Ranking
Best Authenticator Apps in 2026
Authenticator apps differ in backups, open-source code and platform reach. This ranking weighs how codes are stored and backed up first, then open-source status, platform coverage and whether an account is needed.
The ranking
- Top pick
Ente Auth91.5 - Best with a free plan
Proton Authenticator89.0 - Best open source
2FAS Auth87.5
- 1
Ente Auth
Open source under AGPL-3.0, with end-to-end encrypted backups and sync across phones, web and desktop. Backups are optional, and offline use needs no account.
Best for Open-source 2FA with encrypted cross-device backup
iOSAndroidWebmacOSLinuxWindowsFree and open sourceOpen source
- 2
Proton Authenticator
Open-source app with end-to-end encrypted sync and backup across phones, tablets and desktops, plus an Apple Watch app. No browser extension is listed, and the company is Swiss-based.
Best for Encrypted sync across phones, tablets and desktops
iOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinuxFreeOpen source
- 3
2FAS Auth
Local-first, open-source authenticator with no accounts, optional cloud or manual backup and an Apple Watch app. Its site uses both open-source and source-available wording, so check each repository's license.
Best for Local-first codes without an account
iOSAndroidBrowser extensionFree and open sourceOpen source
- 4
Aegis Authenticator
Free, open-source Android authenticator with an encrypted vault, biometric unlock and strong import and export. It is Android only, so iPhone users need another app.
Best for Android users who want full control of backups
AndroidFree and open sourceOpen source
- 5
Bitwarden Authenticator
Free, open-source two-factor app from Bitwarden that needs no account and works on iOS and Android. It is mobile only, and its page does not describe sync or backup.
Best for Free mobile 2FA for Bitwarden users
iOSAndroidFree and open sourceOpen source
- 6
Authy
Free app with cloud backup and token sync across iOS and Android, from Twilio. It lists only mobile platforms and does not describe itself as open source.
Best for Mobile 2FA with cloud backup and phone sync
iOSAndroidFree
At a glance
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Backups and sync |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ente Auth | 91.5 | Free and open source | iOSAndroidWebmacOSLinuxWindows | End-to-end encrypted cloud backup |
| Proton Authenticator | 89.0 | Free | iOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinux | End-to-end encrypted sync and backup |
| 2FAS Auth | 87.5 | Free and open source | iOSAndroidBrowser extension | Cloud or manual backup |
 Aegis Authenticator | 86.0 | Free and open source | Android | Automatic backups, plus export and import |
 Bitwarden Authenticator | 84.5 | Free and open source | iOSAndroid | Not described on its page |
 Authy | 80.0 | Free | iOSAndroid | Cloud backup and multi-device sync |
How to choose authenticator apps
- Backups and sync
- Cloud backup keeps codes after a lost phone; local-only apps avoid the cloud but need a manual backup plan.
- Open source
- Ente Auth, Aegis, 2FAS Auth, Bitwarden Authenticator and Proton Authenticator publish open-source code, so you can review it.
- Platforms
- Aegis is Android only, and Authy and Bitwarden Authenticator list only iOS and Android, so check desktop needs before choosing.
- Accounts
- 2FAS Auth and Bitwarden Authenticator need no account, while Ente Auth needs an account only for encrypted backups.
What the scores weigh
- Code storage and encryption
- Backup and sync options
- Platform coverage
- Open-source code and license
- Account requirements and price
Scores are editorial, from 0 to 100, and use these criteria. Full method · Disclosure
About authenticator apps
An authenticator app generates the one-time codes that second-factor logins ask for. The main choices are whether codes stay on the device, sync through a cloud backup, and whether the app's source can be inspected. Several apps here are open source, and they differ widely in whether they run on desktop, mobile or both.
Platform reach splits the field. Ente Auth, Proton Authenticator and 2FAS Auth cover phones, desktops or the web. Aegis is Android only, and Bitwarden Authenticator and Authy list only iOS and Android. Backups are a major difference: Ente, 2FAS, Authy and Proton describe cloud backup or sync, while Aegis offers automatic backups and export.
The scores are editorial judgments against the criteria, not measurements. Where a product's page does not say how it handles backups, the entry says so instead of guessing.
Frequently asked questions
- Which authenticator app is open source?
- Ente Auth, Aegis, 2FAS Auth, Bitwarden Authenticator and Proton Authenticator publish their source. Authy does not describe its app as open source on its site.
- Which authenticator has encrypted cloud backup?
- Ente Auth and Proton Authenticator describe end-to-end encrypted backups or sync. Authy offers cloud backup, and 2FAS Auth offers cloud or manual backup, but its page does not describe encryption of those backups.
- Can I use an authenticator app without an account?
- 2FAS Auth and Bitwarden Authenticator need no account, and Ente Auth works offline without one. Authy ties its tokens to a phone, with change-phone and reset-account pages on its site.
- Why are Microsoft Authenticator and Google Authenticator not ranked?
- Their pages checked for this list did not state a price or a platform list that could be verified, so neither is ranked here yet. They may be added once their own pages confirm those details.