# Aegis Authenticator

28 Hacker News commenters recommended Aegis Authenticator and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Free open-source authenticator app for two-factor codes, with encrypted backups and exports that people prefer over Google Authenticator.

## Why people recommend it

- Encrypted backup and export of 2FA secrets (4 comments): "the encrypted backup alone makes it worth it over Google Authenticator" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47583486)) "I can backup my Aegis keys, I can't backup an app, or a hw passkey." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50089503)) "Some apps such as Aegis allow exporting the MFA secrets." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49693714))
- Open-source alternative to Google Authenticator (2 comments): "the encrypted backup alone makes it worth it over Google Authenticator" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47583486)) "recreate your 2FA codes in an opensource app like Aegis or Stratum" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49693889))
- Works as well as other TOTP apps (2 comments): "any TOTP app (FreeOTP+, Aegis...) works just fine" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48309556)) "FreeOTP+, Aegis etc will do just as well." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48975579))
- Named as a top pick (2 comments): "Aegis was on the top of the list" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47552715)) "Stick with password + AEGIS app" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689328))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Ente Auth](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ente-auth.md): 22 recommend
- [Microsoft Authenticator](https://hackerapproved.com/p/microsoft-authenticator.md): 13 recommend
- [Google Authenticator](https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-authenticator.md): 9 recommend
- [Authy](https://hackerapproved.com/p/authy.md): 6 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Aegis Authenticator", https://hackerapproved.com/p/aegis/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).