Proton Authenticator — The Complete Guide: Free Two-Factor Codes on Phone and Desktop, with No Ads
Proton Authenticator is Proton’s two-factor authentication app. The code is open source under GPL-3.0, the app is free on every platform and it has no ads. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
Proton Authenticator
Proton AG
Free, ad-free two-factor authenticator from Proton, with desktop apps and use without an account.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- TOTP codes — two-step sign-in to email, cloud and software accounts.
- Use without an account — codes are stored locally on a single device.
- Encrypted sync — with a Proton account, between computer and phone.
- Easy import — from Google Authenticator, Aegis, 2FAS, Ente Auth and more.
- Export at any time — no lock-in to a single app.
What is missing
There is no web version and no autofill of codes on websites — for that you need Proton Pass on a paid plan. A Proton account is only needed for sync and backup. Security tip: if you work without an account, export an encrypted backup of your codes before changing phones, and check that it opens on the new device before wiping the old one.
Related tools
For a 2FA app with a web version — Ente Auth. For a password manager from the same company — Proton Pass. For an open-source password manager with self-hosting — Bitwarden.
Ente Auth
Ente Technologies
Open-source two-factor (2FA) code generator with encrypted backup and sync, and apps for desktop and browser as well.
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Proton Pass
Proton AG
End-to-end encrypted password manager from Switzerland’s Proton, with email aliases that hide your real address.
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Bitwarden
Bitwarden Inc.
Open-source password manager with end-to-end encrypted sync; the free plan has unlimited passwords and devices.
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KeePassXC
KeePassXC team
Local encrypted password manager — passwords for portals, software licences and equipment in one file you control.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
A clean, simple authenticator that also works on the desktop. Anyone who needs browser access should prefer Ente Auth.