Multifactor authentication (MFA) is without doubt one of the most efficient techniques to strengthen safety, and with the upward push of apps equivalent to Google Authenticator, the authentication manner has transform more uncomplicated to deploy.
However, whether or not because of privateness considerations, a loss of updates (particularly with regards to open-source choices), or desire, many make a choice to steer clear of Google Authenticator.
Fortunately, there’s no scarcity of competition in the marketplace, each and every with distinct benefits. Here are one of the most most sensible Google Authenticator choices.
Top Google Authenticator choices: Comparison desk
| Product identify | Pricing | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Authenticator: Best for a “big-name” choice | Free |
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| Twilio Authy: Best for backups and more than one units | 5 cents in step with a hit verification plus same old charges in step with channel |
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| Cisco Duo: Best for enterprises | Free as much as 10 customers Essentials: $3 in step with consumer, per thirty days Advantage: $6 in step with consumer, per thirty days Premium: $9 in step with consumer, per thirty days |
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| Yubico Security Key: Best for a bodily safety key | Yubico safety keys are to be had in numerous fashions and configurations, each and every with various costs. The pricing is determined by elements just like the style, connectivity―equivalent to USB-A, USB-C, and near-field conversation (NFC)―and lines of the protection key |
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| FreeOTP: Best for an open-source choice | Free |
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Microsoft Authenticator: Best for a ‘big-name’ choice
For the ones searching for a known and well known supplier, I like to recommend Microsoft Authenticator. Available for each Android and iOS, Microsoft Authenticator provides a identical revel in to Google’s, operating with each Microsoft and non-Microsoft accounts.
No passwords are required. Accounts are available the usage of a PIN code, fingerprint, or face popularity. I for my part like how there’s an method to again up credentials to the cloud, however this calls for a private Microsoft account, with iOS customers additionally desiring to hyperlink to an iCloud account.
Recent notable enhancements Microsoft has made come with the facility to now show the identify of the provider, web page, or software being accessed. This serves as an extra layer of safety you’ll use to verify the authenticity of an MFA request.
Why I selected Microsoft Authenticator
As a big, established corporate, I believe Microsoft and the Microsoft Authenticator crew can give a powerful point of beef up for customers who’ve questions or problems with the product. It additionally can give a constant point of updates to supply new options and patch insects with the instrument.
Pricing
- Free and to be had for obtain from Apple Store or Google Play Store.
Features
- Provides 2FA.
- Provides passwordless sign-in.
- Supports push notifications.
- Supports MFA.
Microsoft Authenticator professionals and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 2FA and MFA supply an additional layer of safety. | Not all services and products beef up Microsoft Authentication for 2FA or MFA, which limits its utilization. |
| Easy to make use of with Microsoft accounts and different supported services and products. | Users should have the app put in on their cellular tool to make use of 2FA or MFA, which creates headaches if the tool is misplaced or unavailable. |
| User-friendly interface with push notification popularity of MFA. | |
| Supports quite a lot of authentication strategies, together with biometrics and call sign-in. |
Twilio Authy: Best for backups and more than one units
If you need beef up for more than one units, I counsel Twilio Authy. Although it isn’t as large or extensively referred to as Google or Microsoft, Twilio’s Authy app is without doubt one of the maximum spectacular and feature-rich Google Authenticator choices. Twilio takes delight in the truth that its app can be utilized anyplace Google Authenticator can be utilized, that means that the ones making the transfer received’t hit any surprising compatibility problems.
SEE: Authy vs Google Authenticator (roosho)
It provides its personal distinct benefits with some main quality-of-life options that aid you securely get right of entry to your information. The app is to be had on more than one platforms, together with iOS, Android, and Chrome, having the ability to synchronize your 2FA tokens throughout them in order that they’re at all times there when you wish to have them. I respect the way it permits customers to view and edit their units at any time and create securely encrypted backups in case any of them are ever misplaced or stolen.
Twilio supplies common updates for its Authy app, with the newest development involving the supply manner of one-time passwords (OTPs). Beginning in February 2024, the corporate mentioned that OTPs can be despatched by way of wealthy conversation services and products (RCS), a extra protected manner than the default brief messaging (SMS) channel, because it’s ready to make use of Wi-Fi and cell.
Why I selected Twilio Authy
Depending at the MFA resolution, customers might be locked out in their accounts in the event that they lose their telephone or different tool. This is the place I in finding Twilio in reality succeeds. It lets in customers to again up all 2FA tokens and repair them within the match that they lose their number one units. Twilio additionally supplies options to control more than one units, together with the facility to sync and disable long term installations for additonal safety.
Pricing
- Twilio fees 5 cents in step with a hit verification plus same old charges in step with channel for its elementary model that comes with 2FA, however customized pricing is obtainable for extra complex options.
Features
- 2FA.
- Multidevice sync.
