Alternatives to Microsoft Authenticator
Push approvals for Microsoft accounts
Microsoft Authenticator ranks #9 of 10 in Authenticator apps, with an Alt Score of 45. It is proprietary, free and available on iOS and Android. 9 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Anyone signing into Microsoft personal, work, or school accounts, plus users of other services that support TOTP-based two-factor authentication.
Push-based approve/deny prompts for Microsoft sign-ins, time-based one-time passcodes (TOTP) for other supported accounts, and passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts. It's free on iOS and Android. Note: Microsoft is retiring the app's password-manager/autofill feature in 2025, so it's returning to being a pure authenticator.
Install the app and link it to a Microsoft account or scan a QR code to add other accounts; sign-in attempts then trigger a push notification to approve/deny, or the app displays a rotating code to enter manually.
Where Microsoft Authenticator stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Microsoft Authenticator
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Microsoft Authenticator compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Authenticator apps checklist | Microsoft Authenticator | 2FAS | Stratum | Ente Auth | Aegis Authenticator | Authy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| TOTP | ||||||
| Encrypted backup | ||||||
| Multi-device sync | ||||||
| Browser extension | ||||||
| Apple Watch / Wear OS | ||||||
| Import from other apps | ||||||
| Export allowed | ||||||
| Open source | ||||||
| Push-based approvals |
Every fact and feature listed for Microsoft Authenticator is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
-
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
© 2026 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-authenticator/id983156458 -
Platforms iOS, Android verified 2026-07-11
QR code for Download in Android or iOS to get the Microsoft authenticator app
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/mobile-authenticator-app -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-11
Microsoft Authenticator is a free app that helps you sign in to all your accounts without using a password
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/authenticator/about-microsoft-authenticator -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
We're always working on new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements. Make sure you stay updated with the latest version for the best authentication experience.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-authenticator/id983156458 -
TOTP Yes verified 2026-07-11
The active verification code changes every 30 seconds so that if somebody were to learn what code you used to verify your sign in yesterday, or even a minute ago, they wouldn't be able to use that cod
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/authenticator/microsoft-authenticator-faqs -
Encrypted backup Yes verified 2026-07-11
your data is encrypted and stored with your personal Microsoft account
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/how-it-works-backup-and-restore-for-microsoft-authenticator/1006678 -
Multi-device sync Partial verified 2026-07-11
You can only backup and restore on the same device type: accounts backed up using an iOS device cannot be restored on an Android device.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/authenticator/back-up-your-accounts-in-microsoft-authenticator -
Browser extension No verified 2026-07-11
Microsoft Authenticator is not available for desktop computers
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/authenticator/microsoft-authenticator-faqs -
Apple Watch / Wear OS No verified 2026-07-11
Apple Watch and Android wearable devices (such as Samsung Galaxy Watch) are currently incompatible with Authenticator's security features
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/authenticator/microsoft-authenticator-faqs -
Import from other apps No verified 2026-07-11
To move your two-factor authentication (2FA) data from Microsoft Authenticator to Google Authenticator, you'll need to manually add each account to Google Authenticator, as there's no direct export or
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3854407/is-it-possible-to-migrate-all-my-data-from-microso -
Export allowed No verified 2026-07-11
there's no direct export or import feature between the two apps. You'll essentially be re-adding each account using a QR code or secret key
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3854407/is-it-possible-to-migrate-all-my-data-from-microso -
Open source No verified 2026-07-11
© 2026 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-authenticator/id983156458 -
Push-based approvals Yes verified 2026-07-11
As the only way to sign in - just tap an approval on your phone to sign in.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/authenticator/about-microsoft-authenticator
FAQ
Yes. 2FAS, Stratum and Ente Auth have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
2FAS, Stratum and Ente Auth — every license claim links its source.