Pros & Cons
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- Supports both USB-C and NFC
- Rugged build
- Supports many authentication protocols
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- Expensive
Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC Specs
| Authentication Specifications | FIDO U2F |
| Authentication Specifications | FIDO2 |
| Authentication Specifications | HOTP/TOTP |
| Authentication Specifications | Open PGP |
| Authentication Specifications | Smart Card |
| Authentication Specifications | Static Password |
| Authentication Specifications | WebAuthn/CTAP |
| Authentication Specifications | Yubico OTP |
| Connector | USB-C |
| Wireless Specification | NFC |
You probably know that enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the best ways to protect your online accounts. A hardware security key, such as the $58 Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC, can serve as a second authentication method without relying on moving parts, batteries, or an internet connection. The 5C NFC is on the pricey side, but its wide range of supported protocols makes it ideal for business users or people who use many secure services. That said, for the average user, we recommend Yubico's highly affordable, easy-to-use Security Key C NFC ($29), our Editors' Choice winner.
Pricing and Perks: More Expensive Yet More Versatile Than Competitors
The YubiKey 5C NFC is $58. Pricing for the rest of the YubiKey 5 series varies.
The YubiKey 5C NFC is one of several devices in the YubiKey 5 series. The keys in this series all communicate differently with your devices. The 5Ci, for instance, has Apple Lightning and USB-C connectors. The 5C NFC, reviewed here, features a USB-C connector and NFC capabilities, enabling it to communicate with nearly any device, regardless of brand, making it quite versatile.
(Credit: Kim Key)The 5C is not the most budget-friendly option from Yubico. The Security Key line consists of affordable, consumer-level options, including the Security Key, a $29 device that supports FIDO2/WebAuthn and FIDO U2F. The 5 Series keys support a more diverse set of protocols, which we'll address next.
Features: Diverse Authentication Standards Plus Sleek Design Choices
For most people, the primary use for a hardware security key is for authentication. Here's how it works: After you've entered your username and password to log in, a website will prompt you to plug your hardware security key into the device. The device then uses a protocol to authenticate your identity.
The YubiKey 5C NFC supports WebAuthn, FIDO2 CTAP1, FIDO2 CTAP2, Universal 2nd Factor (U2F), Smart card (PIV-compatible), Yubico OTP, OATH – HOTP (Event), OATH – TOTP (Time), OpenPGP, and Secure Static Passwords as authentication protocols. As mentioned above, the less-expensive Yubico Security Key NFC—and some competitors—only support tap-to-authenticate MFA.
The YubiKey 5C NFC's support for a wide range of protocols makes it ideal for business users. The key works with many enterprise-level services, including AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Duo Security, ForgeRock, Idaptive, Microsoft Azure AD, Okta, OneLogin, and Ping Identity.
You can also use a hardware security key to log in to your social media accounts and email accounts. Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft all support account sign-in with a hardware security key.
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The YubiKey 5C NFC is made of sturdy black plastic with a textured finish. It's pretty small—just a little shorter than a house key and about the same thickness. The metal-reinforced top opening should help it last a long time on a keyring.
(Credit: Kim Key)With no batteries and no moving parts, the YubiKey 5C NFC is durable and water-resistant. Its single interface is a gold disk emblazoned with a Y. The disk responds to your tap, but it is not a fingerprint reader. The 5C NFC doesn't do biometric reading.
As a security precaution, YubiKey firmware is not upgradable by users. This protects against attack, but it also means that anyone interested in hacking a YubiKey to add custom capabilities will likely be stymied. If you're an existing YubiKey user, you must buy a new key to get new features. It's inconvenient and expensive, but such is the nature of many security tools.
In 2024, the company upgraded the firmware to enhance PIN policy enforcement, preventing guessable PINs, and increased storage capacity to accommodate 100 passkeys (up from 25), 64 OATH seeds (previously 32), 24 PIV certificates, and 2 OTP seeds. This is a reasonable amount of storage for the average enterprise user. If you need more storage, Google's Titan Key can hold up to 250 passkeys.
Hands-On Testing: Quick and Easy Authentication Across Platforms
(Credit: Proton/PCMag)I tested the 5C NFC using Proton Mail, which supports logins using hardware security keys. To get started, I logged into a test account and visited All Settings > Account and Password > Two-Factor Authentication. Following the prompts, I successfully attached the security key to the account without any issues.
YubiKeys can also completely replace password logins in certain instances, such as logging into a social media profile. To test this, I added the YubiKey 5C NFC to my Facebook account and told the platform that it's a trusted device. After that, I was able to login only using the hardware security key, no username or password needed.
I also successfully enabled MFA on a Google account using a Samsung Galaxy A71 5G. You can also use the YubiKey 5C NFC to generate time-based one-time password codes (TOTP). Currently, you can store TOTP data for up to 64 websites. You can also configure a YubiKey 5 key to work as a PIV-compatible smart card.
Final Thoughts
(Credit: Kim Key)
Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC
The YubiKey 5C NFC is a durable, highly versatile hardware security key that supports a wide range of authentication standards and enterprise services, making it a strong choice for power users and businesses.