Best Authenticator App Of 2023
The best authenticator apps make it simple and easy to safeguard your online security on your mobile device using two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) has fast become the standard for online security protection, though it can take many forms, such as hardware tokens such as fobs, SMS, voice-based 2FA, and push notifications. Increasingly, some organizations are shifting towards biometric 2FA. Examples include fingerprints, retina patterns, voice prints, facial recognition, and more.
Authentication apps offer yet another type of 2FA — software tokens. These are auto-generated one-time passwords (OTP) that expire within 30 seconds. These usually take the form of passcodes. This short timeframe makes it nearly impossible for hackers to grab someone's second credential and use it before it becomes inactive forever.
The best authentication apps are available on various platforms, with most showing up on Android and Apple devices while still others also accessible through Windows and Mac computers. However, of the dozens of authentication apps available today, only a few are worth considering.
Below we list what we think are the best authentication apps currently available.
We've also listed the best privacy tools and anonymous browsers.
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Best authenticator app overall (Image credit: 2Stable)1. Authenticator App by 2Stable
The most impressive authenticator app
Reasons to buy +Easy to use
+Biometric authentication
+Sync and backup option
One of the most impressive authenticator apps on this list, the aptly named Authenticator App by 2Stable, offers a mix of great features. These include biometric authentication, a sync and backup option, and full encryption for whatever 2FA content you decide to store seamlessly on Apple's iCloud service. It's also one of the most straightforward authentication apps on the market.
The Authenticator App by 2Stable is free for anyone who only plans on storing one or two 2FA accounts. You can keep content across the company's iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch apps and take advantage of family sharing, widgets, end-to-end encryption, etc. The freebie option doesn't include backup and synchronization, however. For an annual subscription every feature gets unlocked, including unlimited accounts and the ability to sync content across all platforms. Other features include Face ID and auto-lock.
2Stable also offers the freemium Photo Vault app that lets you store and protect your photos and videos from outside threats. It's available in the App Store.
Best cross-platform authenticator app (Image credit: Authy)2. Authy
The best cross platform authentication app
Reasons to buy +Cross platform
+Very price competitive
+Secure cloud backup
Authy is one of the few authentication apps offered across Windows, Mac, Android, and Apple devices, including the Apple Watch. This makes it an ideal solution for anyone who uses an interesting mix of devices (Windows PC, iPhone; Mac, Android) as part of their daily lives. It's also one of the least expensive. With a free Authy account, you get 100 authentications per month and free support. You'll pay a minimal amount for additional authentications with no monthly commitment.
Perhaps strangely, Authy requires a phone number to set up a new account, which does feel a little bit invasive. Despite this, Authy provides lots of great 2FA features, including secure cloud backup.
Authy's app is easy to use, although it could use a design update. Compared to similar apps, it looks old by comparison. Nonetheless, it gets the job done. For additional security, you can protect your Authy account by using Touch ID, PIN protection, and passwords.
Best authenticator app for enterprise (Image credit: Duo)3. Duo
The best authenticator app for enterprises
Reasons to buy +Corporate-friendly
+Back up option
+Supports multiple controls
The most corporate-friendly 2FA authenticator on our list, Duo Mobile is now part of Cisco. As such, it provides developers with essential features like multi-user deployment. For end-users, Duo Mobile covers all of the bases by offering easy, one-tap authentication. It also includes Duo Restore that makes it relatively pain-free to back up Duo-protected accounts, then recover them on new machines.
Additionally, Duo Mobile supports multiple authentication controls, including push notifications, biometrics, and passcodes.
For up to 10 accounts, Duo Mobile is free. Beyond this, there's a monthly subscription. Most individuals will probably be able to stick below the free limit, and save some monthly cash. It is worth noting that paid plans do offer more than just the ability to have more accounts.
Best authenticator app for ease (Image credit: Google)4. Google Authenticator
The easiest and most basic authenticator app
Reasons to avoid -Limited features
-No online backups
Many folks have a love/hate relationship with Google and if you're in the latter category, you probably want to move on to the next option on this list. For everyone else, say hello to the easiest and most basic authenticator app on the planet.
With Google Authenticator, you can quickly add an account and use it at will. Beyond this, certain options are missing, including online backups and an Apple Watch app. For a company of Google's size, these omissions are surprising, especially since it offers users quick assess to Google Drive across many platforms.
If you're an Android user, it's probably wise to skip past Google Authenticator and use the tools available within the operating system on your mobile device. They're much better than the app. For everyone else, Google Authenticator works and it is free. It's also kinda boring, which is something else to consider!
Best authenticator app for LastPass users (Image credit: LastPass)5. LastPass Authenticator
The best for LastPass users
Reasons to buy +Popular app
+Free
+Works with Google
You might already be familiar with LastPass's password app, that's very popular across various platforms. LastPass Authenticator is a small extension of this, and it's free. Like similar options, LastPass Authenticator supports six-digit generated passcodes alongside SMS codes and automated push notifications.
To activate the app's backup feature, you'll need to set up a free LastPass account. Once you do, Lastpass Authenticator works more smoothly, regardless of the device.
If you're already a LastPass customer (with a free or paid account), it makes sense to use LastPass Authentication. It works wherever Google Authenticator is accepted.
Best authenticator app for organizations (Image credit: Microsoft)6. Microsoft Authenticator
The best authenticator for organizations and schools
Reasons to buy +Free to use
+Good for schools
Reasons to avoid -Android/iOS compatibility issues
It's probably a close draw on which authenticator app gets used in the wild the most, the one from Google or this one, Microsoft Authenticator. I'll take a guess and say it's the one from the Windows maker.
