Ente Auth

Ente Auth is an end-to-end encrypted authenticator for TOTP and HOTP codes, with clients spanning phones, computers and the web. It suits people moving between devices or migrating from another authenticator, while its account-free mode serves users who want local storage only. The trade-off is that its app lock controls access to the interface but does not re-encrypt the stored data.

Overview

Ente Auth focuses on keeping two-factor codes usable across a wide range of devices while protecting cloud backups with end-to-end encryption. Ente says the application is fully open source and that its cryptography has undergone an external audit. It was founded by Vishnu Mohandas in 2020 and lists locations in Dover, Delaware; Bengaluru, India; and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

An account enables encrypted backup and synchronization. You can also run Auth without an account, but those codes remain local to that device and receive neither synchronization nor backup. That makes the offline option privacy-conscious, though it leaves recovery dependent on your own exports.

Key features

Encrypted backup and synchronization

With an account, codes synchronize among mobile, desktop and web devices, with Ente describing both sync and cloud backup as end-to-end encrypted. Backups associate an email address, encrypted two-factor secrets and a server-generated user ID with the account. Users who avoid accounts retain local control but give up seamless multi-device access and cloud recovery.

Code management and sharing

Search, tags, pinning, notes, multi-select and custom sorting make a large code collection easier to maintain than a simple unstructured list. Temporary sharing links expire after two, five or ten minutes, which is useful for a short hand-off but still requires care over who receives the link.

Migration and export

Native imports cover 2FAS Authenticator, Aegis, andOTP, Bitwarden, Google Authenticator, LastPass, Proton and Raivo OTP. Exports can be plain text, encrypted files or HTML QR codes compatible with Google Authenticator. Those formats make switching in or out practical, although plain-text export should be treated as sensitive because it is not protected by encryption.

App lock and privacy

The lock supports the device lock, a four-digit PIN or a password. It protects the app interface rather than re-encrypting Auth data, so it should not be mistaken for an additional storage-encryption layer. Ente says it collects no data by default; account backups involve the email address, encrypted secrets and server-generated user ID. Support is available at [email protected], with a Discord community for additional help.

Pricing

Auth has one plan: Free forever at free, billed free forever. It includes no ads, no spying and cross-platform use. There are no paid tiers or stated quotas, seats or trial period, so an individual can use the full offering without a subscription decision. The free plan's meaningful choice is operational: an account gives encrypted backup and sync, while the account-free setup gives local-only storage and no cloud recovery.

Platforms

Ente Auth supports iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, Windows and the web. That breadth is a strong fit for households or teams using mixed operating systems, and for anyone who wants codes available in a browser as well as on a phone. Users who require a platform outside this list will need another authenticator.

Who it's for

Choose Ente Auth if encrypted cross-device synchronization, open-source code and broad import/export support are priorities. It is particularly well suited to people changing authenticator apps or maintaining codes across mobile and desktop systems. The local-only mode fits users unwilling to create an account, provided they accept the responsibility of making and protecting their own exports.

Look elsewhere if you need a lock that encrypts the data itself, hardware-backed credential storage, or a service designed around organizational administration; those requirements are not addressed by Auth's stated feature set.

Pros and cons

Pros

End-to-end encrypted sync and backups: keeps codes available across supported devices without presenting them as ordinary cloud data.

Extensive platform coverage: iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, Windows and web clients accommodate mixed-device use.

Strong migration options: imports from seven named authenticators and exports in three useful formats.

Open source with audited cryptography: gives technically minded users code visibility and an external security assessment.

Free forever: the full stated plan costs nothing and carries no ads or spying.

Cons

App lock is interface-only: a PIN or password does not re-encrypt the stored Auth data.

Offline mode has no recovery: account-free codes are neither synced nor backed up to Ente.

Sharing links expose codes temporarily: even short two-, five- or ten-minute windows require careful handling.

Alternatives

Bitwarden is the better fit when you also want password management, unlimited devices and passwords on its free plan, and browser-extension support.

SAASPASS Authenticator suits personal users seeking a free mobile authenticator with extension and desktop platform coverage.

LastPass is worth considering if you want an established freemium service whose free tier is limited to one device type and whose Premium plan adds 1 GB of storage.

Duo Mobile is the alternative for small deployments needing a free tier for up to 10 users or paid phishing-resistant MFA and passwordless authentication.

Proton Authenticator is a free, open-source option for users who need Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows clients but do not require web support.

Yubico Authenticator is appropriate when you specifically want credentials stored on a YubiKey; the hardware is required.

HYPR Authenticate targets organizations seeking paid identity assurance and phishing-resistant onboarding rather than a general-purpose code vault.

LoginTC is aimed at access control for networks and VPNs, with a free cloud tier for up to three users.

For a broader shortlist, see Authenticator apps.

Verdict

Ente Auth is a strong choice for individuals who want a free, open-source authenticator with encrypted multi-device sync and flexible migration tools. Its main reason to choose it is the combination of platform breadth and end-to-end encrypted backup. Look elsewhere if your priority is storage protection beyond the app lock, hardware-bound secrets or administrative MFA controls.