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Cybersecurity · head to head

Google Authenticator vs iCompass

Google Authenticator logo

Google Authenticator

Cybersecurity

Free TOTP two-factor authentication app that gained optional cloud sync in 2023

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 Google Authenticator has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Authenticator enabling cloud sync moves the security boundary for your 2FA codes to your Google account, so a compromised Google account can expose the same codes syncing was meant to protect.; 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: Google Authenticator covers TOTP code generation, iCompass covers Agenda Creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Authenticator and iCompass actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Authenticator and iCompass differ
AttributeGoogle AuthenticatoriCompass
Starting priceFree$400/month
Pricing modelFree, no in-app purchasessubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, AndroidWeb, 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 Google Authenticator

  • TOTP code generation
  • QR code setup
  • Optional Google account sync
  • Offline generation
  • Manual entry

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.

Google Authenticator

  • Someone setting up two-factor authentication on a website that asks for a TOTP appnot iCompass
  • A user who wants codes to survive a lost or replaced phone via account syncnot iCompass
  • Someone who prefers a simple, free, single-purpose authenticator over a password manager's built-in onenot iCompass
  • A person migrating between phones who wants existing 2FA codes to transfer automaticallynot iCompass

iCompass

  • Citizen Servicesnot Google Authenticator
  • Records Managementnot Google Authenticator
  • Public Safetynot Google Authenticator
  • Civic Engagementnot Google Authenticator

Where each one falls short

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

Google Authenticator

  • Enabling cloud sync moves the security boundary for your 2FA codes to your Google account, so a compromised Google account can expose the same codes syncing was meant to protect.
  • It has no built-in backup export in a portable format, so moving away from Google Authenticator to another app usually means resetting 2FA on every individual service.
  • It lacks organisational features such as folders, search or notes that some competing authenticator apps offer for people managing many accounts.
  • There is no desktop app, so codes must be read off a phone screen when logging in from a computer.
  • If sync is off and the phone is lost without a separate backup, all codes are unrecoverable and every linked account needs its 2FA reset through account recovery.

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

Google Authenticator

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited accounts and codes
    • Optional Google account cloud sync
    • No ads

iCompass

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Authenticator if

  • You need totp code generation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want qr code setup.
Google Authenticator 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 Google Authenticator or iCompass better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Authenticator 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, Google Authenticator or iCompass?
Google Authenticator has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Authenticator and $400/month for iCompass.
Does Google Authenticator or iCompass run on more platforms?
Google Authenticator runs on iOS, Android. iCompass runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Google Authenticator for free?
Yes. Google Authenticator has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. iCompass starts at $400/month.
What is Google Authenticator best used for?
Google Authenticator is most often used for someone setting up two-factor authentication on a website that asks for a totp app, a user who wants codes to survive a lost or replaced phone via account sync, someone who prefers a simple, free, single-purpose authenticator over a password manager's built-in one, a person migrating between phones who wants existing 2fa codes to transfer automatically. Of those, someone setting up two-factor authentication on a website that asks for a totp app and a user who wants codes to survive a lost or replaced phone via account sync are not what iCompass is typically brought in for.
What can Google Authenticator do that iCompass cannot?
Google Authenticator covers TOTP code generation, QR code setup, Optional Google account sync, Offline generation. iCompass covers Agenda Creation, Meeting Minutes, Document Management, Public Meeting Portal.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Authenticator: Does Google Authenticator cost anything?

No, it is free with no subscription or in-app purchases.

Google Authenticator: Is cloud sync safe?

Google documents it as protected by your Google account security. Whether that is an acceptable trade-off versus device-only storage is debated; you can turn sync off if you prefer local-only codes.

Google Authenticator: Can I export my codes to another app?

There is no official bulk export; moving to a different authenticator typically requires re-adding each account from its setup page.

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Related pages

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