Okta Adaptive MFA vs MFA
Apr 8, 2026
Okta Classic Engine
Multi-Factor Authentication
Okta Identity Engine
Overview
This article compares the features provided by Adaptive Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) with those provided by MFA alone.
Applies To
- Adaptive MFA
- Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
Solution
| Multi-factor authentication | MFA | Adaptive MFA |
| Knowledge factors | ||
| Security question | X | X |
|
Possession factors
| ||
| Okta Verify OTP | X | X |
| Okta Verify Push | X | X |
| Okta Verify Push with Number Challenge | - | X |
| Okta FastPass | X | X |
| Email as a factor | X | X |
| SMS | X | X |
| Voice | X | X |
| U2F | X | X |
| Third-party factors | X | X |
| Biometric factors | ||
| Windows Hello | X | X |
| Apple TouchID | X | X |
| Risk-based Authentication | ||
| Location context | ||
| New city, state, or country | - | X |
| New geo-location | - | X |
| Impossible travel patterns | - | X |
| Device context | ||
| New device | - | X |
| Managed device | - | X |
| Device security attributes | - | X |
| Network context | ||
| New IP | - | X |
| Specified IP zones | X | X |
| Network anonymizers | - | X |
| Okta ThreatInsight | X | X |
In addition to the items outlined above, the Adaptive MFA feature set enables the creation of Authenticator Enrollment Policies. More details on these policies can be found in the Authenticator enrollment policies documentation.
