Best Authenticator Apps in 2026: 8 Apps Compared

Google Authenticator is the app most people have heard of, and it is simple. Google's help page says it can generate codes without an internet connection or mobile service, and that you can sync your codes across devices by signing in to your Google Account (version 6.0 or above on Android, 4.0 or above on iOS).

Google says it encrypts Authenticator codes in transit and at rest. If you would rather not use a Google Account, you can choose Use without an account when you first open the app and then move your codes by hand to a new device. On the US App Store the iPhone app shows about 4.85 stars from more than 1.2 million ratings.

The trade-off is that sync links your second factor to your Google Account. If you lose access to that account, you could lose your codes too. It is a good default for casual users, but not for people who want end-to-end encryption or detailed organization.

Microsoft's support page describes Authenticator as a free app that helps you sign in without a password, using a fingerprint, face recognition or a PIN. It supports Microsoft personal, work and school accounts, and it can also generate one-time codes for other sites. The iPhone app shows about 4.71 stars from more than 715,000 ratings.

The thing to know is that Microsoft changed the app in 2025. Its support notice says the autofill feature was discontinued in mid-August 2025, with saved passwords moving to a Microsoft account and Edge. Authenticator still handles multi-factor codes and passkeys. Some users have reported on Microsoft's Q&A forum that passwords were missing after the change, so export or check anything you stored there.

If you sign in to Outlook, Microsoft 365 or work accounts every day, this is a natural choice. For people with no Microsoft accounts, a simpler app on this list makes more sense.

Authy, owned by Twilio, is known for cloud backup. Its homepage calls it a free app with simple setup, secure cloud backup and multi-device support, and Twilio's help center explains that you protect the backup with a password. The iPhone app shows about 4.67 stars from more than 53,000 ratings.

There are two warnings. First, Twilio confirms the Authy Desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux reached end of life on March 19, 2024, and the Chrome app and extension were retired as well, so Authy is now a phone-first tool. Second, Twilio's help page says the backup password cannot be reset or bypassed, so if you forget it and have no working device, your tokens are lost for good.

Authy is still a reasonable pick if you want multi-device sync and already use it. We would be cautious about starting fresh with it, given that Twilio has already retired its desktop versions.

2FAS describes itself as a local-first authenticator. Its site says no account is needed, data stays on your device unless you decide otherwise, and you control the groups, badges, icons and labels on your tokens. It offers cloud and manual backup, a browser extension and Apple Watch support, and the code is public.

The site cites an average rating of 4.7 and 6+ million downloads, which are the company's own figures. On the US App Store, the iPhone app shows about 4.72 stars from more than 35,000 ratings.

It is a good fit for people who want something private and polished without paying or signing up. Because it is built around local storage, you should check that your backups are working before you move all your accounts over.

Aegis is an app for Android only, and its homepage says it is free, secure and open source. Tokens sit in an encrypted vault with optional fingerprint or face login, and you can export or import tokens from a wide range of other 2FA apps, with support for automatic backups. It is available from Google Play and F-Droid, and the site cites 675K+ installs.

Customization is a strength. There are themes, a true dark mode, a tiles view and icon packs, which help when you have dozens of accounts. Aegis presents itself as an alternative to Google Authenticator and Authy.

The catch is simple. There is no iPhone version, and there is no company-run cloud sync, so you decide where backups go. That suits people who like control, and it is a poor match for anyone who wants it all handled automatically.

Ente Auth is an open source authenticator with end-to-end encrypted backups. Its site says there is an app for every platform (mobile, desktop and web) and that your codes sync across devices with end-to-end encryption. Ente also says its cryptography has been externally audited.

Features include icons, tags, pinning, search, notes and a next-code preview, plus options to import tokens in bulk from other apps, and secure code sharing for teams. The site says the project is free and open source, with no lock-in because you can export your data.

The iPhone app shows about 4.66 stars from roughly 290 ratings, which is a small sample. If you want codes on your phone and desktop with end-to-end encryption, it is one of the stronger options here. If you want a very large user base, choose a bigger name.

Proton Authenticator comes from the company behind Proton Mail. Its page describes it as an open source, free-to-use authenticator that runs on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android, Linux and Windows, and says you do not need an account, phone number or email address to start.

Signing in to a Proton Account is optional and lets you sync your codes across devices with end-to-end encrypted backups. Codes still work offline, and fingerprint or face login is supported. You can import tokens from another authenticator.

On the US App Store, the iPhone app shows about 4.49 stars from roughly 410 ratings, lower than some rivals, so it is worth reading recent reviews. It is a strong choice for people who use Windows, Linux and Mac together, and who already trust Proton.

Bitwarden Authenticator is a separate, standalone app from the Bitwarden password manager. Bitwarden's page lists it as Free 2FA, no account needed, and its pricing page says the Premium plan ($1.65 per month, billed annually at $19.80) includes an integrated authenticator inside the password manager.

If you already use Bitwarden, the Premium route keeps passwords and codes together, which is convenient. The downside is the old security concern about storing both factors in one place, so some people prefer to keep their codes in a separate app.

The standalone app is newer and has a thin record in the store. The iPhone listing shows 3.47 stars from only about 95 ratings, so we would treat it as one to watch rather than a first choice.