Cybersecurity · head to head
Authy vs Visual Studio
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Twilio's free authenticator app with encrypted cloud backup, mobile only since the desktop clients were withdrawn in 2024.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
Visual Studio
Developer Tools
IDE for .NET and C++ development on Windows
- 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.; Visual Studio community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Authy and Visual Studio actually diverge.
| Attribute | Authy | Visual Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Developer Tools |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 Visual Studio
Nothing recorded that Authy does not also cover.
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 Visual Studio
- A small team sharing access to a service account where the same tokens must be available on more than one handsetnot Visual Studio
- Replacing SMS-based codes with TOTP for someone who would abandon two-factor entirely if recovery were difficultnot Visual Studio
- Consolidating tokens scattered across several apps onto one device list with recognisable names and iconsnot Visual Studio
Visual Studio
- Managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platformsnot Authy
- Commercial development in small businessesnot Authy
- DevOps and automated deployment workflowsnot Authy
- Windows/SQL Server developer and tester rolesnot Authy
- Short-term or month-to-month IDE access needsnot 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.
Visual Studio
- Community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use
- Monthly subscriptions are $45 per user per month for Professional and $250 per user per month for Enterprise, and do not include perpetual use rights the way annual Standard subscriptions do
- A standalone perpetually licensed Visual Studio Professional 2022 costs $499 as a one-time purchase, separate from the subscription tiers
Pricing, plan by plan
Authy
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Authy review.
Visual Studio
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio 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.
Questions people ask
- Is Authy or Visual Studio better?
- Neither clearly leads. Authy starts at Free and Visual Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Authy or Visual Studio?
- Authy starts at Free and Visual Studio at Free.
- Does Authy or Visual Studio run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- 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 Visual Studio is typically brought in for.
- What can Authy do that Visual Studio cannot?
- Authy covers Encrypted cloud backup, Multi-device sync, Standard TOTP, Offline code generation.
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.
Visual Studio: What are the pricing differences between subscription types?
Standard subscriptions include access to more benefits, such as Azure dev/test pricing, monthly Azure individual credit, software and download access, services, training, and support. Monthly subscriptions offer flexibility but fewer benefits.
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.
Visual Studio: Are discounts available for startups?
There aren't any discounts available to start-ups, however an unlimited number of users within an organization can use Visual Studio Community for specific scenarios like open source work.
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.
Visual Studio: Who can use Visual Studio Community for free?
In non-enterprise organizations, up to five users can use it. Enterprise organizations (greater than 250 PCs or greater than $1M annual revenue) cannot use it beyond academic/open-source scenarios.
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.
Visual Studio: What's the renewal pricing structure?
Enterprise standard renews at $214.09/month (after initial $499.92); Professional at $66.59/month (after $99.99).
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.
Related pages
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