What is Ente Auth?

Part of the broader Ente ecosystem—which also includes Ente Photos—Ente Auth is fully open source and built with privacy and security as core guiding principles.

Project origins: the Ente ecosystem

Ente is not just one app but a platform for securely storing data in the cloud without trusting the service provider.

It began with Ente Photos, a paid, end-to-end encrypted alternative to Apple Photos and Google Photos.

Leveraging the same security foundations, the Ente team created Ente Auth when they saw a need for an open-source, end-to-end encrypted authenticator.

All of Ente’s products—Photos and Auth —live in a single mono repo on GitHub, covering the iOS, Android, F-Droid, Web, Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms. Both the client-side apps and the server software that powers them are freely available for anyone to inspect and even self-host if desired.

What are some benefits of Ente Auth?‍

• Open source and audited: Ente Auth’s codebase is publicly available on GitHub, allowing anyone to audit, contribute, and verify its integrity. It’s licensed under the MIT license to promote community-driven development. Cure53, Symbolic Software, and Fallible have externally audited Ente Auth’s entire codebase.
• Privacy First: Ente Auth encrypts all sensitive data end-to-end, unlike proprietary alternatives. Neither Ente nor third parties can access or read your information.
• Ease of Use: Ente Auth's clean, intuitive interface makes it accessible to users of all technical levels—there is no complicated setup and no steep learning curve.

Platform Support‍

• iOS: The Ente Auth iOS app integrates seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem.
• Chrome extension: An easy-to-install extension that brings 2FA to your favorite web services.
• Desktop and beyond: The team continuously releases updates for various systems, including desktop and Linux distributions.

Privacy-focused design

^‍From encrypted backups to offline-first functionality, Ente Auth ensures your data remains yours alone—there is no third-party access or hidden data collection.

‍Ente Auth vs. Competitors

‍When choosing a 2FA solution, consider privacy, usability, and cross-platform coverage. Here’s how Ente Auth fares:

• Ente Auth vs Authy: Authy’s reliance on cloud backups and proprietary infrastructure can be a deal-breaker for privacy enthusiasts. Ente Auth’s open-source, audited code offers a more transparent alternative.
• Ente Auth vs 2FAS: While 2FAS has solid functionality, it lacks Ente Auth’s polished user experience, broad platform support, and comprehensive audits.
• Ente Auth vs. Aegis: Aegis is a great Android-only choice, but Ente Auth’s cross-platform ecosystem and sync capabilities make it more universal.

How to Get Started with Ente Auth

1. Download and install: Download the app from the iOS App Store, Google Play, F-Droid, or the Chrome Web Store. You can install Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop versions from the mono repo releases page.
2. Add your accounts: Use Ente Auth to scan QR codes or manually enter secret keys—your 2FA tokens remain encrypted locally and on secure backups.
3. Stay synced: Ente Auth supports encrypted backups, so you can access your codes across devices without compromising privacy.

Ente Auth reviews and ongoing discussions

Ente Auth routinely earns high praise for its sleek interface, privacy-centric engineering, and commitment to open-source values.

Users commend its reliable performance and straightforward setup, while developers appreciate the ability to verify or contribute to its code, reinforcing long-term trust in the platform.

However, many ongoing discussions on Reddit and elsewhere show potential users curious about whether Ente is safe from a security perspective.

Ente Auth: An Open source alternative that stands out

Ente Auth embodies the future of two-factor authentication: open, secure, and easy to use. Its roots in the broader Ente ecosystem—alongside Ente Photos—demonstrate a commitment to privacy and user-centric design.

Ente Auth is a robust, community-verified choice whether you’re looking for a more transparent alternative to Authy or a cross-platform solution for your entire family of devices.