Let’s face it, nobody likes passwords. They’re messy, require management, and always leave us feeling like we could have done better. Passwords rely on user-generated combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols, which are easy to forget, can be stolen, or even guessed.
Passkeys, the next generation of passwords, are created using public key cryptography. They are safer and simpler than passwords in many ways, but they are still in their early stages. In this article, we will dive into a full comparison of passkeys and passwords, highlighting the main difference between passkey and password, providing examples, and more.
Passwords are the strings of characters we all use to log into our accounts. They can be simple or complex, and their effectiveness varies based on how strong they are. Their security also depends on whether users practice good password hygiene, such as not reusing passwords across multiple sites. However, passwords are often vulnerable to phishing attacks, brute-force hacking, and data breaches.
Passkeys, on the other hand, are a cryptographic-based authentication method that is far more secure and modern. Instead of the user creating and remembering a password, passkeys are system-generated for every account. The user authenticates through their device's unlock mechanisms, such as biometric features (like fingerprints or facial recognition). This method relies on who the user is, rather than what they know, making them impossible to steal, hack, or share, compared to passwords.
Yes, passkeys are meant to replace passwords. Although still in the transition phase, more companies are gradually adopting them. By eliminating the need to memorize passwords and reducing user friction, passkeys are expected to replace traditional passwords faster than we might expect.
Passkeys and passwords each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. To provide a detailed comparison, we’ll compare key factors in this passkey vs traditional password debate:
Every authentication method has one of the most critical factors: its security. Passwords are vulnerable to attacks like phishing, brute-force hacking, and credential stuffing, especially if weak or reused.
Phishing, where attackers trick users into giving their login details, is a common problem for passwords. Passwords can often be guessed or stolen if there is some data breach.
Passkeys use cryptographic key pairs, where the private key stays on your device and is never shared online, making them resistant to phishing and theft.
This makes passkeys safer than passwords.
Passwords require users to remember complex combinations, often leading to forgotten credentials and resets. While password managers help, they add extra complexity.
Passkeys take away that hassle. Users log in using the unlock mechanisms of their devices, without fuss and friction. Nothing to remember, nothing to reset; hence, ease is introduced into the lives of the users. Making passkeys the go-to method when looking for convenience.
Passwords are universal to any device whether it be a phone, computer, or tablet. You can simply log on with just your password from any location, and they can be shared with people you trust if.
However, passkeys are bound to devices. While this increases their security level, it simultaneously reduces flexibility, especially if you have to regularly access accounts from different devices or even public computers. However, some passkey systems support syncing across multiple devices, though this feature is still new and not universally supported by all websites and services.
This makes passwords more flexible, but at the cost of reduced security.
Managing and resetting multiple passwords can be frustrating. While familiar, passwords tend to create a poor user experience as more accounts are added.
Passkeys make life much easier for the user. Instead of a variety of logins, users can authenticate with biometric data to enable fast and frictionless access without requiring memorization.
This way, authentication will be far easier and the friction reduced.
Making passkeys by far the best solution when looking for enhanced, frictionless user-experience.
Based on the four main factors, passkeys are superior in 3 out of 4 categories, with only flexibility still in favor of passwords. However, as passkeys are adopted more widely, this gap will likely close. This is another reason why using passkeys over passwords is increasingly considered the better option for security-conscious users.
While passwords are still very common, it is getting quite observable that with the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, password weaknesses further provide a reason to reconsider their future.
With all the passkey benefits over passwords, such as high security and ease of use, they represent the future of authentication. Though they are still in the early stages of adoption, passkeys are expected to replace passwords as more platforms adopt this more secure technology.
We are not yet completely password-free, but many platforms are already embracing passkeys. And with major tech companies, like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, integrating passkey into their ecosystems, users can go ahead and securely log into their applications across devices through biometric authentication. Plus, many popular websites and services have started the adoption of passkeys as alternatives to passwords, making it easier to move away from traditional passwords.
You can already start moving to passkeys with iOS, macOS, and Android, using supported apps and services such as Google, Dropbox, and PayPal.
As more and more companies begin to take up the technology, the need for a password will further reduce. While passwords may remain in some places, you could start using passkeys in most of your daily accounts and gradually transition to a password-free experience.
