Duo Security vs Qualys: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editorยท12 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Duo Security and Qualys in 2026, Duo Security is the stronger choice for organizations wanting easy-to-deploy mfa for all employees due to very easy user experience for mfa. Qualys excels for enterprise security teams needing comprehensive vulnerability and compliance scanning with comprehensive vulnerability management. Duo Security offers MFA push notifications, Device trust, SSO starting at $3/user/mo with a free plan. Qualys provides Vulnerability scanning, Compliance monitoring, Asset inventory from Custom pricing. For teams prioritizing value, Duo Security delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 75/100. Duo Security and Qualys compete in the cybersecurity segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading cybersecurity tools include Okta, 1Password, Cloudflare. Duo Security serves 50K+ orgs users globally (founded 2010) while Qualys reports 10K+ orgs active users (founded 1999).

Duo Security vs Qualys at a Glance

Duo Security
Qualys
Starting Price
$3/user/mo
Custom pricing
Free Plan
Yes
No
User Rating
4.6/5
4.3/5
Best For
Organizations wanting easy-to-deploy MFA for all e...
Enterprise security teams needing comprehensive vu...
Users
50K+ orgs
10K+ orgs
Founded
2010
1999
hiltonsoftware Score
75/100
65/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ‘ฅ
Duo Security
Cybersecurity
75
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿ”Ž
Qualys
Cybersecurity
65
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between Duo Security and Qualys?

Duo Security and Qualys differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Duo Security leads in 6 of 7 categories.

Duo SecurityQualys
87Ease of Use73
81Features77
76Value for Money60
69Customer Support70
63Integrations61
64Scalability59
77Learning Curve63

What are the pros and cons of Duo Security vs Qualys?

Duo Security
+Very easy user experience for MFA
+Trusted enterprise brand
-Advanced Zero Trust features are expensive
-Free tier is very limited
Qualys
+Comprehensive vulnerability management
+Well-established enterprise platform
-Complex and expensive
-Interface feels dated

Which is better, Duo Security or Qualys?

After evaluating Duo Security and Qualys across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Duo Security earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 75/100 versus Qualys at 65/100. Duo Security stands out for "very easy user experience for mfa" and "trusted enterprise brand". Qualys delivers competitive advantages in "comprehensive vulnerability management", making Qualys a viable alternative.

On pricing, Duo Security offers a free plan for SMBs and startups. Qualys starts at Custom pricing with no free tier, but justifies the cost with vulnerability scanning and compliance monitoring and enterprise-grade scalability.

Bottom line: Choose Duo Security for organizations wanting easy-to-deploy mfa for all employees. Choose Qualys for enterprise security teams needing comprehensive vulnerability and compliance scanning. Both Duo Security and Qualys are established cybersecurity platforms.

CHOOSE DUO SECURITY IF:

Organizations wanting easy-to-deploy MFA for all employees.

CHOOSE QUALYS IF:

Enterprise security teams needing comprehensive vulnerability and compliance scanning.

Duo Security vs Qualys: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Duo Security better than Qualys in 2026?
Duo Security outperforms Qualys in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 75/100 compared to 65/100. Duo Security excels in MFA push notifications, Device trust, SSO, making Duo Security the better choice for Organizations wanting easy-to-deploy MFA for all employees. Qualys is the stronger option for Enterprise security teams needing comprehensive vulnerability and compliance scanning due to comprehensive vulnerability management. For teams needing mfa push notifications, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Duo Security.
How does Duo Security pricing compare to Qualys in 2026?
Duo Security starts at $3/user/mo and includes a free plan. Qualys starts at Custom pricing without a free plan. Duo Security includes features like MFA push notifications, Device trust, SSO. Qualys provides Vulnerability scanning, Compliance monitoring, Asset inventory. Duo Security serves 50K+ orgs users while Qualys serves 10K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Duo Security and Qualys?
Duo Security specializes in MFA push notifications, Device trust, SSO, earning a 75/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Qualys focuses on Vulnerability scanning, Compliance monitoring, Asset inventory, scoring 65/100. Duo Security is best for Organizations wanting easy-to-deploy MFA for all employees. Qualys is best for Enterprise security teams needing comprehensive vulnerability and compliance scanning. Both Duo Security and Qualys serve the Cybersecurity market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Duo Security to Qualys?
Migrating from Duo Security to Qualys is possible since both operate in the Cybersecurity space. Export data from Duo Security and verify Qualys import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: MFA push notifications, Device trust, SSO (Duo Security) versus Vulnerability scanning, Compliance monitoring, Asset inventory (Qualys). Running both Duo Security and Qualys in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Duo Security or Qualys better for small business?
For small businesses, Duo Security offers a free plan with mfa push notifications. Duo Security scores 75/100 on hiltonsoftware.co. Qualys (starting at Custom pricing) is worth the investment for businesses needing Vulnerability scanning, Compliance monitoring, Asset inventory. Both Duo Security and Qualys support SMB and startup teams.

Reviewed by Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editor. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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