Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft's free authenticator for Android and iOS, built around push and passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts.

Visit Microsoft Authenticator See 6 alternatives

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft Authenticator is the default second-factor app for Microsoft personal accounts and for organisations using Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), which is why many employers ask staff to install it. For Microsoft accounts it supports push notifications with number matching, passwordless sign-in using a fingerprint, face or PIN, and passkeys, while for other services such as Google or Facebook it works as an ordinary TOTP code generator. Accounts can be backed up to iCloud on iPhone or to a personal Microsoft account on Android, though restoring work accounts usually means re-registering them. It is free and runs on Android and iOS; there is no desktop app, and Microsoft says smartwatches are not supported for its security features. In 2025 Microsoft removed the app's password autofill and moved saved passwords to Edge, so it is now purely an authenticator. It makes most sense if you live in the Microsoft ecosystem; for third-party accounts alone, simpler or open-source apps offer more control.

Best for: People and employees who sign in to Microsoft personal, work or school accounts.

What works

Push and passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts
Required or recommended by many workplaces
Free with cloud backup

Why people leave

Push approvals only work for Microsoft accounts
Backups are tied to the phone's platform
No desktop app or smartwatch support

Top Microsoft Authenticator alternatives

See all 6

1
Google Authenticator
Equally simple for third-party accounts, with Google Account sync.
66.5
2
Ente Auth
Open source, end-to-end encrypted sync and desktop apps for non-Microsoft accounts.
62.6
3
2FAS Auth
Account-free and open source, with a browser extension.
59.6
4
Duo Mobile
Comparable push approvals if your employer uses Cisco Duo instead of Entra ID.
57.2
5
Okta Verify
The equivalent push app for organisations on Okta.
55.3

Why people left Microsoft Authenticator

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Microsoft Authenticator: common questions

Is Microsoft Authenticator free?

Yes, Microsoft Authenticator is free to use.

Is Microsoft Authenticator open source?

No, Microsoft Authenticator is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Ente Auth, 2FAS Auth and Proton Authenticator.

What platforms does Microsoft Authenticator run on?

Microsoft Authenticator is available for Android and iOS.

What are the best alternatives to Microsoft Authenticator?

The highest-ranked Microsoft Authenticator alternatives right now are Google Authenticator, Ente Auth and 2FAS Auth. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Microsoft Authenticator alternatives

Microsoft Authenticator facts

4 of 4 verified

Price: Free; Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab); “Microsoft Authenticator is a free app”
Passwordless sign-in: Fingerprint, face or PIN; Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab); “without using a password - just use a fingerprint, face recognition, or a PIN.”
Third-party push: Not supported; Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab); “Note Notifications won't work for third-party accounts, like Google or Facebook.”
Smartwatch support: No; Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab); “No, Apple Watch and Android wearable devices (such as Samsung Galaxy Watch) are currently incompatible”