The best authenticator app for most people is one that is free, backs up your codes safely and works on every device you own. For iPhone and Android users who want simple cloud backup, Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator is enough. If you prefer open source with encrypted sync, Ente Auth and 2FAS are excellent, and Aegis is the top pick for Android users who want full control. This guide compares seven options and shows how to switch without getting locked out.
Key takeaways
- Any authenticator app is far safer than SMS codes, which can be stolen through SIM swapping.
- Backup matters more than features: losing your phone without a backup can lock you out of every account.
- Ente Auth and 2FAS are free, open source and support encrypted backup.
- Microsoft Authenticator is the natural choice if your work uses Microsoft 365.
- Where a site offers passkeys, use them: they resist phishing better than six-digit codes.
Which is the best authenticator app? Quick picks
Here is the short version. Every app below generates the standard six-digit time-based codes (TOTP) used by almost every website, so the real differences are backup, platforms and ease of use.
| Tool | Best for | Platforms / type | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ente Auth | Encrypted sync across phone and desktop | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, web | Yes, free |
| 2FAS | Simple, free app with a browser extension | iOS, Android, browser extension | Yes, free |
| Google Authenticator | Most people who want something familiar | iOS, Android | Yes, free |
| Microsoft Authenticator | Microsoft 365 and work accounts | iOS, Android | Yes, free |
| Aegis Authenticator | Android users who want full control | Android | Yes, free |
| Bitwarden Authenticator | People who already use Bitwarden | iOS, Android | Yes, free |
| Duo Mobile | Businesses that use Cisco Duo | iOS, Android | Yes, free app |
How we chose: We compared each app on backup and recovery, platform support, open-source code, export options, ease of setup and any business features. We focused on free apps because a good authenticator should not cost money. Features and plans change often, so confirm current pricing on each vendor’s site before you buy. We do not accept payment for placement in this list.
Why use an authenticator app instead of SMS codes?
An authenticator app is safer than SMS because the codes are generated on your phone and never travel over the mobile network. Text-message codes can be intercepted or redirected through a SIM swap attack, where a criminal convinces your carrier to move your number to their SIM card.
Authenticator apps are not perfect: a convincing fake login page can still trick you into typing a code. That is why the strongest option is a passkey or security key, which we compare in our guide to two-factor authentication methods. Still, moving from SMS to an app is one of the biggest security upgrades you can make in ten minutes. CISA recommends turning on multifactor authentication for every important account.
What should you look for in an authenticator app?
- Backup and recovery: can you restore codes if your phone is lost, stolen or replaced?
- Encryption: are backups encrypted with a password only you know?
- Export: can you move your codes to another app later?
- Platforms: do you need codes on a computer as well as your phone?
- App lock: can you protect the app with Face ID, fingerprint or a PIN?
The best authenticator app options reviewed
1. Ente Auth: best for encrypted sync across phone and desktop
Ente Auth is a free, open-source authenticator that syncs your codes with end-to-end encryption, so even the company cannot read them. It runs on phones, desktops and the web, which makes it useful if you sometimes need a code on your laptop. Importing from Google Authenticator and other apps is straightforward.
- Strengths: Open source, end-to-end encrypted backup, works on almost every platform, easy import and export.
- Watch out for: You need an Ente account for sync; if you forget its password, the encryption means support cannot recover your codes.
Official site: ente.com
2. 2FAS: best for simple, free app with a browser extension
2FAS is a free, open-source authenticator with a clean design and helpful features such as a browser extension that sends codes from your phone to your computer with one tap. Backups can go to iCloud or Google Drive, encrypted with a password you choose. It is one of the easiest apps for beginners.
- Strengths: Very easy to use, open source, optional encrypted cloud backup, browser extension saves typing.
- Watch out for: No standalone desktop app; backup depends on your phone’s cloud account.
Official site: 2fas.com
3. Google Authenticator: best for most people who want something familiar
Google Authenticator is the best-known authenticator app and now syncs codes to your Google account, so a new phone can restore them. It is simple and dependable, with a transfer option that moves codes between phones by QR code. It does not support desktop use.
- Strengths: Familiar, very simple, cloud sync to your Google account, easy phone-to-phone transfer.
- Watch out for: Cloud sync ties your codes to your Google account, so protect that account carefully; no desktop app.
