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Cybersecurity · head to head

Cisco Duo vs GovPilot

Cisco Duo logo

Cisco Duo

Cybersecurity

Trusted access for all users, all devices

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
GovPilot logo

GovPilot

Government

Digital forms and workflow modules for small municipalities priced out of enterprise govtech

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cisco Duo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cisco Duo free tier limited to 10 users maximum; GovPilot modules are prebuilt and configured rather than developed, so a municipality with an unusual ordinance or fee structure must adapt its process to the software rather than the reverse.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cisco Duo and GovPilot differ
AttributeCisco DuoGovPilot
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 GovPilot does not also cover.

Only in GovPilot

  • Prebuilt process modules
  • GIS property map
  • Digital form intake
  • Report a concern app
  • Public records request handling
  • Workflow routing

What people use each for

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

Cisco Duo

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

GovPilot

  • A small town replacing paper permit applications without funding a large implementationnot Cisco Duo
  • A clerk's office that needs a defensible record of public records requests and response timesnot Cisco Duo
  • A municipality wanting residents to report issues from a phone with location attachednot Cisco Duo
  • A borough adding modules gradually as budget allows rather than buying a full system at oncenot 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

GovPilot

  • Modules are prebuilt and configured rather than developed, so a municipality with an unusual ordinance or fee structure must adapt its process to the software rather than the reverse.
  • The install base is concentrated in New Jersey and the north east, so agencies elsewhere find fewer reference sites and modules tuned to another state's terminology.
  • Module based pricing means the total climbs in steps as departments are added, and the initial quote often covers fewer processes than the town eventually needs.
  • It is not built for the complexity larger cities carry, so an agency that grows into multi department plan review will outgrow it and face a second migration.
  • Integration options are limited compared with enterprise platforms, so connecting to an existing finance or utility billing system may mean manual reconciliation.

Pricing, plan by plan

Cisco Duo

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

GovPilot

On request
  • GovPilot$undefined/year
    • Quoted by module count and municipality population
    • Implementation is short because modules are configured rather than built
    • Payment processing on citizen transactions charged separately

Which should you pick?

Choose Cisco Duo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cisco Duo review

Choose GovPilot if

  • You need prebuilt process modules.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want gis property map.
GovPilot review

Questions people ask

Is Cisco Duo or GovPilot better?
Neither clearly leads. Cisco Duo starts at Free and GovPilot at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cisco Duo or GovPilot?
Cisco Duo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cisco Duo and On request for GovPilot.
Does Cisco Duo or GovPilot run on more platforms?
Cisco Duo runs on Web. GovPilot runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Cisco Duo for free?
Yes. Cisco Duo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GovPilot starts at On request.
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 GovPilot is typically brought in for.
What can Cisco Duo do that GovPilot cannot?
GovPilot covers Prebuilt process modules, GIS property map, Digital form intake, Report a concern app.

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
GovPilot: Who is GovPilot actually for?

Small and mid sized municipalities that are currently on paper and cannot fund an Accela or Tyler implementation.

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
GovPilot: How long does implementation take?

Short by govtech standards, because modules are prebuilt and configured rather than custom developed.

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
GovPilot: Can we find comparable pricing?

Yes. Municipal contracts are public, and in this segment neighbouring towns' council minutes give a genuinely comparable number.

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
GovPilot: Will we outgrow it?

A city that develops complex multi department plan review will, and should plan for that rather than discover it.

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