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Cybersecurity · head to head

Cisco Duo vs GitHub

Cisco Duo logo

Cisco Duo

Cybersecurity

Trusted access for all users, all devices

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Cisco DuoFull review
GitHub logo

GitHub

Developer Tools

Where the world builds software

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit GitHubFull review

The short version

  • GitHub is a development platform inspired.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $3/mo and $4/mo.
  • Where Cisco Duo falls short: free tier limited to 10 users maximum.
  • Where GitHub falls short: acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cisco Duo and GitHub actually diverge.

Attributes where Cisco Duo and GitHub differ
AttributeCisco DuoGitHub
PlatformsWebWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Subscription), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: founded for Cisco Duo.

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cisco Duo

Nothing recorded that GitHub does not also cover.

Only in GitHub

  • Git repositories
  • Pull requests
  • Code review
  • Issues & projects
  • GitHub Actions CI/CD
  • GitHub Pages
  • Security scanning
  • Dependency management

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cisco Duo

  • Eliminating phishing with passwordless authnot GitHub
  • Implementing zero trust with device trustnot GitHub
  • Protecting sessions from hijacking and theftnot GitHub
  • Managing compliance for regulated industriesnot GitHub

GitHub

  • Version controlnot Cisco Duo
  • Code collaborationnot Cisco Duo
  • CI/CD pipelinesnot Cisco Duo
  • Project managementnot Cisco Duo
  • Documentation hostingnot Cisco Duo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cisco Duo

  • Free tier limited to 10 users maximum
  • Licenses must be purchased in 10-user increments (under 100 users) or 25-user increments (100+ users)
  • Pricing is per-user per-month with minimum purchase increments

GitHub

  • Acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy
  • Primary focus on source control differs from purpose-built project management tools like Jira
  • Pricing for enterprise features and private repositories adds up compared to some self-hosted alternatives

Pricing, plan by plan

Cisco Duo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
    • Seamless integrations
    • Authenticator app
  • Essentials$3/mo
    • All Free features
    • Duo Directory
    • Phishing-resistant MFA
  • Advantage$6/mo
    • All Essentials features
    • Identity intelligence
    • Cisco Identity Intelligence (ISPM, ITDR)
  • Premier$9/mo
    • All Advantage features
    • Complete device trust
    • VPN-less remote access

GitHub

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public/private repos
    • 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 500MB package storage
  • Team$4/mo
    • Everything in Free
    • 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 2GB package storage
  • Enterprise$21/mo
    • Everything in Team
    • 50,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 50GB package storage

Which should you pick?

Choose Cisco Duo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cisco Duo review

Choose GitHub if

  • You need git repositories.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want pull requests.
GitHub review

Questions people ask

Is Cisco Duo or GitHub better?
Neither clearly leads. Cisco Duo starts at Free and GitHub at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cisco Duo or GitHub?
Cisco Duo starts at Free and GitHub at Free.
Does Cisco Duo or GitHub run on more platforms?
Cisco Duo runs on Web. GitHub runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Can I use Cisco Duo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cisco Duo best used for?
Cisco Duo is most often used for eliminating phishing with passwordless auth, implementing zero trust with device trust, protecting sessions from hijacking and theft, managing compliance for regulated industries. Of those, eliminating phishing with passwordless auth and implementing zero trust with device trust are not what GitHub is typically brought in for.
What can Cisco Duo do that GitHub cannot?
GitHub covers Git repositories, Pull requests, Code review, Issues & projects.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cisco Duo: How much does Cisco Duo cost?

Cisco Duo Free is $0/user/month (up to 10 users). Paid plans start at $3/user/month (Essentials), $6/user/month (Advantage), and $9/user/month (Premier). Billing is per-user per-month.

Source
GitHub: What is a Git repository and how does GitHub use it?

A repository is the centralized database that stores the complete collection of files and folders for a codebase, along with the revision history. GitHub uses Git to provide distributed version control access to repositories with version tracking, branching, and collaboration features.

Source
Cisco Duo: Is Cisco Duo free to try?

Yes, Duo Free offers multi-factor authentication and seamless integrations at $0/user/month for up to 10 users.

Source
GitHub: How does GitHub authentication work?

When you connect to a GitHub repository from Git, you need to authenticate with GitHub using either HTTPS or SSH. GitHub supports multiple authentication methods including passwords, personal access tokens, SSH keys, and GitHub Apps.

Source
Cisco Duo: What is the minimum purchase for Cisco Duo?

Organizations must buy licenses in 10-user increments for under 100 users, or 25-user increments for 100 or more users. Plans are modifiable at any time.

Source
GitHub: How long has GitHub been operating?

GitHub was founded in 2008 and launched publicly on April 10, 2008, making it the dominant git hosting platform for nearly two decades.

Source
Cisco Duo: What does the Advantage plan add over Essentials?

Advantage ($6/user/month) adds identity intelligence, Cisco Identity Intelligence (ISPM, ITDR), Duo Passport, session theft protection, Active Directory Defense, and risk-based authentication.

Source
GitHub: Who owns GitHub and when did the acquisition occur?

Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion USD, with the deal announced June 4, 2018 and completed October 26, 2018. GitHub operates as an independent subsidiary within Microsoft.

Source
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