Securing My Codes #Authentication #2FA
Every day, usually at the start of my day, I authenticate myself on the numerous online services I rely on. While I have dozens of usernames and password organized into personal and work categories in Bitwarden, I also have to authenticate using two-factor authentication (a.k.a. multi-factor authentication). For a long time, I have relied on Authy, but after reading a Reddit thread, I realized that I had no viable way to easily back up my credentials.
A Review of Available Options
After reviewing several options, it appeared that two open source options were possible. I didn’t include Bitwarden for the main reason of, I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket. So what was left? Two solutions, including one I had heard about but not tried and another I’d never heard of or read about.
The two solutions appear reviewed below via Gen AI, and I’m going to go with the recommended solution:
Ente Auth vs Proton Authenticator
Feature Comparison
Category
Ente Auth
Proton Authenticator
Security & Privacy
Open Source
✅ Client & server fully open-source
✅ Fully open-source
End-to-End Encryption
✅ Via Ente infrastructure
✅ Via Proton account
Security Audits
✅ Independent audits documented
⚠️ Less transparency on audits
Platform Support
Mobile Apps
✅ iOS, Android, F-Droid
✅ iOS, Android
Desktop Apps
✅ Linux, Windows, macOS
✅ Windows, macOS, Linux
Web Access
✅ Browser extension & web app
❌ No web interface
Features
Account Required
❌ Optional (local use available)
❌ Optional (local use available)
Cross-Device Sync
✅ Unlimited encrypted sync
✅ Encrypted sync via Proton
Backup Options
✅ Encrypted manual exports
⚠️ Unencrypted Android backups
Import/Export
✅ Full migration support
⚠️ Limited export options
Cost
Free (donations accepted)
Free
Scoring (Out of 10)
Criteria
Weight
Ente Auth
Proton Authenticator
Security & Encryption
30%
9
8
Platform Availability
25%
10
7
Backup & Recovery
20%
9
5
User Experience
15%
8
7
Ecosystem Integration
10%
7
9
Total Score
100%
8.8
7.2
Recommendation
Winner: Ente Auth 🏆
Choose Ente Auth if you:
- Need maximum platform flexibility (web, desktop, mobile)
- Want encrypted manual backups for peace of mind
- Prefer transparent, fully audited security
- Value comprehensive import/export capabilities
Choose Proton Authenticator if you:
- Already use Proton services (Mail, VPN, Drive)
- Prefer simpler, streamlined functionality
- Don’t need web browser access
- Want tight integration with the Proton ecosystem
Bottom Line: Ente Auth offers superior flexibility and security features, making it the better choice for most users. Proton Authenticator works best for those already invested in the Proton ecosystem who value simplicity over advanced features.