Password alternatives are authentication methods that replace or reduce reliance on passwords: including passkeys, biometrics, magic links, one-time passwords, and social login. They exist because passwords are simultaneously the most common and the most exploited authentication method, and the industry is actively working to move past them.

Not all alternatives are equal, though. Some remove the password; others just add a layer on top of it. Knowing the difference is the whole point.

The main alternatives, and how strong they are

• Passkeys (FIDO2/WebAuthn), the strongest widely available option. Phishing-resistant, no shared secret, backed by device biometrics. The leading true-passwordless method.
• Biometrics, fingerprint or face, usually unlocking a device-based credential. Convenient and, when on-device, private.
• Magic links, email-based, low-friction, but only as strong as the email account.
• One-time passwords (OTP/TOTP), a common second factor, but phishable and, over SMS, exposed to SIM swaps.
• Social login, convenient federation via an existing account, shifting trust to the social provider.

True replacement vs. adding a layer

The critical distinction: does the alternative eliminate the password or merely sit alongside it? Many "alternatives" leave a password in place as a fallback, which means the phishable credential is still there. True passwordless (passkeys) removes it entirely. When evaluating alternatives, the question to ask is whether a password still exists in the system, because if it does, it remains the path of least resistance for attackers.

Choosing an approach

Most businesses adopt a mix, matched to risk: passkeys as the primary method for their strength and UX, with fallback options for coverage, all governed by risk-based orchestration that applies the right method for the context. The goal isn’t to pick one alternative but to move decisively away from passwords as the anchor, ideally to a place where no password exists at all.

A framework for choosing

Rather than picking a single alternative, match methods to risk and to your users. For the primary method, passkeys are the strongest choice where devices support them: phishing-resistant, passwordless, and fast. For fallback and coverage (users on older devices, or edge cases where a passkey isn’t available) offer a secondary method (magic link, OTP), but keep it off the critical path for high-value actions. Layer risk-based orchestration over the top so the system applies the appropriate method for the context, stepping up only when risk warrants.

Two questions cut through most decisions. First: does this alternative remove the password, or just sit beside it? If a password still exists as a fallback, it remains the attacker’s easiest path, so the real goal is eliminating it, not adding layers. Second: is the method phishing-resistant? A method an attacker can relay through a fake site (OTP, basic push) is a weaker anchor than one bound to the legitimate origin (passkeys). Answer those two honestly and the right mix usually becomes clear, passkeys as the destination, other methods as transitional coverage on the way there.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best password alternative?

Passkeys (FIDO2/WebAuthn) are the strongest widely available option, phishing-resistant and passwordless.

Do password alternatives always remove the password?

No, some keep a password as fallback; only true passwordless methods eliminate it.

Can I use more than one alternative?

Yes, most businesses combine methods governed by risk-based orchestration.

Related: Passwordless Authentication · Passkeys · Biometric Authentication · Magic Link Authentication · Password Fatigue