Cybersecurity · head to head
Authy vs LastPass
Authy
Cybersecurity
Twilio's free authenticator app with encrypted cloud backup, mobile only since the desktop clients were withdrawn in 2024.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
LastPass
Cybersecurity
Simplify online life with LastPass password manager
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- 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.; LastPass free plan limited to 1 device type only
- They diverge on capability: Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, LastPass covers Password vault.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Authy and LastPass actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 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 LastPass
- Password vault
- Password generator
- Autofill
- Security dashboard
- Dark web monitoring
- Emergency access
- Secure notes
- Digital wallet
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 LastPass
- A small team sharing access to a service account where the same tokens must be available on more than one handsetnot LastPass
- Replacing SMS-based codes with TOTP for someone who would abandon two-factor entirely if recovery were difficultnot LastPass
- Consolidating tokens scattered across several apps onto one device list with recognisable names and iconsnot LastPass
LastPass
- Password management and vault storagenot Authy
- Multi-device access and autofillnot Authy
- Dark web monitoring and security dashboardnot Authy
- Team collaboration with shared folders and policiesnot 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.
LastPass
- Free plan limited to 1 device type only
- Premium plan costs ~$3/month annually (30% discount applied)
- Business Teams plan limited to up to 50 users maximum
- Teams plan offers only 25 security policies
- Business plan pricing ~$4/user/month
- Business Max plan costs ~$7/user/month for advanced features
Pricing, plan by plan
Authy
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Authy review.
LastPass
Free- Free$undefined/mo
- Unlimited password storage
- Autofill
- Dark web monitoring
- Premium$undefined/month
- Unlimited passwords
- All devices
- Password generator
- Families$undefined/month
- Premium features
- Shared folders
- Family manager dashboard
Which should you pick?
Choose Authy if
- You need encrypted cloud backup.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want multi-device sync.
Choose LastPass if
- You need password vault.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- You also want password generator.
Questions people ask
- Is Authy or LastPass better?
- Neither clearly leads. Authy starts at Free and LastPass at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Authy or LastPass?
- Authy starts at Free and LastPass at Free.
- Does Authy or LastPass run on more platforms?
- Authy runs on Web. LastPass runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- Can I use Authy for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 LastPass is typically brought in for.
- What can Authy do that LastPass cannot?
- Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, Multi-device sync, Standard TOTP, Offline code generation. LastPass covers Password vault, Password generator, Autofill, Security dashboard.
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.
LastPass: Does LastPass have a free version?
Yes, LastPass offers a free plan with unlimited password storage, autofill, dark web monitoring, and basic password sharing, but it is limited to 1 device type.
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.
LastPass: What devices does the free plan support?
The free plan is limited to 1 device type, meaning you must choose either desktop or mobile, not both.
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.
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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