Official site: support.google.com
4. Microsoft Authenticator: best for microsoft 365 and work accounts
Microsoft Authenticator handles standard codes for any site and adds push approvals and passwordless sign-in for Microsoft and many work accounts. If your employer uses Microsoft Entra ID, this is usually the app IT will ask you to install. Personal accounts can back up to the cloud.
- Strengths: Push approvals with number matching, passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts, cloud backup.
- Watch out for: Backup and restore are tied to the same platform, so moving between iPhone and Android takes extra steps.
Official site: microsoft.com
5. Aegis Authenticator: best for android users who want full control
Aegis is a free, open-source Android app that stores your codes in an encrypted vault on your device. It does not use the cloud by default; instead, it can create automatic encrypted backups to a folder you choose. It is the favourite of many privacy-focused Android users.
- Strengths: Open source, strong encryption, automatic local backups, detailed import and export options.
- Watch out for: Android only; you are responsible for keeping your backup file somewhere safe.
Official site: getaegis.app
6. Bitwarden Authenticator: best for people who already use Bitwarden
Bitwarden offers a free standalone authenticator app, and paid Bitwarden plans can also store codes inside the password manager. Keeping codes separate from passwords is safer, but storing them together is convenient for less critical accounts.
- Strengths: From a well-known open-source security company, works alongside Bitwarden password manager.
- Watch out for: Fewer extras than 2FAS; storing codes and passwords together removes one layer of protection.
Official site: bitwarden.com
7. Duo Mobile: best for businesses that use Cisco Duo
Duo Mobile is the companion app for Cisco Duo, a popular business MFA service. It offers push approvals for work logins and can also hold standard codes for personal accounts. Most people use it because their employer or university requires it.
- Strengths: Easy push approvals for work, widely used by companies and universities.
- Watch out for: Mainly useful if your organization uses Duo; personal backup features are limited.
Official site: duo.com
How do you switch authenticator apps without getting locked out?
Switch one account at a time, and keep the old app until every account works in the new one.
- Install the new app and turn on its backup or sync first.
- Use the import or export feature if both apps support it. Google Authenticator, for example, can export codes as a QR code.
- For accounts that will not import, sign in to the website, open its security settings and set up the authenticator again.
- Test each account by signing in with a code from the new app.
- Save each account’s recovery codes somewhere safe, such as a password manager or a printed sheet at home.
- Only then delete the old app.
Are passkeys replacing authenticator apps?
Slowly, yes. A passkey signs you in with your fingerprint or face and only works on the real website, so it cannot be phished the way a six-digit code can. Google, Apple, Microsoft and many large sites support passkeys today. Until every service does, you will still need an authenticator app for the rest. Our FIDO2 vs WebAuthn explainer covers the technology behind passkeys.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest authenticator app?
Open-source apps with encrypted backups, such as Ente Auth, 2FAS and Aegis, are among the safest because their code can be checked and their backups are protected by a password only you know.
Is Google Authenticator safe?
Yes. Google Authenticator is safe for most people. If you turn on cloud sync, your codes are protected by your Google account, so secure that account with a strong password and a passkey.
What happens if I lose my phone?
If your app has backup or sync turned on, install it on your new phone and restore. If not, you will need each account’s recovery codes or the site’s account recovery process, which is why backup matters.
Can I use an authenticator app on my computer?
Yes. Ente Auth has desktop apps, and 2FAS has a browser extension that sends codes from your phone. Password managers such as Bitwarden and 1Password can also generate codes on a computer.
Should I store 2FA codes in my password manager?
It is convenient, but keeping passwords and codes in one place means one compromised vault exposes both. For your email, bank and work accounts, a separate authenticator app is safer.
Our verdict
For most people, Ente Auth or 2FAS is the best authenticator app: free, open source and easy to back up. Choose Microsoft Authenticator if your work runs on Microsoft 365, and Aegis if you use Android and want everything stored locally. Whatever you pick, turn on backup today, then replace SMS codes on your email and bank accounts first. To see what else to fix, take our free Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment.
Sources and further reading
Official vendor websites and public guidance referenced in this guide. Plans and features change, so confirm details with each vendor. Last reviewed: November 2026.
- CISA (cisa.gov)
- ente.com (ente.com)
- 2fas.com (2fas.com)
- support.google.com (support.google.com)
- microsoft.com (microsoft.com)
- getaegis.app (getaegis.app)
- bitwarden.com (bitwarden.com)
- duo.com (duo.com)
