# Update Multi-Factor Authentication Tools list. Aegis, Ente Auth, 2FAS Authenticator, Proton Authenticator **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/update-multi-factor-authentication-tools-list-aegis-ente-auth-2fas-authenticator-proton-authenticator/40680 **Category:** Site Development **Created:** 2026-09-12T23:25:22Z **Posts:** 1 ## Post 1 by @Agrematic — 2026-09-12T23:25:23Z I’ve noticed that the 2FA recommendations page hasn’t been updated in a long time, so I think it could use a refresh. Here is a comparison of the existing 2FA apps with some other suggestions, along with a more in depth breakdown. **1. Let’s start with existing recommendations:** **Aegis** - open source, free, works on Android, doesn’t work on iOS (there is fake app on iOS but developers confirmed it is not their product), no cross platform access, no built-in cloud backup/sync service, encrypted offline backups available, Android cloud backups through the system’s Android backup service. On the market for around 8 years. **Ente Auth** - open source, free, works on Android, works on iOS, cross platform access with desktop app and web app, E2EE cloud backup/sync to Ente cloud which requires the user to create an account, offline encrypted backups available. On the market for around 3 years. **2. Now let’s move on to new recommendations suggested by users:** **2FAS Authenticator** - open source, free, works on Android, works on iOS, cross platform access with browser extension, E2EE cloud backups/sync on iOS and Google Drive without requiring the user to create an account, offline encrypted backups available, Apple Watch available. On the market for around 9 years. **How does 2FAS differ from current recommendations?** -2FAS supports E2EE cloud backup/sync through iCloud on iOS and Google Drive on Android. On iOS it also supports Apple’s Advanced Data Protection. -2FAS doesn’t require additional account creation for E2EE cloud backups. -for cross platform 2FAS uses browser extension. -it has Apple Watch support. **Extra comment:** 2FAS doesn’t have its own cloud infrastructure for storing users tokens meaning it doesn’t require the same type of infrastructure audit as a cloud based service. Aegis is a similar example: it hasn’t been independently audited but is still recommended by Privacy Guides. This shows that the need for an audit can depend on how the app is designed and what infrastructure it operates. **Proton Authenticator** - open source, free, works on Android, works on iOS, cross platform access with desktop app, E2EE cloud sync through Proton Account that requires the user to create an account, encrypted iCloud backup/sync on iOS without requiring the user to create an account, offline encrypted backups available, Apple Watch available. On the market for around 1 year. **How does Proton differ from current recommendations?** -Proton supports encrypted iCloud backup/sync on iOS, although Proton does not clearly document the iCloud backup itself as E2EE. -Proton doesn’t require additional account creation for iCloud backups. -it has Apple Watch support. **Extra comment:** Proton is one year old and hasn’t been audited yet but Ente Auth has been recommended on Privacy Guides before it was audited and while it was still very fresh, less than a year old product. This shows audits and mature age of the app are not necessarily required for the app to be recommended. **3.A few general points to consider:** -Privacy Guides does not recommend using desktop 2FA apps: „We highly recommend that you use mobile TOTP apps instead of desktop alternatives as Android and iOS have better security and app isolation than most desktop operating systems." -Creating an account can mean giving another service some of your personal information and becoming dependent on that service for part of your 2FA setup. For users who care about privacy, one option is to use authenticator app completely offline (all of the above apps provide this option), or use an app that offers secure cloud backup/sync without requiring an account with the authenticator provider. --- ## Post 2 by @redoomed1 — 2026-09-16T08:57:19Z 3 posts were merged into an existing topic: [Add 2FAS (Authenticator App)](/t/add-2fas-authenticator-app/12958/79)