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Cybersecurity · head to head

Authy vs iCompass

Authy logo

Authy

Cybersecurity

Twilio's free authenticator app with encrypted cloud backup, mobile only since the desktop clients were withdrawn in 2024.

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
iCompass logo

iCompass

Government

Meeting and Agenda Management

From
$400/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Authy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; iCompass iCompass (a Diligent Corporation product for local government agenda management) publishes no pricing on its own site; every call to action is Contact Us or Request a Demo, with no figures anywhere on the page.
  • They diverge on capability: Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, iCompass covers Agenda Creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Authy and iCompass actually diverge.

Attributes where Authy and iCompass differ
AttributeAuthyiCompass
Starting priceFree$400/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment
FoundedUnknown2001

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Authy

  • Encrypted cloud backup
  • Multi-device sync
  • Standard TOTP
  • Offline code generation
  • App lock
  • Multi-device toggle
  • Token organisation
  • Free with no account tier

Only in iCompass

  • Agenda Creation
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Document Management
  • Public Meeting Portal
  • Voting Management
  • Microsoft Office
  • Video Streaming
  • Document Storage

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Authy

  • An individual who wants two-factor authentication on personal accounts and needs it to survive losing or replacing a phonenot iCompass
  • A small team sharing access to a service account where the same tokens must be available on more than one handsetnot iCompass
  • Replacing SMS-based codes with TOTP for someone who would abandon two-factor entirely if recovery were difficultnot iCompass
  • Consolidating tokens scattered across several apps onto one device list with recognisable names and iconsnot iCompass

iCompass

  • Citizen Servicesnot Authy
  • Records Managementnot Authy
  • Public Safetynot Authy
  • Civic Engagementnot Authy

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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.

iCompass

  • iCompass (a Diligent Corporation product for local government agenda management) publishes no pricing on its own site; every call to action is Contact Us or Request a Demo, with no figures anywhere on the page.

Pricing, plan by plan

Authy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Authy review.

iCompass

$400/month
  • Government$400/month
    • Agenda Management
    • Meeting Minutes
    • Public Portal

Which should you pick?

Choose Authy if

  • You need encrypted cloud backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want multi-device sync.
Authy review

Choose iCompass if

  • You need agenda creation.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want meeting minutes.
iCompass review

Questions people ask

Is Authy or iCompass better?
Neither clearly leads. Authy starts at Free and iCompass at $400/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Authy or iCompass?
Authy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Authy and $400/month for iCompass.
Does Authy or iCompass run on more platforms?
Authy runs on Web. iCompass runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Authy for free?
Yes. Authy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. iCompass starts at $400/month.
What is Authy best used for?
Authy is most often used for an individual who wants two-factor authentication on personal accounts and needs it to survive losing or replacing a phone, a small team sharing access to a service account where the same tokens must be available on more than one handset, replacing sms-based codes with totp for someone who would abandon two-factor entirely if recovery were difficult, consolidating tokens scattered across several apps onto one device list with recognisable names and icons. Of those, an individual who wants two-factor authentication on personal accounts and needs it to survive losing or replacing a phone and a small team sharing access to a service account where the same tokens must be available on more than one handset are not what iCompass is typically brought in for.
What can Authy do that iCompass cannot?
Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, Multi-device sync, Standard TOTP, Offline code generation. iCompass covers Agenda Creation, Meeting Minutes, Document Management, Public Meeting Portal.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Authy: 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.

Authy: 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.

Authy: 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.

Authy: 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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