Authenticator apps are growing in adoption as they add one other layer of safety to person identification verification. A research discovered 90% of organizations reported identity-related breaches final yr, and authenticator apps are designed to assist scale back this quantity.
Authenticator apps assist people and organizations double-check person identification by utilizing two-factor or multi-factor authentication to confirm and authenticate person identities earlier than granting entry to them.
On this article, we’ll evaluation the most effective authenticator apps in 2024 and discover their options, pricing and professionals and cons that can assist you resolve the precise authenticator app for what you are promoting.
Greatest authentication apps comparability
The desk beneath exhibits the important thing options of those apps, their pricing and the way they examine to one another.
| Software program | Biometric authentication | Backup and restoration | Authentication kind | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Authenticator | Sure | Sure | Time-based and counter-based codes. | Free |
| Microsoft Authenticator | Sure | Sure | Time-based codes, push notifications, biometrics. | Free |
| Twilio Authy | Sure | Sure | 2FA/MFA, OTP, tender tokens, push notification. | Begins at $0.05/ profitable verification |
| Cisco Duo | Sure | Sure | 2FA/MFA, FIDO2 for anti-phishing. | Begins at $3/person/month |
| Yubico Safety Key | Sure | Sure | 2FA/MFA, FIDO2 UF, contact/tap-and-go authentication utilizing NFC or USB. | Contact vendor for quote. |
| FreeOTP | Sure | No (however obtainable on FreeOTP+). | 2FA/MFA, push notification, {hardware} tokens, token-less authentication. | Free |
Google Authenticator: Greatest for safe offline authentication
Google Authenticator is a multi-factor authentication app that generates distinctive, time-sensitive codes to boost account safety. The app works by producing time-based one-time passcodes that customers enter along with their passwords when logging into their accounts. These passcodes are safe as they’re generated regionally (on the system) and never transmitted over the web.
In 2023, Google Authenticator was up to date to incorporate backup capabilities by means of cloud syncing. Nevertheless, customers have reported points with this characteristic.
Why we selected Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator made it to our checklist resulting from its offline authentication help by means of regionally generated time-based passcodes.
Pricing
Utility is free.
Options
- 2FA.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
- Time-based one-time password.
- Offline performance.
- A number of account administration.
Professionals
- The appliance is free.
- Has an easy-to-use interface.
- Gives regionally generated passcodes for extra safety.
- It’s dependable because it doesn’t require an web connection to perform.
- Out there for a variety of customers throughout numerous web sites/platforms.
Cons
- Customers have reported points with cloud syncing characteristic.
Microsoft Authenticator: Greatest for biometric authentication
Microsoft Authenticator is one other standard title within the authentication area. It’s obtainable to Microsoft, iOS and Android customers and gives MFA by means of time-based codes, push notifications and biometrics. For enhanced safety, you might have the choice to arrange a PIN or use biometric verification to entry the codes generated in your cellphone. The app additionally helps a password administration characteristic that permits customers to do issues like settle for verified IDs from organizations and save fee card particulars and addresses.
With Microsoft Authenticator, you may again up account credentials to the cloud, making it simpler to revive them whenever you change to a brand new system.
Why we selected Microsoft Authenticator
This authenticator was chosen for its flexibility displayed by means of its a number of authentication options equivalent to PIN code, push notifications and biometric authentication for a seamless log-in expertise.
Pricing
The appliance is free.
Options
- Push notifications.
- Password autofill.
- Biometric authentication.
- Cloud backup.
- A number of account administration.
Professionals
- Helps a variety of internet sites and companies.
- The appliance is free.
- Gives MFA for simple entry.
- Gives cloud backup and information restoration for misplaced units or emergencies.
- Gives cross-device and cross-platform compatibility.
Cons
- Doesn’t work offline.
- Push notifications can expertise delays.
Twilio Authy: Greatest for cross-platform compatibility
Twilio Authy not solely generates TOTP but additionally presents three different forms of authentication: OTP, tender tokens and push authentication. It gives biometric authentication and multi-device performance, enabling customers to sync their 2FA tokens throughout new units. This ensures easy accessibility to accounts, no matter which system is getting used. Moreover, it permits customers to deauthorize unhealthy, stolen or retired units for added safety. Different notable options embody an encrypted cloud backup and restoration, enhanced token safety with backup passwords, grasp passwords and PIN safety.
The app is offered in each cellular and desktop variations.
Why we selected Twilio Authy
This device was chosen for its versatility throughout units and platforms for authentication and safety, simplifying entry to on-line accounts whatever the system or platform used.
Pricing
Authy presents versatile, pay‑as‑you‑go pricing for multi‑channel person verification. Each profitable verification is charged at $0.05. For a high-volume plan, contact the seller for a quote.
Options
- Multi-device help.
- Encrypted cloud backup and restoration.
- Enhanced token safety with grasp passwords and PIN safety.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
- Push authentication.
Professionals
- Gives offline accessibility.
- Gives three forms of authentication.
- Gives multi-device synchronization.
- Has a cellular and desktop model.
- Gives encrypted cloud backup and restoration.
- Gives enhanced token safety.
Cons
- Having tokens on a number of units and storing them within the cloud will be dangerous.
- Web dependability could also be limiting in emergency setups/sync.
Cisco Duo: Greatest for strong safety features
Duo by Cisco is an easy-to-use cloud-based authenticator with a helpful onboarding characteristic that permits new customers to arrange their accounts primarily based on their safety wants or priorities. It presents 2FA and MFA authentication and FIDO2 choices for phishing-resistant authentication.
