Authy Alternative 2026: Migrate in 5 Minutes

What happened to Authy?

Authy discontinued its desktop app in January 2024, forcing all users to their mobile app. For users who relied on the desktop experience, especially developers managing dozens of tokens, this was a breaking change. On top of that, Authy's parent company Twilio disclosed a data breach affecting Authy user phone numbers, further eroding trust.

If you are looking for an Authy alternative, here is how FactorCat compares, and how to migrate.

FactorCat vs Authy: side-by-side

	FactorCat	Authy
Browser auto-fill	Yes - push approve + auto-fill	No
Desktop app	Browser extension (always available)	Discontinued
Push notifications	Yes - tap to approve, code fills in	No
Zero-trust mode	Locked Vault (user-held keys, free)	No
Multi-device sync	Free for all users	Free
Encrypted backups	Cloud Vault (managed) or Locked Vault (zero-trust)	Cloud backup (Twilio-managed)
Token sharing	Yes - share-to-invite + anonymous links (Supporter+)	No
Open source	Extension will be open source	No
Price	Free (50 factors) / Pro $24/yr	Free

Where Authy is still fine

Authy's mobile app works. If you have a handful of tokens, do not use a desktop, and do not mind Twilio holding your keys, Authy is functional. Not everyone needs to switch.

Where FactorCat is better

• Browser integration. Authy never had it. FactorCat's extension detects MFA fields and fills codes automatically. No app-switching needed.
• Desktop is not going away. FactorCat uses a browser extension, not a standalone desktop app. Browser extensions ship with the browser. They cannot be discontinued the way Authy's desktop app was.
• Zero-trust option. FactorCat's Locked Vault means your secrets are encrypted with a key only you hold. Authy's encryption is managed by Twilio. You are trusting them with your keys.
• Token sharing. Share a factor with a teammate or family member. Authy has no sharing mechanism.

Migrating from Authy

Authy does not offer a standard export, so migration involves re-enrolling each account: disable 2FA on the service, re-enable it with FactorCat. It takes about 30 seconds per account once you get the rhythm. See our step-by-step Authy migration guide for the full walkthrough, or read Switch from Authy in 5 Minutes for the editorial take.

Frequently asked questions

Is Authy shutting down?

The Authy desktop app was discontinued in January 2024. The mobile app is still maintained, but development has slowed and the parent company (Twilio) has refocused on enterprise authentication products. Many former Authy desktop users have moved to alternatives like FactorCat for browser-based access.

What's the best Authy alternative?

It depends what you valued about Authy. For desktop access via a browser extension, FactorCat is a direct replacement and adds push approve + auto-fill on top. For pure open source, Ente Auth is a strong choice. For the simplest possible mobile-only authenticator, Google Authenticator works.

How do I export my tokens from Authy?

Authy does not offer a standard export. Migrating means re-enrolling each account: disable 2FA on the service, then re-enable it with the new authenticator. It takes about 30 seconds per account. Our Authy migration guide walks through the rhythm and the gotchas.

Is FactorCat better than Authy?

FactorCat is built for the workflow Authy never finished: browser auto-fill, push-to-approve, and zero-trust vaults. Authy is functional but stagnant. If you only use 5 tokens on your phone and never sign in on desktop, Authy is fine. If you want desktop access or are tired of typing codes, FactorCat is the upgrade.

Was there an Authy data breach?

Yes. Twilio disclosed a breach in July 2024 affecting 33 million Authy users. The breach exposed phone numbers (not tokens), which raised concerns about SIM-swap targeting. Token secrets themselves were not compromised, but the incident accelerated migration to other authenticators.