromised. NIST’s guidance on creating a good password explains the value of using distinct credentials.
#1 Best Overall
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Two-factor authentication is a family of methods
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a type of MFA: it asks for two distinct factors, such as something you know and something you have. But the label does not tell you how resistant a sign-in method is to phishing. SMS codes, push approvals and one-time passcodes (OTP) are not phishing-resistant in NIST’s implementation examples; FIDO2 passkeys with user verification are. NIST also classifies those passkeys as multi-factor cryptographic authenticators. NIST’s authenticator examples distinguish the methods.
Which method protects you best?
| Method | Phishing resistance | Protection from password reuse | Extra factor needed? | Credential and recovery considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passkey with user verification | Phishing-resistant in NIST’s FIDO2 examples | Yes; no reusable account password is entered | It can satisfy MFA requirements when user verification is required | May be synced or device-bound; availability and recovery depend on the provider, service and devices |
| Unique password alone | No; passwords can be phished | Yes, if it is genuinely unique to that account | Yes, if you want MFA protection | Must be remembered or managed securely; recovery depends on the service |
| Password plus SMS, push approval or OTP | These methods are not phishing-resistant in NIST’s examples | Yes, if the password is unique | The second method adds a factor, but does not make the combination phishing-resistant | Access can depend on a phone, app or device, so check the service’s recovery process |
| Password plus a FIDO2 security key | FIDO2 is phishing-resistant when implemented with user verification as described by NIST | Yes, if the password is unique | The key supplies an additional authenticator; service support and configuration matter | A physical key can be lost; plan another sign-in or recovery route |
The comparison follows the categories in NIST’s implementation resource and FIDO’s specifications. Actual protection also depends on how a service implements sign-in and account recovery.
Rank #2
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Choose a sign-in method for each account
- If passkeys are offered, use one when you can safely access the credential manager or authenticator that will hold it. Confirm how you will sign in from another device and how the service restores access.
- If passkeys are not offered, use a unique password and enable the strongest MFA option the service supports. Where available, an authenticator app or security key may be preferable to SMS, but follow the service’s supported setup and recovery instructions.
- For important accounts, prepare a backup route. Keep a recovery method you can reach if your primary device is lost, and consider a backup authenticator where the service allows it.
- Secure the account that syncs your credentials. If passkeys are synced across devices, protect the provider account and understand its recovery process; syncing can help with access, but it makes that account part of your security plan.
NIST’s 2025 Digital Identity Guidelines include syncable authenticators and requirements for keys stored in a sync fabric. In its April 23, 2024 announcement, NIST said: “When implemented correctly syncable authenticators provide a phishing-resistant authenticator with many benefits, such as simplified recovery, cross device support, and consumer friendly platform authentication features (e.g., native biometrics).” That is guidance about correctly implemented authenticators, not a guarantee that every provider’s synchronization or recovery is equally secure. Read NIST’s announcement.
Think through recovery before you lose a device
A strong sign-in method cannot help if a lost phone or unavailable credential leaves you unable to access the account. Check the service’s account-recovery steps before changing your primary method. In particular, consider whether recovery falls back to email or SMS and whether those channels are themselves protected. A weak recovery route can undermine a strong sign-in method; FIDO discusses this issue in its March 2025 paper, “Passkeys: The Journey to Prevent Phishing Attacks, Part 2”.
Rank #3
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Apple describes safeguards for passkeys in its own iCloud Keychain implementation, but those details should not be assumed to apply to other providers. Check the instructions for the specific credential manager and service you use. Apple’s explanation of passkey security is specific to Apple’s implementation.
When a physical security key makes sense
A FIDO2-compatible hardware security key is an optional authenticator, not a requirement for ordinary passkey use. It may suit someone who wants a physical, device-bound sign-in option or a backup authenticator, provided the service supports it. FIDO describes external authenticators that connect by USB, NFC or Bluetooth Low Energy in its authentication specifications.
Rank #4
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Before choosing a key, verify compatibility with the account service, operating system, connector and protocol you need. A key does not replace account recovery: if it is lost, you still need another way to get back in. FIDO recommends two keys per user in its described enterprise deployment; that is deployment-specific guidance, not a universal consumer rule. FIDO’s enterprise guidance explains that context.
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What current guidance says about the security trade-off
In an April 23, 2026 article, FIDO Alliance reported the UK National Cyber Security Centre’s assessment that traditional MFA methods are phishable and FIDO2 credentials are as secure or more secure against common credential attacks. That is the NCSC assessment as reported by FIDO, with the stated scope of common credential attacks—not a claim that every passkey setup or recovery process is invulnerable. Read FIDO’s report of the NCSC assessment.
Best Value
- The information below is per-pack only
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
FIDO also reports that FIDO-based sign-ins can be up to 75% faster and 20% more successful than sign-ins using passwords or passwords plus SMS OTP. Those figures are FIDO’s comparison, and the surfaced page does not provide the underlying study details; they should not be treated as universal results. See FIDO’s consumer passkey use cases.
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