Softwr

Cybersecurity · head to head

Google Authenticator vs MyRec.com

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
MyRec.com logo

MyRec.com

Government

Recreation management for small parks departments, priced on your annual revenue with no contract

From
On request
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.; MyRec.com the annual fee scales with department revenue, so a successful department pays more for the same software as its programme income grows.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Authenticator covers TOTP code generation, MyRec.com covers Revenue-based annual fee.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Authenticator and MyRec.com actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Authenticator and MyRec.com differ
AttributeGoogle AuthenticatorMyRec.com
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree, no in-app purchasesPer year by department annual revenue
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, AndroidWeb
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment

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 MyRec.com

  • Revenue-based annual fee
  • Programme registration
  • Facility reservations
  • Point of sale
  • League scheduling
  • Everything included

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 MyRec.com
  • A user who wants codes to survive a lost or replaced phone via account syncnot MyRec.com
  • Someone who prefers a simple, free, single-purpose authenticator over a password manager's built-in onenot MyRec.com
  • A person migrating between phones who wants existing 2FA codes to transfer automaticallynot MyRec.com

MyRec.com

  • A town recreation department of one or two staff moving off paper registration forms and a shared spreadsheetnot Google Authenticator
  • A department that wants to choose its own payment processor rather than accept the software vendor ratenot Google Authenticator
  • Replacing a system that charges per module, where every new programme type triggered an upsellnot Google Authenticator
  • A department needing field permits and league scheduling without buying a facilities management suitenot 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.

MyRec.com

  • The annual fee scales with department revenue, so a successful department pays more for the same software as its programme income grows.
  • It is built for small and mid-sized departments and lacks the permitting, aquatics and multi-facility depth a large city requires.
  • Credit card processing is explicitly excluded from the fee, so the total cost depends on a merchant agreement the department must source and negotiate itself.
  • Integration surface is thin, with no meaningful connection to municipal ERP or finance systems, meaning revenue reconciliation is a manual export.
  • The vendor is small, so there is limited third-party consulting capacity and a narrow bench for support during peak registration periods.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Authenticator

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

MyRec.com

On request
  • MyRec.com$undefined/year
    • Single annual fee calculated from department annual revenue
    • Third parties report entry around 2,850 to 3,445 USD per year
    • Site build, onboarding and training included

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 MyRec.com if

  • You need revenue-based annual fee.
  • You also want programme registration.
MyRec.com review

Questions people ask

Is Google Authenticator or MyRec.com better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Authenticator starts at Free and MyRec.com at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Authenticator or MyRec.com?
Google Authenticator has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Authenticator and On request for MyRec.com.
Does Google Authenticator or MyRec.com run on more platforms?
Google Authenticator runs on iOS, Android. MyRec.com runs on Web.
Can I use Google Authenticator for free?
Yes. Google Authenticator has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MyRec.com starts at On request.
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 MyRec.com is typically brought in for.
What can Google Authenticator do that MyRec.com cannot?
Google Authenticator covers TOTP code generation, QR code setup, Optional Google account sync, Offline generation. MyRec.com covers Revenue-based annual fee, Programme registration, Facility reservations, Point of sale.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Authenticator: Does Google Authenticator cost anything?

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

MyRec.com: How is MyRec priced?

A single annual fee calculated from your department annual revenue, using a calculator on the MyRec site. Third parties report entry around 2,850 to 3,445 USD a year.

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.

MyRec.com: Is there a setup fee?

No. Site build, onboarding and training are included in the annual fee.

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.

MyRec.com: Are card fees included?

No. Credit card processing is separate and you arrange your own merchant account.

MyRec.com: Is there a contract?

No long-term contract is required, which is unusual in municipal software.

Share

Related pages

More on Google Authenticator

More on MyRec.com

Keep looking

Other head to heads