FactorCat vs Ente Auth

Ente Auth: the open-source contender

Ente Auth emerged as a popular alternative when Authy discontinued its desktop app. It's fully open-source, supports end-to-end encrypted cloud backups, and has a clean interface. If you want a traditional authenticator app with strong privacy credentials, Ente Auth is a legitimate choice.

Side-by-side comparison

	FactorCat	Ente Auth
Browser auto-fill	Yes — push approve + auto-fill	No
Push notifications	Yes — tap to approve	No
Browser extension	Yes (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)	No (desktop app available)
Desktop access	Browser extension + web dashboard	Desktop app (Electron)
E2E encrypted backup	Locked Vault (zero-trust, free)	Yes (all tokens, free)
Cloud-managed option	Cloud Vault (convenience, free)	No — E2E only
Open source	Extension (planned)	Fully open source (client + server)
Token sharing	Yes — share-to-invite + anonymous links	No
Self-hosting	No	Yes
Price	Free (50 factors) / Pro $24/yr	Free

Where Ente Auth is better

• Fully open source. Client and server. FactorCat plans to open-source the extension, but Ente Auth is fully auditable today.
• Self-hosting. You can run your own Ente server. FactorCat is a managed service.
• E2E encryption by default. Ente Auth encrypts all tokens end-to-end with no cloud-managed option. If you want maximum security with no choices to make, that's simpler.
• No token limit. Ente Auth doesn't cap the number of tokens on the free tier.

Where FactorCat is better

• Browser auto-fill. This is the fundamental difference. Ente Auth is a code-viewing app — you still switch to it, find the code, and type it in. FactorCat fills the code into your browser automatically.
• Push-to-approve. Instead of opening an app and reading a 6-digit code, your phone buzzes and you tap approve. The code fills in. No app-switching, no typing.
• Vault choice. FactorCat lets you choose per-token: Cloud Vault for convenience (streaming accounts, social media) or Locked Vault for zero-trust (crypto, cloud infrastructure). Ente Auth is E2E-only, which means if you lose your master password, everything is gone — even your Chipotle account.
• Token sharing. Share a factor with a teammate or family member directly. Ente Auth doesn't have sharing.

The honest take

Ente Auth is a great authenticator, especially for the privacy-conscious community that values full open-source and self-hosting. If browser auto-fill and push-to-approve aren't important to you, Ente Auth is a solid choice.

FactorCat is for people who want MFA to be invisible — where the browser and phone work together so you never have to manually copy a code again. Different priorities, both valid.