- Soft token and backup.
- MFA.
- TOTP.
Twilio Authy professionals and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 2FA and MFA beef up for quite a lot of authentication strategies. | Advanced options and customization require the paid plan. |
| Soft token function removes the desire for a bodily {hardware} token. | |
| Easy setup procedure and user-friendly interface. | |
| Multidevice sync method customers can get right of entry to 2FA codes on other units. |
Cisco Duo: Best for enterprises
For enterprises, my most sensible advice is Cisco Duo. Some might in finding Cisco’s identify a reasonably unexpected inclusion in this listing, as many affiliate them extra with routers, web telephone programs, and different {hardware}. It isn’t any slouch at the instrument aspect even though, with Duo providing an excessively sturdy enterprise-level Google Authenticator choice.
SEE: Best Authenticator Apps for 2024 (roosho)
As a part of its latest batch of updates, notable additions come with a public preview for Verified Duo Push. This is a function that gives a better point of safety by means of asking customers for an extra verification code for push requests. Codes despatched by way of SMS textual content message have additionally been streamlined, as codes are actually machine-readable to permit cellular browsers to finish authentication with out further consumer intervention.
For me, one in every of Cisco’s largest strengths as an MFA resolution is that it’s a part of a set of instrument, which may also be used to arrange and organize different helpful data era (IT) capability, equivalent to faraway get right of entry to and get right of entry to keep watch over. This function is focused at industrial consumers, on the other hand, and the pricing displays that.
Although maximum choices to Google Authenticator are utterly loose however doubtlessly slightly restricted when it comes to choices, Duo can be offering you numerous in case you’re keen to pay for it. The loose choice, which Cisco advises is geared toward folks and really small groups, is maximum related to what Google provides and shall be sufficient for lots of, even supposing it faces pageant from the likes of Authy. If you need desktop get right of entry to or lots of the extra specialised options Duo provides, or you will have greater than 10 customers, you’ll want to pay in step with consumer. Prices get started at $3 in step with consumer, per thirty days. That rises to $9 or doubtlessly even upper relying on precisely which options you wish to have.
Since Microsoft Authenticator may be an alternate we recognized, you’ll be informed extra in our article evaluating Cisco Duo vs Microsoft Authenticator.
Why I selected Cisco Duo
Implementing MFA for enterprises and big companies can also be advanced. However, I’m assured in pronouncing that Cisco is a superb method to imagine on account of its Duo Policy Engine. This instrument lets in organizations to control get right of entry to throughout other customers and ranges of the corporate. Permissions and insurance policies may also be custom designed in accordance with consumer places, remembered units, tool well being, and extra.
Pricing
- Free as much as 10 customers, Essentials is $3 in step with consumer, per thirty days, Advantage is $6 in step with consumer, per thirty days, and Premium is $9 in step with consumer, per thirty days.
Features
- Risk-based authentication.
- SSO.
- Passwordless authentication.
- Complete tool visibility.
Cisco Duo professionals and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive package deal for entire zero-trust get right of entry to. | Expensive for organizations with numerous customers in the hunt for to make use of complex options. |
| VPN-less faraway get right of entry to to personal sources. | May require further setup and configuration, which might be difficult for non-technical customers. |
| User-friendly and easy-to-use interface for each finish customers and directors. | |
| Complete tool believe with an endpoint coverage take a look at. |
Yubico Security Key: Best for a bodily safety key
For companies that require having a bodily safety key, I counsel going for Yubico Security Key. This Google Authenticator choice provides one thing other. Rather than depending on an app put in on a telephone or desktop, Yubico supplies a bodily key that serves as an authenticator. This key, which is available in USB-A and USB-C variations, will determine of the field with all the main internet sites you’d be expecting it to, in addition to not unusual password managers and different instrument.
Usage is simple, the documentation is in depth and clean to know, and the important thing itself feels very forged and sturdy. As smartly as the usual USB plug connectivity, tap-and-go authentication for cellular apps is integrated. I really like how Yubico provides keys with much more options, such because the YubiKey Bio sequence, which integrates biometric safety in the course of the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor. This makes their product adaptable to other function necessities, industry wishes, or use circumstances.
The YubiKey 5 sequence is the most recent model of the product, which delivers further choices together with the facility to go for passwordless authentication, 2FA the usage of a password with an authenticator, in addition to MFA by way of passwordless verification and a PIN. It additionally provides a variety of phishing-resistant authentication protocols, equivalent to FIDO2/WebAuthn and Personal Identity Verification Smart Card.
Pricing varies relying at the dimension of your company and whether or not you’re having a look to shop for the keys with an in advance fee or if you select to subscribe. Subscribing can be offering some financial savings to bigger organizations, however folks and smaller companies who’re assured they aren’t going to lose their keys might wish to pay as soon as and be executed with it.
