Expert Guide

Best Authy Alternatives in 2026

Seven authenticator apps that can replace Authy, compared on free plans, encrypted backup, desktop coverage and how you move your codes out.

Product links may be affiliate links. How we rate 7 tools compared
TL;DR

The best Authy alternative in 2026 is Ente Auth. The app is free and open source, its backups and sync are end-to-end encrypted, and its site says you can export and import your data.

Choose Proton Authenticator when codes must reach Windows, Mac and Linux with encrypted sync. Choose Google Authenticator when a QR code transfer to a new phone is all you need.

Bitwarden Authenticator is free and needs no account, but its first release backs up through your phone's own service. Codes inside the paid Bitwarden Premium plan are the only paid code option with a listed price among the seven.

Key facts7 tools compared: Ente Auth, Proton Authenticator, Bitwarden Authenticator, Google…
  • Updated: October 10, 2026
  • Top pick: Ente Auth (best for: Authy users who want codes on a desktop and a documented way to export them)
  • Top pick price as of October 10, 2026: Ente Auth: Free and open source, with end-to-end encrypted backups and sync across devices.
  • 7 tools compared: Ente Auth, Proton Authenticator, Bitwarden Authenticator, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Aegis Authenticator, 2FAS Auth
  • Proton Authenticator (best for: People who want free codes on every desktop and phone, and who already use Proton): Free on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android, Linux and Windows, with no ads or tracking.
  • Bitwarden Authenticator (best for: Open-source fans who want a free app that works without any account): Free on iOS and Android. Codes inside the Premium password manager cost $19.80 a year.
  • Google Authenticator (best for: People who want the simplest free move, with a QR code transfer as the fallback): Free on the App Store. Sync on Android needs Authenticator version 6.0 or later.

Authy is still a free app, and Twilio's own page describes secure cloud backup and multi-device support.

This list is for three situations: you want codes on a desktop, you want an open-source app, or you want a documented way to move codes to a new phone.

Your authenticator is the second factor that stops a stolen password from opening an account.

Lose the only phone that holds your codes without a backup, and the recovery route depends on each service.

The 2FA authenticator guide covers the wider choice between apps and SMS codes, so this page focuses on leaving Authy.

Toolradar data: Toolradar tracks 37 password managers, and 2 of the 10 tools it lists in its October 2026 ranking have a free plan, LastPass and Bitwarden.

Codes often sit beside passwords, so the password manager question belongs in this choice too.

Methodology: we read each vendor's own pages and app store listings on 10 October 2026, then ranked seven apps on four tests: free plan, encrypted backup or sync, desktop coverage, and a documented way to move codes out. Where a vendor page states no price, the table says so.

Top Picks

Based on features, real-world fit, and value for money.

#1 Top pick

Ente Auth

Free, open-source authenticator with encrypted sync, export and import, and apps for phones, web and desktop.

Pricing

Free and open source, with end-to-end encrypted backups and sync across devices.

Best for

Authy users who want codes on a desktop and a documented way to export them

#2

Proton Authenticator

Free, open-source authenticator with end-to-end encrypted sync through a Proton Account. The app works with no sign-in at all.

Pricing

Free on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android, Linux and Windows, with no ads or tracking.

Best for

People who want free codes on every desktop and phone, and who already use Proton

#3

Bitwarden Authenticator

Free open-source app that needs no Bitwarden account. In its first release, backups rely on the phone's own backup service.

Pricing

Free on iOS and Android. Codes inside the Premium password manager cost $19.80 a year.

Best for

Open-source fans who want a free app that works without any account

Best Authy Alternatives in 2026: 7 tools compared, updated Oct 2026
ToolPricingBest for
Ente AuthFree and open source, with end-to-end encrypted backups and sync across devices.Authy users who want codes on a desktop and a documented way to export them
Proton AuthenticatorFree on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android, Linux and Windows, with no ads or tracking.People who want free codes on every desktop and phone, and who already use Proton
Bitwarden AuthenticatorFree on iOS and Android. Codes inside the Premium password manager cost $19.80 a year.Open-source fans who want a free app that works without any account
Google AuthenticatorFree on the App Store. Sync on Android needs Authenticator version 6.0 or later.People who want the simplest free move, with a QR code transfer as the fallback
Microsoft AuthenticatorFree on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, with passkeys, push approvals and OATH codes.Work and Microsoft accounts that need push approvals and passkeys
Aegis AuthenticatorFree and open source on Android, from Google Play or F-Droid.Android users who want open source and automatic backups
2FAS AuthOpen source, with native iOS and Android apps. The site lists no price for cloud backup.iPhone and Android users who want open source and backups they control