The desktop model (Duo Desktop) checks the well being and safety of endpoint units with every authentication earlier than offering entry to protected functions and sources. Utilizing the ideas of zero belief, it gives IT groups with distant entry to functions in addition to adaptive entry. The cellular model (Duo Cell app) incorporates a mixture of location-based identification verification with push verification. This permits customers to get a studying of their location earlier than a log-in affirmation.
Why we selected Duo
Duo made it to our checklist due to its strong safety features obtainable in each the cellular and desktop variations.
Pricing
Along with its free plan for as much as 10 customers (finest for people or a small crew), Duo presents a 30-day free trial and three paid subscriptions for medium to massive enterprises:
- Duo Necessities: $3 per person monthly.
- Duo Benefit: $6 per person monthly.
- Duo Premier: $9 per person monthly.
Options
- Duo Restore.
- Versatile multi-factor authentication.
- Distant and adaptive entry.
- Single sign-on performance.
- Duo Push.
Professionals
- Gives location-based identification verification.
- Gives FIDO2 choices for phishing assaults.
- Gives system well being standing monitoring.
- Gives safe distant entry for groups.
- Gives cloud backup and information restoration.
Cons
Yubico Authenticator: Greatest for hardware-based authentication
Yubico Authenticator allows customers to generate 2FA codes on each cellular and desktop units. One in all its standout options is its hardware-backed authentication, which units it aside from different authenticators. In contrast to different authentication apps that retailer secrets and techniques in your cellphone or pc, Yubico Authenticator shops credentials within the YubiKey {hardware} safety key. Which means that even should you lose your cellphone or entry to the Yubico Authenticator app, your credentials stay safe and can’t be extracted, making certain that you simply gained’t be locked out of your accounts. It additionally presents a seamless contact or tap-and-go authentication utilizing Close to Area Communication (NFC) and helps FIDO2/WebAuthn and FIDO U2F for person entry safety.
The app is appropriate with all main platforms, together with Home windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, making it a flexible resolution for customers throughout completely different units and working techniques. Worthy of point out is that the Yubico authenticator app can also be appropriate with different authentication apps utilizing the smartcard certificates saved on the YubiKey.
Why we selected Yubico
We selected Yubico for its wealthy {hardware} authentication options equivalent to Yubico Safety Key and contact authenticator utilizing NFC or USB.
Pricing
Yubico presents YubiEnterprise Subscription, a month-to-month subscription-based tier for companies with 500 customers or extra. People and small to medium-sized companies should buy particular person merchandise primarily based on their wants. For a quote, contact the seller.
Options
- FIDO2/WebAuthn and FIDO U2F help.
- Bodily safety key.
- Contact or tap-and-go authentication with NFC or USB.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
- 2FA and MFA.
Professionals
- Gives cross-platform protection.
- Gives moveable credentials throughout units.
- Gives hardware-backed safety.
- Helps FIDO2/WebAuthn and FIDO U2F for enhanced safety.
- Gives one-touch authentication with USB/NFC help.
Cons
- The enterprise-ready safety keys are completely obtainable to YubiEnterprise Subscribers.
FreeOTP: Greatest for open-source authentication
FreeOTP is an open-source, enterprise-grade authentication resolution whose repositories are always up to date to boost safety. It gives numerous strategies of authentication, together with SMS, electronic mail, {hardware} tokens, cellular push notifications and tokenless authentication like QR code scanning. This authenticator integrates with a number of apps, companies and protocols, making it appropriate for various environments. As well as, it presents adaptive authentication that enables organizations to customise authentication insurance policies tailor-made to satisfy their safety wants primarily based on person habits and threat elements.
Why we selected FreeOTP
FreeOTP was chosen for its open-source nature that enables organizations to fine-tune it for particular use instances.
Pricing
It is a free-for-all device.
Options
- Open-source software program.
- TOTP.
- Tokenless authentication.
- Adaptive authentication.
- HMAC-based OTP.
- MFA.
Professionals
- Gives integration with present functions.
- Gives easy accessibility in that it’s open-source.
- Utility is free.
- Gives offline availability.
- Helps 2FA with TOTP and HOTP authentication.
Cons
- Its in depth options and customization choices setup is likely to be complicated for brand new customers.
How to decide on the most effective authentication apps
In selecting an authentication app, organizations should think about their measurement, present construction, finances and particular safety wants. For instance, a company with fewer than 500 workers would underutilize the YubiEnterprise Subscription due to its bodily keys. Should you want an authenticator app that provides various kinds of authentication and works on a number of units concurrently, you may go for Authy. In case your precedence is an open-source authentication app for simple customization, it’s best to think about FreeOTP. If you wish to tilt towards a {hardware} authenticator or bodily keys, then the Yubico Safety Secret is your finest guess. Remember that every of the reviewed authenticators delivers high quality companies, however every device’s utility will rely in your authentication wants.
Methodology
For this evaluation, I thought-about some key options of those options, specializing in their safety particulars, accessibility and efficiency. Having obtained ample info from the distributors’ web sites, I additionally checked for person suggestions for the paid options. For firsthand expertise, I reinstalled Google Authenticator and used it to energy 2FA for my Twitter and Fb accounts and in addition Microsoft Authenticator for my Outlook account. Whereas it was fairly simple to navigate the Google Authenticator with its easy interface and TOTP, safety was tighter with Microsoft Authenticator as I wanted to make use of biometrics to see the codes generated for every account log-in try and I additionally needed to enter the code on the account looking for entry.
