Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Open Authenticator VS Microsoft Authenticator

Compare Open Authenticator VS Microsoft Authenticator and see what are their differences

Open Authenticator logo Open Authenticator

A trusted open-source Authenticator. Formerly known as SmartWatch2 Authenticator free.

Microsoft Authenticator logo Microsoft Authenticator

One app to quickly and securely verify your identity online, for all of your accounts.
  • Open Authenticator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-12-20
  • Microsoft Authenticator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

Open Authenticator features and specs

  • Security Enhancement
    Open Authenticator provides an additional layer of security for applications by requiring a separate authentication process beyond simple username and password login systems.
  • Open-Source
    As an open-source project, Open Authenticator allows developers to review, modify, and improve the code, fostering transparency and community-driven development.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    It supports various platforms and devices, making it versatile and adaptable to diverse technological ecosystems and user environments.

Possible disadvantages of Open Authenticator

  • Limited Support
    Since it is an archived project on Google Code, it may not receive official support or updates, leaving potential security vulnerabilities unpatched.
  • Complex Setup
    Implementing Open Authenticator can be complex, requiring technical expertise and understanding of authentication protocols, which might be a barrier for some developers.
  • Deprecation Risk
    With the project archived, there is a risk it may become obsolete or incompatible with newer technologies and standards over time.

Microsoft Authenticator features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    Microsoft Authenticator provides additional layers of security through multi-factor authentication (MFA) which significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access.
  • Ease of Use
    The app is user-friendly with an intuitive interface, making it simple for both technically savvy and non-technical users to set up and utilize.
  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem
    It seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products and services, including Azure Active Directory, Office 365, and more, providing a unified security experience.
  • Push Notifications
    Users receive push notifications for authentication requests, allowing them to approve or deny access quickly without the need for manually entering a code.
  • Support for Multiple Accounts
    Microsoft Authenticator can handle multiple accounts, including non-Microsoft accounts, making it a versatile tool for managing various authentication needs.
  • One-time Password (OTP) Generation
    The app can generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) for services that require them, ensuring secure logins even when push notifications are unavailable.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Authenticator

  • Dependency on Mobile Device
    If the user's mobile device is lost, stolen, or damaged, accessing accounts that rely on Microsoft Authenticator can become challenging.
  • Limited Platform Support
    Microsoft Authenticator primarily supports mobile platforms (iOS and Android), which could be a drawback for users who rely on desktop or other operating systems.
  • Potential Privacy Concerns
    Some users may have concerns about privacy and data collection practices given Microsoft's extensive ecosystem and its handling of personal information.
  • Requires Initial Configuration
    Setting up Microsoft Authenticator and linking it with various services can be time-consuming, especially for users with multiple accounts.
  • Reliance on Internet Connection
    Push notifications and certain features within Microsoft Authenticator require an active internet connection, which might not always be available.
  • Lock-in to Microsoft Services
    The best features and integrations of Microsoft Authenticator are geared towards the Microsoft ecosystem, which might limit its effectiveness if users engage primarily with non-Microsoft services.

Open Authenticator videos

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Microsoft Authenticator videos

Microsoft Authenticator for Android

More videos:

  • Review - Using Microsoft Authenticator App to Protect Your Online Credential

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Open Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator)
Identity And Access Management
Password Management
43 43%
57% 57
Two Factor Authentication
Authentication
28 28%
72% 72

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Open Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator

Open Authenticator Reviews

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Microsoft Authenticator Reviews

