Authy vs Microsoft Authenticator Comparison

With backups off, Twilio says the codes you add stay only on the phone. With backups on, Twilio says the app encrypts each secret on the phone with a key made from your backup password, which never reaches its servers. That is Twilio's statement about closed-source software, with no published audit. It covers codes you add by QR code or key; codes that a website creates in the app through Twilio's own service sync to Twilio's servers even on a device where backups are off.

On Android, until you turn on Cloud Backup, the secrets stay on the phone. Microsoft's 2019 description of the backup says the app encrypts it with a key it requests from Microsoft's own key service and fetches that key again to restore, so with backup on Microsoft holds the key to the copy. On iPhone the current help pages do not say whether the app's iCloud switch starts on, or whose key protects the copy. There is no option to protect the backup with a password or key of your own.

Backups are off until you turn them on and set a backup password. The copy lives on Twilio's servers, tied to your phone number. Twilio cannot reset the backup password: if you forget it and lose your phones, the copy cannot be opened. With backups on, Twilio can see which accounts you added, as far as the setup QR code names them, usually the site and your username or email.

Android: the backup is stored with a Microsoft personal account you choose; Microsoft says that from January 2027 the Android backup will move to Google One backup instead. iPhone and iPad: the backup goes to your iCloud account once several iCloud settings and the app's own iCloud switch are on, and Microsoft's current help pages do not say whose key protects it. A backup made on one platform cannot be restored on the other, and work or school accounts are not backed up at all.

An Authy account needs a phone number, verified by a code, and Twilio also collects an email address for identity checks and account recovery. Twilio says whoever holds the phone number is treated as the account's owner.

Codes for other services are added by scanning a QR code, without signing in to Microsoft. A Microsoft personal account is needed for push sign-in to that account and, on Android, to store the backup; on iPhone the backup uses your Apple account's iCloud.

The app terms are with Twilio Inc., a company incorporated in Delaware in 2008 with its head office in San Francisco, California. The App Store lists the seller as Authy Inc., and Google Play lists the developer as Twilio Inc.

The app is published by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington. Microsoft's privacy statement names Microsoft Corporation as the controller of personal data, and Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited for people in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Microsoft says it discloses personal data when required by law or to respond to valid legal process.

Twilio bought Authy in 2015. Twilio's shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under TWLO.

Microsoft Corporation is a publicly traded company (ticker MSFT). The app is part of Microsoft's sign-in products for personal Microsoft accounts and for work or school accounts in Microsoft Entra ID.

The app has no paid tier and no ads. Twilio pays for it as part of its business; websites can also build Authy codes and push approvals into their own sign-in through Twilio's Authy service.

The app has no revenue of its own; Microsoft pays for it as part of its sign-in products for personal and work accounts.