Pricing read from each vendor's own pricing page, checked Oct 2026. 1 of 7 has no standalone price (bundled, usage-based or free to self-host) and is described as charged, not guessed.

1 Ente Auth logo
Top Pick

Ente Auth

Free, open-source authenticator with encrypted sync, export and import, and apps for phones, web and desktop.

Pricing
Free and open source, with end-to-end encrypted backups and sync across devices.

Best for: Authy users who want codes on a desktop and a documented way to export them

Pros

  • Backups and sync are end-to-end encrypted, so the company cannot read your codes.
  • You can export and import your data, and Ente says there are no lock-ins.
  • Apps for iPhone, Android, F-Droid, web, macOS, Linux and Windows put one account on every device you use.

Cons

  • The page does not say whether sync needs a paid Ente plan, so confirm that before you move your codes.
  • A smaller vendor than Microsoft or Google, so an admin may ask for its security documentation before a work rollout.
2 Proton Authenticator logo

Proton Authenticator

Free, open-source authenticator with end-to-end encrypted sync through a Proton Account. The app works with no sign-in at all.

Pricing
Free on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android, Linux and Windows, with no ads or tracking.

Best for: People who want free codes on every desktop and phone, and who already use Proton

Pros

  • Syncing is end-to-end encrypted, so Proton cannot read the codes it syncs.
  • Encrypted backups can go to a location you choose, so you control where the copy lives.
  • Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, so codes do not have to stay on a phone.

Cons

  • Cross-device sync needs a Proton Account, so the free app on its own does not sync.
  • The page does not describe how a restore works on a new device, so test one before you delete Authy.
3 Bitwarden Authenticator logo

Bitwarden Authenticator

Free open-source app that needs no Bitwarden account. In its first release, backups rely on the phone's own backup service.

Pricing
Free on iOS and Android. Codes inside the Premium password manager cost $19.80 a year.

Best for: Open-source fans who want a free app that works without any account

Pros

  • The source code is public on GitHub.
  • Works with no Bitwarden account, so there is no vendor login to set up first.
  • If you already pay for Premium, its integrated authenticator keeps codes beside your logins.

Cons

  • The page does not describe sync between devices, and backups go through the phone's operating system.
  • Codes in the password manager need Premium, so the free app and the paid product are two separate choices.
4 Google Authenticator logo

Google Authenticator

Free app that syncs codes through a Google Account and moves them to a new phone with a QR code.

Pricing
Free on the App Store. Sync on Android needs Authenticator version 6.0 or later.

Best for: People who want the simplest free move, with a QR code transfer as the fallback

Pros

  • Sign in to your Google Account on the new phone and your codes sync across.
  • Without an account, export codes from the old phone and scan a QR code on the new one.
  • Google's support page documents each step of the move.

Cons

  • The App Store listing needs iOS 16.0 or later and covers iPhone and iPad only.
  • The support page does not describe a desktop app, and several accounts can produce several QR codes in one move.
5 Microsoft Authenticator logo

Microsoft Authenticator

Free Microsoft app for push approvals, passkeys and OATH codes, documented on Microsoft's Learn site.

Pricing
Free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, with passkeys, push approvals and OATH codes.

Best for: Work and Microsoft accounts that need push approvals and passkeys

Pros

  • Supports push approvals, passkeys and passwordless phone sign-in, according to Microsoft's documentation.
  • Passkeys stay bound to the device that created them, which Microsoft describes as device-bound.
  • OATH codes sit in the same app as passkeys, so one install covers both, according to the Learn page.

