Cybersecurity · head to head
1Password vs Authy
1Password
Cybersecurity
The world's most-loved password manager
- From
- $2.99/month
- Rated
- -
Authy
Cybersecurity
Twilio's free authenticator app with encrypted cloud backup, mobile only since the desktop clients were withdrawn in 2024.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Authy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 1Password no free tier; all plans require paid subscription; Authy there is no export function for stored TOTP secrets, so moving to a different authenticator means disabling and re-enrolling two-factor authentication on every account individually, which is the reason most users stay rather than a reason anyone should choose it.
- They diverge on capability: 1Password covers Password generator, Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 1Password and Authy actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in 1Password
- Password generator
- Autofill
- Secure notes
- Credit card storage
- Document storage
- Two-factor authentication
- Watchtower security alerts
- Travel mode
Only in Authy
- Encrypted cloud backup
- Multi-device sync
- Standard TOTP
- Offline code generation
- App lock
- Multi-device toggle
- Token organisation
- Free with no account tier
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
1Password
- Password managementnot Authy
- Secure document storagenot Authy
- Team credential sharingnot Authy
- Identity protectionnot Authy
- Compliance managementnot Authy
Authy
- An individual who wants two-factor authentication on personal accounts and needs it to survive losing or replacing a phonenot 1Password
- A small team sharing access to a service account where the same tokens must be available on more than one handsetnot 1Password
- Replacing SMS-based codes with TOTP for someone who would abandon two-factor entirely if recovery were difficultnot 1Password
- Consolidating tokens scattered across several apps onto one device list with recognisable names and iconsnot 1Password
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
1Password
- No free tier; all plans require paid subscription
- Offline access requires prior device sync; cannot add new passwords while offline
- Enterprise plan does not include free trial access
Authy
- There is no export function for stored TOTP secrets, so moving to a different authenticator means disabling and re-enrolling two-factor authentication on every account individually, which is the reason most users stay rather than a reason anyone should choose it.
- The Windows, macOS and Linux desktop applications were discontinued in 2024 and stopped working, so any workflow that depended on copying codes on a computer now requires a phone in hand, and users who held tokens only on a desktop client had to restore from backup or re-enrol.
- The account is keyed to a phone number, so an attacker who takes over that number through a SIM swap can begin the device registration flow, and the only remaining control is the backup password that most users set once and cannot recall.
- In 2024 an unauthenticated Twilio endpoint allowed attackers to confirm which numbers from a supplied list were registered Authy accounts, exposing around 33 million phone numbers, which disclosed no codes but handed phishers a validated list of people known to use two-factor authentication.
- It is a free consumer application inside a company that has already retired the paid Authy developer API it once supported, so it carries no revenue of its own, and users should treat its continued existence as a business decision rather than a roadmap commitment.
Pricing, plan by plan
1Password
$2.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the 1Password review.
Authy
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Authy review.
Which should you pick?
Choose 1Password if
- You need password generator.
- You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Web.
- You also want autofill.
Choose Authy if
- You need encrypted cloud backup.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want multi-device sync.
Questions people ask
- Is 1Password or Authy better?
- Neither clearly leads. 1Password starts at $2.99/month and Authy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 1Password or Authy?
- Authy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2.99/month for 1Password and Free for Authy.
- Does 1Password or Authy run on more platforms?
- 1Password runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Web. Authy runs on Web.
- Can I use Authy for free?
- Yes. Authy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 1Password starts at $2.99/month.
- What is 1Password best used for?
- 1Password is most often used for password management, secure document storage, team credential sharing, identity protection. Of those, password management and secure document storage are not what Authy is typically brought in for.
- What can 1Password do that Authy cannot?
- 1Password covers Password generator, Autofill, Secure notes, Credit card storage. Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, Multi-device sync, Standard TOTP, Offline code generation.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
1Password: Does 1Password offer a free tier?
No. 1Password offers no free tier as of July 2026, but provides a 14-day free trial with no credit card required for all plans except Enterprise.
SourceAuthy: Is Authy still supported?
The mobile apps for iOS and Android are still available and functional. The desktop applications were withdrawn in 2024 and the Authy developer API has been retired in favour of Twilio Verify, so the surrounding product has been shrinking.
1Password: Can I access 1Password offline?
Yes. The desktop app allows for offline access to your vault once you have synced your passwords to the device.
SourceAuthy: Can I export my tokens?
No. There is no export of the underlying secrets, by design. Migrating to another authenticator means going to each service, disabling two-factor authentication and setting it up again with the new app.
1Password: What is the pricing for individuals and families?
Individual plan costs 2.99 USD per month or 35.88 USD annually. Families plan costs 59.88 USD per year and includes five licenses with the ability to add more for 1 USD per month each.
SourceAuthy: What happened to the desktop app?
Twilio announced its discontinuation in March 2024 and the applications stopped working later that year. There is no replacement desktop client; the mobile apps are the product now.
1Password: What platforms does 1Password support?
1Password is available on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Safari.
SourceAuthy: Is multi-device sync safe to leave on?
It is the feature most worth understanding. Leaving new device registration enabled means anyone who controls your phone number can attempt to add a device. The usual advice is to turn the multi-device setting off once your devices are registered and turn it on only when you need to add one.
Authy: What if I lose my phone and forget the backup password?
The secrets are encrypted with that password and Twilio does not hold it, so they cannot be recovered. You would fall back to each individual service's account recovery process, which is exactly the situation the backup was meant to avoid.
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