phillip prado

Move over, Authy. There's a new kid on the block. Say hello to Ente Auth.

There is no short supply of two-factor authentication (2FA) apps out there. From Google Authenticator to Authy to andOTP, we have a plethora of options. Heck, even some password managers like Bitwarden feature 2FA functionality. But what we don't have yet is a standalone open-source solution that touts a modern UI, encryption, and cloud syncing all built right in. That is, until now. Say hello to your next 2FA app: Ente Auth.

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Update: The token import issue mentioned in this post has since been patched. Snag the latest update from the Google Play Store, the Apple App Store, or directly on GitHub to use the feature successfully.

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Ente Auth popped on my radar a few days ago via an official blog post, and I've been giving it a go since then. My initial thoughts can be summed up in just four words: this app fricken rocks. Now, I haven't been using it for very long, so I can't speak to the longevity of it, and I still have the Aegis authenticator app on my device in case of an emergency. But my initial impressions of the app are shining.

Imagine Authy's ease of use and end-to-end encryption mixed with the freedom that comes with using open-source software. Then, add a simple, elegant, and snappy UI on top of it. That's Ente Auth.

Plus, it's developed by the same team behind the BEST Google Photos alternative—Ente Photos—so this isn't their first rodeo. Auth uses the same encryption securing Photos, so Ente have had quite a bit of time to develop the infrastructure surrounding Auth.

I've been a full-time Ente Photos user for many months now, and I am MORE than happy with the service. I suspect once Ente Auth gets a few months under its belt and a few of the kinks worked out, it will be a similar story there too.

Speaking of kinks (no, not those types of kinks), Ente Auth has a pretty glaring bug at the time of publication: the inability to mass import security keys. Thankfully, Ente are aware of this, and I expect it won't be long before a fix rolls out.

Until then, I will continue using Ente Auth more and more frequently, and I think you should too. Especially since it's totally free to use, and Ente have promised that if Auth ever turns into a paid service, current users will be grandfathered in.

Currently, you can download Ente Auth from Github, the Google Play Store, and the Apple App Store. Ente are also currently developing desktop versions of the app, and I expect to see and F-Droid release sooner than later. Just don't forget to submit bugs if you find them, and I recommend having a backup option for now, just in case.

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