Cons

  • Microsoft's Learn page describes sign-in approvals and codes, not a way to export codes, so a clean move-out is not documented there.
  • Microsoft's Learn page says older app versions are retired, so keep the app updated.
6 Aegis Authenticator logo

Aegis Authenticator

Free open-source Android app that keeps tokens in a secure vault and supports automatic backups.

Pricing
Free and open source on Android, from Google Play or F-Droid.

Best for: Android users who want open source and automatic backups

Pros

  • The code is open source, and the app is on both Google Play and F-Droid.
  • Automatic backups are built in, according to the app's site.
  • Tokens sit in a secure vault, according to the same site.

Cons

  • Android only, so iPhone users need a second app and a second set of codes.
  • The site names no cloud service for backups, so check where the backup file lands before you rely on it.
7 2FAS Auth logo

2FAS Auth

Open-source authenticator with native iOS and Android apps, a browser extension, and cloud or manual backup.

Pricing
Open source, with native iOS and Android apps. The site lists no price for cloud backup.

Best for: iPhone and Android users who want open source and backups they control

Pros

  • You choose where tokens are stored, with cloud or manual backup, according to the site.
  • The site says its source code is public, and it adds a browser extension and an Apple Watch feature.
  • Native iOS and Android interfaces, according to the site.

Cons

  • The site does not say whether cloud backup is encrypted or what it costs, so ask before you use it for work accounts.
  • A smaller vendor than Microsoft or Google, so an auditor may ask for documentation first.

What it is

An Authy alternative is an app that generates the same time-based codes, so you can replace Authy one account at a time. Replacing it means adding the new app to each account, or moving the existing codes, and only some apps let you do the second cleanly.

The switch is safe only when you keep a way back in.

Before you delete Authy, confirm that the new app restores on a new phone, and keep the recovery codes each service issued when you set up 2FA. Password managers that also hold codes are covered in our password manager guide.

Why it matters

An authenticator app only protects you if you can still use it after a lost, broken or replaced phone. Four tests separate the apps on this list: whether a plan is free, whether codes are encrypted in backup and sync, whether they run on the desktop you use, and whether you can export them to a new app.

Free matters less than it looks.

Most apps here cost nothing on their vendor pages or store listings, so the real comparison is recovery and portability, and that is where the apps differ.

Key features to look for

Free plans come first
Ente Auth, Proton Authenticator, Bitwarden Authenticator, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator and Aegis cost nothing to install on their vendor pages or app store listings. Bitwarden Premium is the only paid line with a listed price in this list, and it adds codes to the password manager rather than replacing the app.
Encrypted backup decides recovery
Ente encrypts its backups and sync end to end, and Proton encrypts synced codes end to end, so neither vendor can read the codes it syncs. Bitwarden Authenticator's first release relies on your phone's own backup service, and Aegis describes automatic backups without naming a cloud service.
Desktop coverage is uneven
Ente and Proton run on Windows, Mac and Linux. The Google Authenticator App Store listing covers iPhone and iPad only, and Aegis runs on Android only. If you sign in from a laptop all day, check the desktop test before anything else.
Export is the test that decides a clean exit
Ente says you can export and import your data, and Google Authenticator moves codes with a QR code. Proton lets you back up to an encrypted location of your choice. Check the export path before you rely on any app for codes you cannot regenerate.

Pricing

Each price below was verified on 10 October 2026 on the vendor's own page or its App Store listing. Authy's page calls its app free.

Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator are listed as free on the Apple App Store listing for Google Authenticator and the Apple App Store listing for Microsoft Authenticator.

The only paid code option with a listed price in this list is Bitwarden Premium at $19.80 a year, or $1.65 a month billed annually, per Bitwarden's pricing page.

The free Bitwarden Authenticator app is separate from that plan.

1Password is a paid reference, not a ranked item. Its individual plan costs $2.99 a month billed yearly in the first year and $3.99 at the regular rate, with a 14-day trial and no free plan listed on the page.

Its pricing page does not say which plans create one-time codes, so check that before you move any codes into it.

