Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
SoloKeys Solo 2 vs Thetis
Where SoloKeys Solo 2 and Thetis differ
| Compare | SoloKeys Solo 2 ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Thetis |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35 | $24.99 to $49.99Lower |
| Protocols | Fido2, U2f, Piv | Fido2, U2f, Otp, PivCovers more |
| Connectors | USB a, USB c | USB a, USB c, NFCCovers more |
| Biometric unlock | No | YesHas it |
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Key differences
- Thetis scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- Price is lower at Thetis: $24.99 to $49.99 vs $35.
- Protocols: only Thetis offers Otp.
- Connectors: only Thetis offers NFC.
- Biometric unlock: only Thetis.
- Support channels: only SoloKeys Solo 2 offers Community.
Our verdict on each
SoloKeys Solo 2
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.
Thetis
Thetis suits anyone who wants a hardware key with the full protocol set and a broad connector choice at a budget price, plus the option of keeping a spare. Budget keys run $24.99 to $49.99, which starts at the cheaper end and leaves room for a backup.
Score breakdown
| Area | SoloKeys Solo 2 | Thetis |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry price $35 sits above the €30.69 site median, and there is no free plan to try first. | 9.7Higher |
| Offer | 8.6 | 9.2Higher |
| Privacy | Not confirmed | 8.8 |
What it costs in practice
A main key and a backup
SoloKeys Solo 2
$70
2 × $35
Thetis
$49.98 to $99.98
2 × $24.99 to $49.99
Thetis costs $20.02 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where these facts come from
SoloKeys Solo 2
- solokeys.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Thetis
- thetis.io: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | SoloKeys Solo 2 | Thetis |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware security keys | 6 of 18 | 2 of 18 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | SoloKeys Solo 2 | Thetis |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Budget | Budget |
| Legal entity | SoloKeys | Razzo Tech Corporation DBA Thetis.io |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | SoloKeys Solo 2 | Thetis |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $35 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, ChromeOS, iOS, XBSD | Not confirmed |
| 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. | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | US | Not confirmed |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | SoloKeys Solo 2 | Thetis | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $35highest quarter | $24.99 to $49.99lowest quarter | $30 |
Median across 6 listed providers.
Pros and cons
SoloKeys Solo 2
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.
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
Pros
- The protocol list is fido2, u2f and otp, covering FIDO2 alongside the older U2F, OTP and PIV standards on the same device.
- Biometric unlock is standard, so a fingerprint replaces a typed password on the services that offer it.
- Connectors come in usb a, usb c and nfc, so the same key suits a desktop, a laptop and a phone.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so a buyer whose key fails on a work laptop reaches a mailbox rather than a voice.
- The top of $24.99 to $49.99 runs above Google Titan Security Key at $30 to $35 and above the SoloKeys Solo 2 at $35, so the range is not the cheapest choice for every reader.
- Token2 lists €7 to €37, which starts under the Thetis range, though that quote sits in a different currency to $24.99 to $49.99.
Who each suits
SoloKeys Solo 2
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.
Thetis
Who it suits
- First-time hardware key buyers who want biometric unlock without paying the top of the range.
- People running mixed accounts, since fido2, u2f and otp covers current sign-in and the protocols older services still ask for.
- Households and small teams that need a device to cover a desktop, a laptop and a phone, given usb a, usb c and nfc.
Who should look elsewhere
- SoloKeys Solo 2, if a fixed $35 suits the budget better than the $24.99 to $49.99 range.
- Token2, if a lower starting price matters more than biometric unlock, since €7 to €37 opens below the budget range.
- Google Titan Security Key, if a tighter price band works better, at $30 to $35.
Questions about each
SoloKeys Solo 2
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.
Thetis
How much does a Thetis security key cost?+
Thetis budget keys sit at $24.99 to $49.99, against a group median of €30.69 for the security keys compared here. The range starts at the cheaper end of the field and climbs past the €46.24 that covers most of the group, so the model suits a first key or a pair rather than a top-end purchase.
Do Thetis keys come with a subscription or a renewal price?+
Thetis keys are hardware, so $24.99 to $49.99 is the purchase figure for the budget model rather than a rate with a term attached. Readers who dislike a recurring charge have nothing to cancel and nothing to reprice at renewal, which is the clearest difference between a device like this and a service. The only repeat cost is buying a spare.