Microsoft Authenticator offers 2FA through phone sign-in or code generation. Increasingly, it's become a critical verification tool for organizations and schools alike, although it's also a popular choice with individuals not necessarily tied to a group.
The Microsoft Authenticator app is free to use across all platforms. However, I suggest not using this with iPhone and Android since the backup process is a tad wonky since the iOS version uses iCloud for backup purposes. Not surprisingly, iCloud isn't accessible to Android users. Otherwise, this is a terrific tool and one you'll see used in various places online.
Best authenticator app for Apple users (Image credit: Step Two)7. Step Two
The best authenticator app for Apple-only users
Reasons to buy +Beautiful design
+iCloud integration
Step Two is another authentication app that's only available on Apple devices. In this case, iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Like with Duo Mobile, you can add up to 10 accounts for free. With iCloud integration, your accounts are synced across all of your devices. For a one-time purchase of $10 / £9 / AU$15 , you can use Step Two without restrictions. You can also find Step Two on Setapp.
What stands out about Step Two is its beautiful design. The creator, Neil Sardesai, has taken the time to create an authentication app that stands out and is a pleasure to use, regardless of the device. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about other authentication apps like Authy, which need a makeover.
Best premium authenticator app (Image credit: TOTP)8. TOTP Authenticator
The best premium authenticator app
Reasons to buy +Chrome browser extension
+Google Drive sync
+Export content
Available on Android and Apple devices, TOTP Authenticator provides has similar features to the solutions above but with some extras. As part of a premium membership you can unlock a Chrome browser extension that makes using the automatically generated codes easier.
Also, with a premium account, you get cloud sync (through Google Drive), a feature that's free with other apps. If you use a free account, you can still export content from the app to use elsewhere.
How to choose the best authenticator appsWhen deciding which authenticator app to use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free and budget software may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require from your authenticator app.
How we test the best authenticator appsTo test for the best authenticator apps we first set up an account with the relevant platform. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each authenticator app to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.
Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
The best authenticator app FAQs How do authenticator apps work?Without fail, one of the easiest ways to begin using 2FA is by using your smartphone's camera and scanning a QR code provided by the company or website. Once you do, the authentication app gets to work by issuing an ever-changing unique code. That code is valid as the second form of identification for just a few seconds before the authentication app refreshes it.
You only have to scan the QR code once on a device. If you're using sync and backup (like many of the apps below), you probably won't have to scan a QR code during setup on another device. Otherwise, you will.
The codes are generated using a standard HMAC-Based One-Time Password (HOTP) algorithm developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). However, at no time does the IETF gain access to the codes.
Is 2FA all the protection we need?When 2FA options first arrived, many thought online vulnerability would finally end in the tech world. But, unfortunately, that isn't the case. 2FA, like every other form of online security, isn't 100% secure. Try as they might, a hacker or two will figure out a way to gain access to something they shouldn't. In January 2022, for example, Crypto.Com was attacked. Nearly 500 accounts were compromised, and the thieves made off with more than $31 million in cryptocurrencies.
Despite its imperfections, 2FA still provides better protection than passwords alone.
Face ID On Mac? Apple Is Thinking About It!
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How To Get Face ID To Work When Wearing Sunglasses
Now the sun's out you may be wearing your sunglasses and wondering why your iPhone won't unlock. If you are fed up with having to remove your sunglasses every time you need to unlock your iPhone. Here's what you can do to speed up the process.
The reason why Face ID isn't unlocking your iPhone is it can't verify that you are looking at the phone. Face ID normally only unlocks the phone when you are looking at your phone – that way it offers you greater security as someone can't just hold your phone at your face to unlock it without your authorization, it won't unlock just sat on your desk beside you, and it can't be unlocked while you are unconscious or asleep.
However, you can set your iPhone to unlock even if it can't tell you are looking at it. If you do want your phone to unlock without detecting what your eyes are doing here's what you need to do.
How to make Face ID work with sunglassesThankfully, there's a simple setting that makes it a lot easier for Face ID to recognize your mug when you're sporting your favorite shades (although it comes at the expense of sacrificing a bit of security). Here's how you do it.
That's all! Face ID should now work when you're wearing most sunglasses. The benefit is that by turning this requirement off Face ID will speed up in general.
Here's another issue you might have encountered when unlocking your iPhone: How to use Face ID to unlock iPhone while wearing a face mask. We also have a guide to how to fix problems with Face ID.
What are the risks of disabling attention?The option above comes with a warning that says, "TrueDepth camera will provide an additional level of security by verifying that you are looking at iPhone before unlocking. Some sunglasses may block attention detection."
Basically, "attention" means that you're looking directly at your iPhone with your eyes open. When attention detection is turned off, Face ID will still be "secure" in that your iPhone will only unlock if the TrueDepth sensors are sure that they're seeing you, but now it also works if your eyes are closed.
That means someone could force you to unlock your iPhone by merely lifting it up to your face, even if you shut your eyes. Someone could even unlock your iPhone if you're asleep. You'll have to decide if it's worth the risk.
Fortunately, it's easy to quickly disable Face ID for unlocking your iPhone if you know you're about to be in a situation where this could be a problem. All you need to do is hold down the side button and either of the volume buttons at the same time for a couple of seconds. Anyone trying to access the phone after that will have to enter the passcode. For more detailed information, be sure to check out our dedicated how-to that explains how to disable Face ID.
