SoloKeys Solo 2 review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
The SoloKeys Solo is an open source hardware security key for readers who want an inspectable budget token at a single device price. You pay $35 for the key, and the open source build plus PIV support sets it apart from closed rivals such as the Google Titan Security Key.
Key facts
- Best for
- An open source security key with one device price and no free tier.
- Price
- $35 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Protocols
- Fido2, U2f, Piv (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Connectors
- USB-a, USB-c (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Biometric unlock
- No (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- SoloKeys (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Budget
- Official website
- solokeys.com
Privacy tools
- Price from
- $35 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- No (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, ChromeOS, iOS, XBSD (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Protocols
- Fido2, U2f, Piv (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Logging policy
- Credentials and passkeys are stored only on the device; no credential, FIDO2 private key, PIN or biometric data is ever collected, and no authentication data is used for analytics. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- US (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- SoloKeys (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Budget
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- github.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Open source is a yes, so the hardware design and firmware of the Solo can be reviewed by anyone.
- Protocol support covers fido2, u2f and piv, so the same token handles modern web sign-in, legacy sites and PIV workplace logins.
- Connectors are usb a and usb c, covering the port shapes found on current desktops and laptops.
- Support for Windows, macOS and Linux means the same key works across major desktop systems and both mobile platforms.
Cons
- Biometric unlock is a no, so unlocking rests on a PIN typed on the key rather than a fingerprint check.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no phone line or live chat listed for a stuck setup.
- There is no free plan, and at $35 the Solo sits in the budget class, so a light user still pays the full device price.
- Thetis keys run $24.99 to $49.99, a range that overlaps $35, so the Solo gives no clear price edge while skipping biometric unlock.
Ready to try SoloKeys Solo 2?
Scored 8.8 / 10 by ShieldCue.
Who it suits
- Readers who want open source hardware they can inspect before buying.
- People who want the same key on desktop and phone, given support for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Anyone happy to unlock with a PIN instead of a fingerprint, since biometric unlock is a no.
Who should look elsewhere
- Google Titan Security Key, if you want a fingerprint unlock, because biometric unlock is a no here.
- Thetis, if the $24.99 to $49.99 range fits your budget better for a spare key at a desk.
- Token2, if you want to weigh a lower entry point, where prices run €7 to €37.
Core features
The Solo speaks fido2, u2f and piv, so the same device handles modern web sign-in, the older security key standard that legacy sites still rely on, and PIV for workplace smart card logins. Connectors are usb a and usb c, which covers the port shapes found on current desktops and laptops. Biometric unlock is a no, so the key opens with a PIN typed on the device instead of a fingerprint. That is the trade-off to weigh: no touch unlock, and nothing on the hardware to scan.
Audits, logging and jurisdiction
The Solo is sold under terms based in the United States. On data, SoloKeys states that passkeys and credentials stay on the token itself, and that nothing taken from a sign-in is gathered or used to shape analytics. Because your secrets never leave the key, the company holds no copy on your behalf, and there is no trail of your logins sitting in an analytics system.
Where it runs
The Solo is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux, so the same key covers major desktop systems alongside Android and iOS, and the gap between your work laptop and your personal phone does not matter. Connectors are usb a and usb c, matching the port shapes you meet on newer and older hardware. A machine with only one port shape may still need an adapter, so check the port on the machine you use most.
The company behind it
The Solo comes from SoloKeys, a company based in the United States. Support runs on email, help centre and community, meaning email, the help centre and the community, with no phone line or live chat in that list. For a hardware product that shape makes sense: the key behaves the same way on every machine, and help arrives as written documentation plus people you can email.
How SoloKeys Solo 2 compares
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 8.8
8.8 vs 8.5
8.8 vs 9.5
8.8 vs 9.4
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 9.4
8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 8.8
8.8 vs 9.3
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.4
Frequently asked questions
How much does the SoloKeys Solo cost?+
The Solo is a hardware key sold at $35, and the entry price is listed as $35. That figure covers the device itself, so there is no subscription to renew and no second bill later. Budget for the key, then buy a spare if you want a token waiting at another desk.
Is there a free version or trial of the SoloKeys Solo?+
There is no free plan, so a key has to be bought to get started. The Solo is listed as budget here, which is the budget class rather than a premium tier. It is a straightforward token rather than a service, so there is nothing to remember or cancel later either.
Which sign-in standards does the Solo support?+
The Solo speaks fido2, u2f and piv, covering modern web sign-in, the older security key standard that legacy sites still rely on, and PIV for workplace smart card logins. A single device covers those flows, which saves carrying a spare token for an old portal or an office system.
Which computers and phones work with the SoloKeys Solo?+
The Solo is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux, so the same key covers major desktop systems and both mobile platforms. Connectors are usb a and usb c, matching the port shapes you meet on machines. Whatever browser or password manager you use still has to support security keys.
Does the Solo have fingerprint unlock?+
Biometric unlock is a no, so there is no fingerprint or face sensor to touch. You open the key with a PIN typed on the device instead. The usb a and usb c connectors are still fitted, but the physical protection of the token rests on that PIN rather than a biometric check.
Does SoloKeys collect my passkeys or sign-in data?+
SoloKeys states that passkeys and credentials stay on the device, and that nothing taken from a sign-in is gathered or used to shape analytics. The terms covering the sale sit in the United States, which is worth reading if your workplace has its own data rules.
Where is SoloKeys based and whose law applies?+
The Solo is sold by SoloKeys, a company headquartered in the United States. The terms of service and the privacy policy are drawn up under US, so US rules are the reference point if something goes wrong with an order. Read both pages before relying on the key for work accounts.
How do I get help from SoloKeys?+
Support runs on email, help centre and community, so you can email the team, search the help centre or ask in the community. There is no phone line and no live chat in that list, which suits readers who prefer working in writing and in their own time. Setup is simple, so most questions are about the account you protect.
Is the SoloKeys Solo open source?+
Open source is a yes, so the hardware design and firmware of the Solo can be reviewed by anyone rather than kept as a closed build. It is listed as budget here, so expect a plain token without premium extras. Buyers who care about auditability get that here, and the device stays useful without an account.
Sources
- solokeys.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Price, Price from
“Solo 2 ... Available in USB-A and USB-C $35”
- solokeys.com/pages/solo-2-guide checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Connectors, Pricing model, Open source, Platforms, Protocols, Support channels
“Solo 2 is available in both USB-A and USB-C form factors”
- solokeys.com/policies/privacy-policy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Biometric unlock, Headquarters, Logging policy
“What SoloKeys never collects: Authentication credentials, FIDO2 private keys, passkeys, WebAuthn data, PINs, or any biometric data associated with your security key”
- solokeys.com/policies/terms-of-service checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Jurisdiction, Legal entity
“Firmware updates for Solo 2 are included and free - your key will never become artificially obsolete. We don't lock features behind a subscription or charge for security patches.”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Related by the facts
SoloKeys Solo 2
An open source security key with one device price and no free tier.