Ranking updated
Best authenticator apps in 2026
An authenticator app generates a one-time code you enter after your password, even without a network. Google Authenticator syncs codes to your Google Account so you keep them if you lose the phone, and Microsoft Authenticator adds passwordless sign-in to Microsoft accounts. For free open-source options, 2FAS on iPhone and Android or Aegis on Android; Ente Auth keeps end-to-end encrypted backups across devices.
How we picked: every authenticator makes the same codes, so the difference is what happens when you change or lose the phone. We checked each app’s own store description for backup, sync, offline use and whether it is open source.
How an authenticator app works
When you turn on two-step verification in a service, it shows a QR code; you scan it in the app, and from then on the app shows a new short code every few seconds that you enter after your password. Google Authenticator and 2FAS both generate codes without a network connection.
Keeping your codes when you change phones
Google Authenticator syncs codes to your Google Account. 2FAS restores keys from a backup, syncs between your phone and tablet and needs no registration. Ente Auth keeps end-to-end encrypted backups and syncs across mobile, desktop and the web. Aegis keeps tokens in an encrypted vault with optional biometric unlock and can export and import them.
| App | Best for | Platforms | Backup | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google AuthenticatorApp StoreGoogle Play | simple codes with Google sync | iOS, Android | sync to Google Account | no |
| Microsoft AuthenticatorApp StoreGoogle Play | Microsoft, work and school accounts | iOS, Android | in the app | no |
| 2FASApp StoreGoogle Play | free and private, with a browser extension | iOS, Android | backup, no sign-up needed | yes |
| AegisGoogle Play | an encrypted vault on Android | Android | export and import | yes |
| Ente AuthApp StoreGoogle Play | encrypted sync across devices and web | iOS, Android | end-to-end encrypted cloud backup | yes |
Frequently asked questions
Which authenticator app is best?
Google Authenticator is the simplest, with sync to your Google Account; 2FAS is free and open source on iPhone and Android; Microsoft Authenticator suits Microsoft accounts.
What happens to my codes if I lose my phone?
If the app backs them up, you restore them on the new phone: Google Authenticator syncs to your Google Account, 2FAS and Ente Auth keep backups, and Aegis exports them.