Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Google vs OnlyKey
Where Google and OnlyKey differ
| Compare |  Google | OnlyKey ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | Android, Chrome, Web | Windows, MacOS, Android, Linux, Chrome OS |
| Encryption | Industry-leading encryption, in transit via HTTPS and TLS, with on-device encryption available | AES-256-GCM, PIN protected with wipe after 10 failed unlock attempts |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter | TOTP |
| Price from | Not confirmed | €49.95 |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Passkeys (Yes).
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Key differences
- Google scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.2.
- Free plan: only Google.
- Platforms: only Google offers Chrome, Web.
- Platforms: only OnlyKey offers Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- Support channels: only OnlyKey offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Google: 1998 vs 2016.
- Features: only Google offers Screen time, Web filter.
- Features: only OnlyKey offers TOTP.
Our verdict on each
Google suits readers already living in Chrome and Android who want passwords and passkeys without paying, since a free plan is included and the paid Google One plan runs at €2.09.
OnlyKey
OnlyKey suits buyers who want a hardware key that handles passkeys, TOTP codes and password storage together, with open source firmware and a logging policy that keeps customer secrets off the vendor's side. The Duo costs €49.95 as a device, above Token2 and the Google Titan Security Key.
Score breakdown
| Area | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 8.0The Duo costs €49.95 and ranks 14 of 15 on price across the site. |
| Offer | 8.5 | 8.6Higher |
| Privacy | 9.0Higher | 8.0 |
Where these facts come from
- support.google.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- about.google: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- safety.google: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- passwords.google.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- policies.google.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
OnlyKey
- onlykey.io: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 145 of 280 | 204 of 280 |
| Hardware security keys | 5 of 18 | 8 of 18 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Google Ireland Limited | CryptoTrust LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1998Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Protocols | Fido2, U2f | Fido2, U2f, OtpCovers more |
| Logging policy | Collects and analyses user content to operate and improve services, including for spam and malware filtering and to personalise results, content and ads | Zero knowledge: no customer keys or sensitive data stored by the company |
| Jurisdiction | IE | US |
| Privacy tool type | Browser, Search | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 15 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | $50 | Not confirmed |
Security keys
| Fact | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | €49.95 |
| Connectors | USB a, USB c, NFCCovers more | USB a, USB c |
| Biometric unlock | Not confirmed | No |
Identity protection
| Fact | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €2.09 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 7 days | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | OnlyKey | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | €49.95highest quarter | €9.99 |
Median across 15 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan is included, so readers can start on stored credentials and passkeys without a subscription.
- Passkeys are supported, and security keys speak fido2 and u2f across usb a, usb c and nfc for anyone who prefers a physical key.
- The paid Google One plan sits at €2.09, under the €7.89 monthly level across the brands tracked.
Cons
- Encryption that only the account holder can read is not offered, so readers who want the vault held outside provider control have to accept a different arrangement.
- The provider gathers and studies user content in order to run the services and make them better, including filtering spam and malware and personalising results, content and ads.
- Support runs on help centre and community, against 82.2% of the brands tracked offering email, so reaching a person takes more effort.
OnlyKey
Pros
- Open source firmware, paired with a logging policy in which the company states it holds no customer keys or sensitive data.
- The Duo carries usb a and usb c in the same unit, so machines with either port are covered by the same purchase.
- It speaks fido2, u2f and otp and also handles totp codes, so the same key covers security keys, authenticator codes and passwords.
Cons
- Biometric unlock is no, which leaves the PIN and its wipe rule carrying the security of the device.
- The free plan is no, so the only route to the features is buying hardware at €49.95.
- The price runs above Token2 at €7 to €37 and the Google Titan Security Key at $30 to $35.
Who each suits
Who it suits
- Readers already signed in to a Google account who would rather keep passwords, files and sign-in in the same place.
- Android and Chrome users who would rather not fund a subscription for a password vault.
- Households that want a single subscription to carry storage and screen time and web filter alongside their credentials.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users, since a product built around iOS, iPadOS and macOS matches their devices more closely than Android, Chrome and Web.
- Total Password users who would rather start on a paid tier, since Total Password has no free plan where Google has one.
- ESET Brasil users who need a product listed across Windows, Windows Server and macOS for desktop and server machines.
OnlyKey
Who it suits
- People who want a physical key for passkeys and authenticator codes and who treat open source firmware as a requirement rather than a bonus.
- Mixed-port desks that need USB-C and USB-A covered by usb a and usb c in a single purchase.
- Buyers who would rather own the key outright and can accept a PIN instead of biometric unlock.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for the tightest budget, since Token2 runs €7 to €37 against OnlyKey at €49.95.
- Not for people who expect to pick up a phone, because OnlyKey lists email, help centre and community as its support routes.
Country by country
| Country | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
How much does Google's password manager cost?+
Google's password manager has a free plan, so the core service can be used at no cost. The paid tier is bundled into the Google One plan at €2.09, and that single figure is what you weigh at entry and at renewal, with no introductory headline to lean on. Storage on the free account is 15, and heavier use is priced at $50 per year.
What do you get without paying?+
A free plan is included, so the password manager is not a locked preview but a working version for stored logins and passkeys. Readers who want to look at the paid bundle first can take a free trial of 7 days, which is a short look rather than a long commitment. Staying on the free plan keeps the cost at nothing for anyone who treats a password manager as a utility.
OnlyKey
What does an OnlyKey cost, and what do rivals charge?+
The Duo is priced at €49.95, and entry prices start at €49.95. The figure buys the hardware, so the outlay at entry is the outlay later on, and the device price is the only price on offer here. Cheaper rivals exist: Token2 runs €7 to €37 and the Google Titan Security Key runs $30 to $35.
Which protocols and passkey methods does it support?+
The protocol list is fido2, u2f and otp, and passkeys are supported as well. That lets the same device act as a passkey authenticator, a security key for a login prompt and an OTP token for codes. Password storage sits on the key too, so a login, a code and a saved credential are handled by the same purchase rather than by separate tools.