Authy Review 2026
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Authy
Authy remains a free, convenient authenticator on iOS and Android with encrypted backups, but Twilio ended its desktop apps on 19 March 2024 and it still cannot export codes. Existing phone users can stay; new users may prefer an app that lets them move their codes later.
Best for
Existing Authy users on iPhone or Android who value encrypted backups
Not for
Users who want a desktop authenticator or the freedom to export codes later
Prices verified April 2026. Always confirm directly with provider.
Pros
- Free consumer 2FA app, maintained by Twilio on iOS and Android
- Encrypted backups protect against a lost phone
- PIN and biometric app lock
- Works on multiple phones and tablets
Cons
- Desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux ended on 19 March 2024
- No export: leaving means re-enrolling every account
- Requires a phone number to register
- Cloud backup means secrets are not only stored locally
Authy Review 2026: Is Twilio's 2FA App Still Worth It?
Authy is still a usable free authenticator on phones, with encrypted backups that make switching handsets easier — but it is a narrower product than it was. Twilio ended the Authy desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux on 19 March 2024, and Authy has no export feature, so leaving it later means re-enrolling every account. If you already use Authy on your phone, there is no urgent reason to move. If you are choosing today, an authenticator that lets you export your codes keeps more options open.
What changed: the desktop apps are gone
Twilio's changelog says the Authy desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux "will now reach their End-of-Life (EOL) on March 19, 2024", brought forward from a planned August 2024. Twilio states it remains "committed to maintaining the Twilio Authy mobile apps" for existing Authy API customers and "as a consumer 2FA application". In practice: Authy is now a phone app.
Authy at a glance (2026)
| Authy | |
|---|---|
| Price | Free consumer app |
| Platforms | iOS and Android; desktop apps ended 19 March 2024 |
| Code type | Time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) |
| Backups | Encrypted backups tied to your Authy account |
| Export to another app | Not available — you must re-enrol each account |
| Account requirement | Phone number registration |
Strengths
Encrypted backups mean a lost phone does not have to mean lost codes, and multi-device use on phones and tablets is straightforward. The app can be locked with a PIN or biometrics. For people who struggled with Google Authenticator's old device-only model, this convenience was Authy's main draw.
Weaknesses
No export is the big one: moving away means visiting every account, turning 2FA off and on again, and scanning a new QR code. Registration needs a phone number. And with the desktop apps gone, people who used Authy on a computer had to find another tool.
Alternatives worth comparing
Google Authenticator now syncs codes to your Google Account and can export them by QR code — see our Google Authenticator review and Authy vs Google Authenticator. Microsoft Authenticator suits Microsoft-account users (review), and password managers such as Proton Pass can store codes alongside logins — the trade-offs are in 2FA codes in your password manager. For the strongest protection on key accounts, consider a hardware key (YubiKey review).
How to leave Authy safely
1. Install the new authenticator first. 2. For each account, sign in, open its 2FA settings, add the new app (scan the QR code) and confirm a code. 3. Only then remove the Authy entry for that account. 4. Save fresh recovery codes as you go. Our guide to moving 2FA to a new phone covers the same discipline.
Frequently asked questions
Is Authy still supported?
The mobile apps are: Twilio says it is committed to maintaining them as a consumer 2FA application. The desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux reached end of life on 19 March 2024.
Can I export my Authy codes?
No. Authy has no export feature, so moving to another app means re-enrolling each account's two-factor authentication.
Is Authy better than Google Authenticator?
Not clearly any more. Google Authenticator now syncs codes to a Google Account and can transfer them by QR code, which Authy cannot. Authy's PIN-protected app and backups remain convenient on phones.
Is Authy free?
Yes. Twilio describes it as a free consumer application for TOTP codes.
Checked 16 October 2026: Twilio changelog, "End of Life (EOL) of Twilio Authy Desktop Apps"; Twilio Docs, "Verify vs. Authy".
Reviewed by NorwegianSpark Editorial — written with AI assistance and reviewed by the NorwegianSpark SA editorial team · How we review