PlanPriceBest for
AuthyFreeFree mobile app with secure cloud backup and multi-device support, per Twilio
Ente AuthFreeOpen source, with encrypted backups and sync; paid tier not stated on its page
Proton AuthenticatorFreeFree on every listed platform; sync needs a Proton Account
Bitwarden AuthenticatorFreeFree on iOS and Android, with no Bitwarden account needed
Bitwarden Premium$19.80/yrAdds the integrated authenticator for codes, on top of the free password manager
Google AuthenticatorFreeSyncs codes to a Google Account, with QR code transfer to a new phone
Microsoft AuthenticatorFreePasskeys, push approvals and OATH codes in one app
Aegis AuthenticatorFreeOpen source, Android only, with automatic backups
2FAS AuthNo price listedOpen source, with cloud or manual backup; the site gives no cloud backup price
1Password Individual (reference)$2.99/mo, billed yearly in year one14-day trial and no free plan listed; regular rate $3.99/mo
Mistakes to avoid
×Deleting Authy before the new app has every account. Add each service to the new app first, confirm one login with the new code, then remove the old entry.
×Assuming free means full sync. Proton sync needs a Proton Account and Google sync needs a Google Account, so the free app alone may keep codes on one phone.
×Paying for a password manager only to get codes. The free Bitwarden Authenticator app covers codes without the Premium plan.
×Skipping recovery codes. Many services issue recovery codes at setup, and an authenticator move does not replace them. Store them outside the phone before you switch.
×Trusting a backup you have not restored. Run one restore on a second device, the same way you would test a backup of any other file.
×Choosing Aegis for a mixed team. Aegis is Android only, so a team with iPhones ends up with two apps and two sets of codes.
Expert tips
→Move the accounts that matter most first: email, banking, and admin logins for work.
→Keep the old app installed until one login per service works on the new app.
→Note each service's recovery route, such as backup codes or a second email address, before you switch.
→Add a hardware security key for email and admin accounts. The hardware keys guide on this site covers the choice.

The bottom line

Ente Auth is the Authy replacement to try first. It is free, encrypts backups and sync, and documents an export path, which matters more than any single feature when you may need to leave again.

Choose Proton Authenticator when codes must reach Windows, Mac and Linux with encrypted sync, and Bitwarden when you want codes beside your passwords on a paid Premium plan.

Read our 2FA authenticator guide for the wider comparison, and our Proton Pass review if you already keep your passwords there.

Toolradar also has tool pages for Bitwarden and Proton Pass.

Twilio's Authy pages do not state its desktop status or export options, so check those directly before you delete Authy.

Cite this: Cyberpresso, "Best Authy Alternatives in 2026", October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Authy alternative in 2026?

Ente Auth, for most people who want to leave Authy. It is free and open source, its backups and sync are end-to-end encrypted, and its site says you can export and import your data. Proton Authenticator is the better pick when codes must reach Windows, Mac and Linux with encrypted sync.

Is there a free Authy alternative?

Yes. Ente Auth, Proton Authenticator, Bitwarden Authenticator, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator and Aegis are all free on their vendor pages or App Store listings. 2FAS Auth is open source, but its site gives no price for cloud backup, so check that before you rely on it. For a free password manager that also holds codes, see our free password managers guide.

Does Authy have cloud backup?

Twilio's Authy page says the app offers secure cloud backup and multi-device support. The page does not say how the backup is encrypted or whether codes can be exported, so check those points in Authy's current documentation before you move.

How much does Bitwarden cost for authenticator codes?

The Bitwarden Authenticator app is free on iOS and Android. Codes inside the Bitwarden password manager need Premium, which bills $19.80 a year, or $1.65 a month billed annually. The free plan covers unlimited passwords and devices without codes.

Can I move Google Authenticator codes to another phone?

Yes. Sign in to a Google Account on the new phone and the codes sync, or export codes from the old phone and scan the QR code on the new one. A move of several accounts may need more than one QR code, since the old phone can create more than one.

Is Microsoft Authenticator free?

Yes. The App Store lists it as free for iPhone and iPad, and Microsoft's Learn documentation calls it a free passkey solution. It supports push approvals, passkeys and OATH codes, but its documentation does not describe a way to export codes.
Related guides

Some offers on this page may be paid placements or contain affiliate links.

Get the Cyberpresso brief

Free daily newsletter, read in 5 minutes.

Subscribe free