Google Authenticator vs Microsoft Authenticator
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Google Authenticator
Google's free authenticator app for Android and iOS, with optional code sync through your Google Account.
Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft's free authenticator for Android and iOS, built around push and passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts.
The short answer
Both are free phone apps that generate standard one-time codes for any site. Pick Microsoft Authenticator if you use Microsoft personal, work or school accounts, because it adds push approvals and passwordless sign-in for them. Pick Google Authenticator if you mainly want plain codes with optional Google Account sync. The biggest difference is that Microsoft's extras only work for Microsoft accounts.
Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator: our take
For third-party sites, the two apps do the same job: scan a QR code and get a time-based code that works offline. Google Authenticator keeps that experience deliberately simple. You can use it without signing in and keep codes on the phone, move them with a transfer QR code, or turn on sync to your Google Account so a lost phone does not lock you out. Google says synced codes are encrypted in transit and at rest, but not end to end, so Google holds the keys.
Microsoft Authenticator is built around Microsoft's own sign-in. For Microsoft accounts and organisations on Microsoft Entra ID it offers push notifications with number matching, passwordless sign-in with a fingerprint, face or PIN, and passkeys. For Google, Facebook and other services it falls back to ordinary codes, and push approvals are not available for them. Backups go to iCloud on iPhone or a personal Microsoft account on Android, and work accounts usually have to be registered again on a new phone. Microsoft removed its password autofill in 2025, so it is now only an authenticator.
Both run on Android and iOS only, with no desktop app, and neither offers much in the way of organisation or export compared with open-source rivals.
If your employer or school asks you to install Microsoft Authenticator, use it; you can keep your other codes there too. If you have no Microsoft accounts to protect, Google Authenticator is the lighter option, and its account-free mode suits people who would rather not sync codes to a cloud at all. Anyone who wants end-to-end encrypted sync or easy export may prefer an open-source app instead of either.
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Authenticator if…
- People who want a simple, free authenticator and are comfortable with Google syncing their codes
- Free and very widely supported
- Optional cloud sync through your Google Account
Choose Microsoft Authenticator if…
- People and employees who sign in to Microsoft personal, work or school accounts
- Push and passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts
- Required or recommended by many workplaces
About each app
What is Google Authenticator?
Google Authenticator is the app most people meet first when a site asks them to set up two-step verification, and many sites still mention it by name. It generates standard time-based and counter-based one-time codes for any service that supports authenticator apps, not just Google, and codes work without an internet connection or mobile signal. Since 2023 it can sync your codes to your Google Account, so they survive a lost or replaced phone; Google says codes are encrypted in transit and at rest, but this is not end-to-end encryption, so Google holds the keys. You can also choose to use it without an account and keep codes on the device only, and move them to a new phone with a transfer QR code. It is free with no ads or paid tier and runs on Android and iOS. The app is deliberately basic: there is no desktop version, few organisation features and limited export options compared with open-source rivals.
What is 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.
Side by side
| Attribute | Google Authenticator | Microsoft Authenticator |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Best for | People who want a simple, free authenticator and are comfortable with Google syncing their codes | People and employees who sign in to Microsoft personal, work or school accounts |
| Status | Active | Active |
Google Authenticator vs Microsoft Authenticator pricing
Google Authenticator: free
We couldn't verify Google Authenticator's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Microsoft Authenticator: free
- Price: Free source
Platforms
| Platform | Google Authenticator | Microsoft Authenticator |
|---|---|---|
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Google Authenticator facts
5 of 5 verified- Offline codes
- Yes
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “You can still generate codes without an internet connection or mobile service.”
- Cloud sync
- Via Google Account
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “With Google Authenticator, you can synchronize your verification codes across all your devices, simply by signing in to your Google Account.”
- Account required
- No, optional
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “tap Use without an account .”
- Android requirement
- Android 6.0 or above
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “you need Android version 6.0 or above.”
- Encryption
- In transit and at rest
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Google encrypts Authenticator codes both in transit and at rest across our products.”
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”
Pros and cons of Google Authenticator
- Free and very widely supported
- Optional cloud sync through your Google Account
- Works offline
- Can be used without an account
- Cloud sync is not end-to-end encrypted
- No desktop or browser app
- Basic organisation and export options
Pros and cons of Microsoft Authenticator
- Push and passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts
- Required or recommended by many workplaces
- Free with cloud backup
- Push approvals only work for Microsoft accounts
- Backups are tied to the phone's platform
- No desktop app or smartwatch support
Other apps to consider
Ente AuthInstead of Google Authenticator
Open source with end-to-end encrypted sync and apps for desktop and web.
Aegis AuthenticatorInstead of Google Authenticator
Open-source Android app with an encrypted vault and automatic local backups.
2FAS AuthInstead of Google Authenticator
Free, open-source and account-free, with a browser extension for faster logins.
Duo MobileInstead of Microsoft Authenticator
Comparable push approvals if your employer uses Cisco Duo instead of Entra ID.
Proton AuthenticatorInstead of Microsoft Authenticator
Free, open source and private, with apps on desktop too.
Google Authenticator vs Microsoft Authenticator: common questions
Is Google Authenticator better than Microsoft Authenticator?
Both are free phone apps that generate standard one-time codes for any site. Pick Microsoft Authenticator if you use Microsoft personal, work or school accounts, because it adds push approvals and passwordless sign-in for them. Pick Google Authenticator if you mainly want plain codes with optional Google Account sync. The biggest difference is that Microsoft's extras only work for Microsoft accounts.
Is Google Authenticator free?
Yes, Google Authenticator is free.
Is Microsoft Authenticator free?
Yes, Microsoft Authenticator is free.
Is Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator support?
Google Authenticator: Android and iOS. Microsoft Authenticator: Android and iOS.