Cybersecurity · head to head
Authy vs Ring Neighbors
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Twilio's free authenticator app with encrypted cloud backup, mobile only since the desktop clients were withdrawn in 2024.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
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.; Ring Neighbors neighbors by Ring is a free app only available in the US, per the vendor's own page (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2023)
- They diverge on capability: Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, Ring Neighbors covers Video Request Portal.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Authy and Ring Neighbors actually diverge.
| Attribute | Authy | Ring Neighbors |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Government |
| Founded | Unknown | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Ring Neighbors
- Video Request Portal
- Community Alerts
- Geographic Requests
- Case Management
- Resident Opt-in
- Ring Devices
- CAD Systems
- Social Media
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 Ring Neighbors
- A small team sharing access to a service account where the same tokens must be available on more than one handsetnot Ring Neighbors
- Replacing SMS-based codes with TOTP for someone who would abandon two-factor entirely if recovery were difficultnot Ring Neighbors
- Consolidating tokens scattered across several apps onto one device list with recognisable names and iconsnot Ring Neighbors
Ring Neighbors
- 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.
Ring Neighbors
- Neighbors by Ring is a free app only available in the US, per the vendor's own page (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2023)
Pricing, plan by plan
Authy
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Authy review.
Ring Neighbors
Free- Public Safety PortalFree
- Video Requests
- Community Alerts
- Case Management
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 Ring Neighbors if
- You need video request portal.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want community alerts.
Questions people ask
- Is Authy or Ring Neighbors better?
- Neither clearly leads. Authy starts at Free and Ring Neighbors at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Authy or Ring Neighbors?
- Authy starts at Free and Ring Neighbors at Free.
- Does Authy or Ring Neighbors run on more platforms?
- Authy runs on Web. Ring Neighbors runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- 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 Ring Neighbors is typically brought in for.
- What can Authy do that Ring Neighbors cannot?
- Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, Multi-device sync, Standard TOTP, Offline code generation. Ring Neighbors covers Video Request Portal, Community Alerts, Geographic Requests, Case Management.
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.
Related pages
More on Ring Neighbors
Other head to heads
- Authy vs LastPass
- Authy vs 1Password
- Authy vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Authy vs Norton 360
- Authy vs Google Authenticator
- Authy vs Cisco Duo
- Authy vs Entrust Identity as a Service
- Authy vs RoboForm
- Authy vs ExpressVPN
- Authy vs Authelia
- Authy vs Stytch
- Authy vs WorkOS
- Authy vs Splunk Enterprise Security
- Authy vs Sticky Password
- Authy vs Surfshark
- Authy vs Tanium
- Authy vs Teleport
- Authy vs Accela
- Authy vs CivicPlus
- Authy vs Granicus
- Authy vs DocuWare
- Authy vs CentralSquare
- Authy vs Axon Records
- Authy vs IAPro
- Authy vs Mark43
- Authy vs SafeCity
- Authy vs Citizen
- Authy vs ShotSpotter
- Authy vs Tyler Brazos
- Authy vs NEXGEN Asset Management
- Authy vs NextRequest
- Authy vs Trimble Unity Maintain
- Authy vs VUEWorks
- Authy vs American Legal Publishing
- Authy vs ArchiveSocial
- Ring Neighbors vs LastPass
- Ring Neighbors vs 1Password
- Ring Neighbors vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Ring Neighbors vs Norton 360
- Ring Neighbors vs Google Authenticator
- Ring Neighbors vs Cisco Duo
- Ring Neighbors vs Entrust Identity as a Service
- Ring Neighbors vs RoboForm
- Ring Neighbors vs ExpressVPN
- Ring Neighbors vs Authelia
- Ring Neighbors vs Stytch
- Ring Neighbors vs WorkOS
- Ring Neighbors vs Splunk Enterprise Security
- Ring Neighbors vs Sticky Password
- Ring Neighbors vs Surfshark
- Ring Neighbors vs Tanium
- Ring Neighbors vs Teleport
- Ring Neighbors vs Accela
- Ring Neighbors vs CivicPlus
- Ring Neighbors vs Granicus
- Ring Neighbors vs DocuWare
- Ring Neighbors vs CentralSquare
- Ring Neighbors vs Axon Records
- Ring Neighbors vs IAPro
- Ring Neighbors vs Mark43
- Ring Neighbors vs SafeCity
- Ring Neighbors vs Citizen
- Ring Neighbors vs ShotSpotter
- Ring Neighbors vs Tyler Brazos
- Ring Neighbors vs NEXGEN Asset Management
- Ring Neighbors vs NextRequest
- Ring Neighbors vs Trimble Unity Maintain
- Ring Neighbors vs VUEWorks
- Ring Neighbors vs American Legal Publishing
- Ring Neighbors vs ArchiveSocial