7 Best Google Authenticator Alternatives For Android And iOS
I’m still not sure why Google is not providing any passcode or app lock for their app when everybody else is doing it. Take Microsoft Authenticator, for example, this also lets you secure your accounts with the app lock.
The Best Authenticator Apps for 2023
Along with standard TOTP multi-factor support, Microsoft Authenticator includes optional secure password generation and lets you log in to Microsoft accounts with a button press or by tapping a two-digit number in a push notification. The app also enables schools and workplaces to register users’ devices. If you use this app, you can turn on account recovery. That way, when...
Source: www.pcmag.com
Top 6 Google Authenticator Alternatives in 2023
Available for both Android and iOS, Microsoft Authenticator offers a similar experience to Google’s, working with both Microsoft and non-Microsoft accounts.
The Best 2FA Apps 2021: Locking Down Your Online Accounts
The app supports passwordless authentication for Microsoft apps, including OneDrive and Office 365. With the app, you can approve your login using your phone’s fingerprint scanner, a face scan or any other way you can prove that you are who you say you are on your device. Microsoft Authenticator supports cloud backup, too, either through Microsoft’s own servers on...
10 best two-factor authenticator apps for Android
Microsoft Authenticator is Google Authenticator’s biggest competitor. It’s popular, it works well, and it works for stuff other than Microsoft apps. Otherwise, it’s actually a fairly simple app not unlike Google Authenticator. You log into a site or an app, it asks for a code, and you open this app to get one. We usually recommend Google Authenticator to people who use...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Microsoft Authenticator seems to be a lot more popular than Open Authenticator. While we know about 124 links to Microsoft Authenticator, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Open Authenticator. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Open Authenticator mentions (2)

  • Gitlab Explores Sale
    Google had a code hosting service (free for open source projects) with repo, issue tracker, and wiki. But it was shut down in 2016. Now there is just an archive: https://code.google.com/archive/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • What Are Your Moves Tomorrow - March 16, 2023
    Except Google will abandon it just like they abandoned https://code.google.com/archive/. Source: about 2 years ago

Microsoft Authenticator mentions (124)

  • Ask HN: Is there hope for Microsoft 365 support?
    It has been a few years since I have dealt with Microsoft's postmasters team for email delivery issues but the link to to use to submit an email delivery issues is: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=614866. - Source: Hacker News / 1 day ago
  • [PostgreSQL][Entity Framework Core] Try ASP.NET Core Identity with React
    An error occurred while accessing the Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting services. Continuing without the application service provider. Error: The entry point exited without ever building an IHost. Unable to create a 'DbContext' of type 'RuntimeType'. The exception 'Unable to resolve service for type 'Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.DbContextOptions`1[OfficeFileAccessor.OfficeFileAccessorContext]' while attempting to... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Terraform Cookbook: Development Environment Recipe
    # Follow the [VSCode installation guide](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/setup/linux) for other instalation methods. Sudo apt-get install curl Curl -L -o vscode.deb https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=760868 Sudo apt install ./vscode.deb Code # After VSCode launch, use Quick Open (Ctrl+P), paste the command "ext install HashiCorp.terraform" and press enter. # Or install the extension... - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Run godoc Automatically
    { // See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558 // for the documentation about the tasks.json format "version": "2.0.0", "tasks": [ { "label": "godoc", "type": "shell", "command": "godoc", "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}", "shell": { "args": ["-c"], ... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • gRPC: um panorama do contexto histórico às aplicações práticas!
    Using GrpcDocumento.Services; Var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args); // Add services to the container. Builder.Services.AddGrpc(); Var app = builder.Build(); // Configure the HTTP request pipeline. App.MapGrpcService(); App.MapGet("/", () => "Communication with gRPC endpoints must be made through a gRPC client. To learn how to create a client, visit:... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Open Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator, you can also consider the following products

Authenticator - Authenticator is a simple, free, and open source two-factor authentication app.

Google Authenticator - Google Authenticator is a multifactor app for mobile devices.

Aegis Authenticator - Aegis Authenticator is a free, secure and open source app to manage your 2-step verification tokens...

Authy - Best rated Two-Factor Authentication smartphone app for consumers, simplest 2fa Rest API for developers and a strong authentication platform for the enterprise.

andOTP - andOTP is a two-factor authentication App for Android 4.4+

LastPass Authenticator - LastPass is an online password manager and form filler that makes web browsing easier and more secure.