Cybersecurity · head to head
Authy vs Sysdig
Authy
Cybersecurity
Twilio's free authenticator app with encrypted cloud backup, mobile only since the desktop clients were withdrawn in 2024.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Sysdig
Cybersecurity
Cloud-native runtime security platform with real-time detection and response
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
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.; Sysdig custom pricing requires sales contact, difficult to compare costs
- They diverge on capability: Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, Sysdig covers Real-time threat detection and response.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Authy and Sysdig 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 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 Sysdig
- Real-time threat detection and response
- Runtime intelligence
- AI-powered security agents
- Vulnerability management
- Cloud Security Posture Management
- Container and Kubernetes security
- Infrastructure as Code security
- Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management
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 Sysdig
- A small team sharing access to a service account where the same tokens must be available on more than one handsetnot Sysdig
- Replacing SMS-based codes with TOTP for someone who would abandon two-factor entirely if recovery were difficultnot Sysdig
- Consolidating tokens scattered across several apps onto one device list with recognisable names and iconsnot Sysdig
Sysdig
- Real-time threat detection in Kubernetes clustersnot Authy
- Container workload vulnerability prioritizationnot Authy
- Cloud security posture compliance monitoringnot Authy
- Infrastructure entitlement and permission analysisnot Authy
- AI workload security and threat remediationnot 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.
Sysdig
- Custom pricing requires sales contact, difficult to compare costs
- No published pricing tiers or calculator available
- Primarily focused on cloud-native environments
- Requires integration with existing SIEM or monitoring tools for full visibility
- Steep learning curve for runtime security concepts
Pricing, plan by plan
Authy
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Authy review.
Sysdig
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Sysdig review.
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 Sysdig if
- You need real-time threat detection and response.
- You work on Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, GCP, Azure, Cloud-native.
- You also want runtime intelligence.
Questions people ask
- Is Authy or Sysdig better?
- Neither clearly leads. Authy starts at Free and Sysdig at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Authy or Sysdig?
- Authy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Authy and On request for Sysdig.
- Does Authy or Sysdig run on more platforms?
- Authy runs on Web. Sysdig runs on Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, GCP, Azure, Cloud-native.
- Can I use Authy for free?
- Yes. Authy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sysdig starts at On request.
- 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 Sysdig is typically brought in for.
- What can Authy do that Sysdig cannot?
- Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, Multi-device sync, Standard TOTP, Offline code generation. Sysdig covers Real-time threat detection and response, Runtime intelligence, AI-powered security agents, Vulnerability 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.
Sysdig: How does Sysdig achieve real-time threat detection?
Sysdig uses runtime intelligence with kernel-level system visibility, capturing live system calls to detect threats at machine speed, typically within 2 seconds.
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.
Sysdig: What is runtime intelligence and how does it differ from configuration-based security?
Runtime intelligence reveals what is actually executing in cloud environments through kernel-level visibility, rather than relying on theoretical risks from configuration analysis alone.
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.
Sysdig: What cloud platforms does Sysdig support?
Sysdig supports AWS, GCP, Azure, and IBM Cloud with multiple regional data centers across US, EU, and other regions.
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.
Sysdig: Does Sysdig integrate with existing security tools?
Yes, Sysdig integrates with existing SIEM and monitoring tools to provide unified security visibility across cloud infrastructure.
SourceAuthy: 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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