SEE: Multi-factor Authentication Deployment Guide (roosho Premium)
Why I selected Yubico Security Key
I’ve Yubico in this listing because of its handy bodily safety keys that experience authentication protocols, which might be phishing-resistant. It additionally has a vulnerability provide with SMS and a few different strategies of cellular MFA. Keys are clean to make use of and are supported by means of a variety of on-line services and products and apps. Security keys may also be used to protected computer systems or even bodily areas.
Pricing
- Yubico safety keys are to be had in numerous fashions and configurations, each and every with various costs. The pricing is determined by elements, together with the style, connectivity ― USB-A, USB-C, NFC, and others ― and lines of the protection key.
Features
- 2FA.
- FIDO2 and U2F beef up.
- Multiprotocol beef up.
- Physical safety.
Yubico Security Key professionals and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong authentication with FIDO2 and U2F beef up. | Hardware safety keys might be pricey for some. |
| Compatible with quite a lot of platforms and services and products, bettering versatility and usefulness. | The want to have the bodily safety key for authentication might lead them to much less handy in comparison to mobile-based authentication strategies. |
| Provides a better point of coverage towards account compromise. | |
| Passwordless login, making improvements to consumer revel in and safety. |
FreeOTP: Best for an open-source choice
For transparency and privateness fanatics, I urge you to try FreeOTP. One criticism about Google Authenticator is that it’s not open supply, with the related repositories now not up to date for a number of years. This isn’t a topic with FreeOTP, on the other hand, because it’s utterly open supply.
Version 2 is the most recent main unlock of FreeOTP. It offered a brand new subject matter design consumer interface, default branding for main services and products, and the facility to backup and repair tokens. Three minor updates have since been supplied, getting rid of quite a lot of insects and offering slight improvements.
Available on each Android and iOS, this authentication app is slightly light-weight and minimalist, each when it comes to consumer revel in and lines.
Why I selected FreeOTP
As open-source instrument, FreeOTP can give customers with quicker updates and resolutions to such things as insects and vulnerabilities. It additionally marked itself on my listing for its prime point of customization that isn’t conceivable with different personal or proprietary instrument.
Pricing
Features
- 2FA.
- Open-source instrument
- TOTP.
- HOTP.
SEE: How to Create an Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Program (roosho Premium)
FreeOTP professionals and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Accessible and clear open-source instrument. | Users should have their cellular tool with them throughout login, which might be much less handy than hardware-based 2FA answers. |
| Strong 2FA beef up with TOTP and HOTP authentication strategies. | The reliance on a cellular tool generally is a fear if the tool is misplaced, broken, or unavailable. |
| Cross-platform availability for Android and iOS units. | |
| Works offline without having for an web connection throughout authentication, which reinforces reliability. |
How do I make a choice amongst Google Authenticator choices?
You might need to imagine choices to Google Authenticator in case you want the facility to customise your manner of MFA, want to organize more than one units or customers, desire the usage of a bodily safety key, or need to paintings with an organization that has other beef up choices. Although corporations that supply an MFA resolution can accomplish the similar objective of offering larger coverage towards unauthorized get right of entry to to accounts, variations exist for the extent of safety supplied and capability that may have an effect on ease of implementation, use, and upkeep.
In deciding on a product this is suited on your wishes, imagine what you’ll find the money for in addition to the options and traits maximum essential to you. Think about variations in what’s presented for layers of authentication, backup and repair choices, encryption protocols, customization, and beef up choices, and gear to control permissions for consumer teams.
For instance, folks or companies specifically liable to phishing assaults might need the assurance that incorporates a Yubico phishing-resistant safety key. Similarly, corporations with workers that want various ranges of permissions might need to glance into Cisco’s Duo Policy Engine.
Regardless of the choice you select, including MFA supplies a layer of coverage that may offer protection to you from having to care for the ramifications of permitting unauthorized get right of entry to on your accounts.
For the ones concerned about finding out extra, additionally take a look at our video function at the Top Google Authenticator Alternatives under.
Methodology
When making this listing, we thought to be a spread of things to make sure that we might be bringing you the easiest Google Authenticator choices. Some of the important thing spaces the place those apps and services and products needed to stack up are:
- Reputation: The instrument should come from a faithful, respected corporate.
- Reliability: It’s additionally essential that there’s minimum downtime, to make sure that you’re at all times ready to safely get right of entry to your accounts and information when wanted.
- Features: The apps in our variety be offering a spread of options, and each and every was once decided on, partly, for its skill to fulfill the wishes of particular customers in ways in which Google Authenticator and different choices can’t.
- User revel in: While providing a prime point of safety and distinctive options is essential, so is the consumer revel in, so we gave priority to choices which can be clean for customers to make use of.
- Value: Although a few of our most sensible alternatives are loose, others aren’t. However, the paid choices be offering remarkable price supplied you wish to have and can make the most of their further options.
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