Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Duo mobile VS Google Authenticator

Compare Duo mobile VS Google Authenticator and see what are their differences

Duo mobile logo Duo mobile

Duo Mobile works with Duo Security's two-factor authentication service to make logins more...

Google Authenticator logo Google Authenticator

Google Authenticator is a multifactor app for mobile devices.
  • Duo mobile Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-27
  • Google Authenticator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-25

Duo mobile features and specs

  • Security
    Duo Mobile enhances user account security by using two-factor authentication (2FA), reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
  • User-friendly
    The app is designed to be straightforward and easy to use, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Compatibility
    Duo Mobile supports a wide range of devices and integrates seamlessly with various applications and services.
  • Push Notifications
    The app provides push notifications for authentication, offering a quick and convenient way to approve login attempts.
  • Offline Access
    Duo Mobile can generate passcodes for authentication even without internet access, ensuring continued functionality in offline scenarios.

Possible disadvantages of Duo mobile

  • Dependency on Mobile Devices
    Users need access to their mobile device to authenticate, which can be a limitation if the device is unavailable or lost.
  • Potential Security Concerns
    If a user's phone is compromised, the 2FA can also be at risk. Users must ensure their device is secured to protect the authentication process.
  • Notification Delays
    Occasionally, users may experience delays in receiving push notifications, which can be inconvenient during urgent authentication requests.
  • Learning Curve for Organizations
    Implementing and managing Duo Mobile in a large organization can require significant time and resources for setup and training.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Some users may have concerns about the data collected by the app and its implications on their privacy.

Google Authenticator features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    Google Authenticator adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second factor of authentication, reducing the risk of unauthorized access even if your password is compromised.
  • Offline Access
    The app does not require an internet connection to generate codes, making it reliable in situations where connectivity is a concern.
  • Compatibility
    Google Authenticator is compatible with a wide range of services and accounts, providing a versatile solution for multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Free of Charge
    The application is free to use, offering robust security features without any financial investment.
  • Ease of Use
    Setup and usage are straightforward, making it accessible to users without technical expertise.

Possible disadvantages of Google Authenticator

  • Device Dependence
    If you lose your device, gaining access to your accounts can become challenging, particularly if you haven't backed up or used alternative methods.
  • No Cloud Sync
    Google Authenticator does not offer a built-in feature for cloud backups, making it difficult to transfer codes to a new device.
  • Single Device Limitation
    The app only works on a single device at a time, which can be inconvenient if you manage multiple devices.
  • No Biometric Lock
    The app lacks advanced security features such as biometric locks, which are present in some other authenticator apps.
  • Limited Recovery Options
    In case of losing access to the app, recovery options rely heavily on the user having access to backup codes, which might not always be accessible.

Duo mobile videos

No Duo mobile videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Google Authenticator videos

How to Use Google Authenticator

More videos:

  • Review - GOOGLE AUTHENTICATOR vs. AUTHY - (AUTHY WON)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Duo mobile and Google Authenticator)
Identity And Access Management
Password Management
38 38%
62% 62
Two Factor Authentication
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Duo mobile and Google Authenticator. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Duo mobile and Google Authenticator

Duo mobile Reviews

The Best Authenticator Apps for 2023
Duo Mobile is geared toward corporate apps, especially now that it’s part of Cisco’s portfolio. Duo Mobile offers enterprise features, such as multiuser deployment options and provisioning, one-tap push authentication, and one-time passcodes. But anyone can use this simple authenticator app, and if you do, you'll appreciate the ability to back up your logins using Google...
Source: www.pcmag.com
5 of the Best Alternatives for Google Authenticator
Duo mobile is another app that makes it easy to authenticate login requests on your online accounts. It offers a neat feature called “Duo push” which simply allows you to receive login requests on your phone and make a single tap to authenticate it. If you receive a request that you aren’t expecting, you can also deny the request and report it as fraudulent. In addition, you...

Google Authenticator Reviews

7 Best Google Authenticator Alternatives For Android And iOS
Except for one, all the apps mentioned above are available for Android and iPhone. You can add accounts which you want to secure by scanning their barcode or simply entering the secret key or id in all of them. Some of them will let you capture a screenshot and some of them will not. Apart from that, all these are free to use and provide better features making them as the...
The Best Authenticator Apps for 2023
When you use Google Authenticator to log in to your Google account, you enter the six-digit code shown in the authenticator app, just as you would to log in to any other service. The app also lets you import logins from an old phone to a new one if you have the former on hand. As with Microsoft Authenticator, there's no Apple Watch app or even an Android Wear app for Google...
Source: www.pcmag.com
Top 6 Google Authenticator Alternatives in 2023
Although they aren’t as big or widely known as Google or Microsoft, Twilio’s Authy app is one of the most impressive and feature-rich Google Authenticator alternatives. Twilio takes pride in the fact that their app can be used anywhere Google Authenticator can be used, meaning that those making the switch won’t hit any unexpected compatibility issues.
Is Authy better than Google Authenticator?
The difference between Authy and Google Authenticator lies in the number of features offered by each app. If you like minimalism, use Google Authenticator, but if you like multi-device support, full Backup of your 2FA codes, or three authentication types, use Authy.
The Best 2FA Apps 2021: Locking Down Your Online Accounts
Google Authenticator is really the baseline here, because nearly all sites that support 2FA support Google’s app as well. For example, LastPass Authenticator and Authy aren’t explicitly supported by as many sites and services. However, they still use TOTP, making them compatible with all services that support Google Authenticator.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google Authenticator should be more popular than Duo mobile. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Duo mobile mentions (1)

  • Moving it all to yubico authenticator?
    Call me lazy but..for phone 2FA auth I'm using Duo in personal mode (TOTP). See guide.duo.com for a start. It's convenient and fast. My Yubikey is used for PC web 2FA and, no, I don't do any financials on mobile devices. Reason I picked Duo is Google Auth on Android had dings for not being secure (some say). BEWARE of Duo, if you try to buy they only sell in packs of 30 so that first bill could be... Source: over 3 years ago

Google Authenticator mentions (7)

  • Google Authenticator now supports Google Account synchronization
    Here they have support page https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1066447. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • I'm building a macOS app in a week with Tauri and Supabase.
    Many authenticator apps already exist on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Most of them have synchronization features but are limited to backup only or sync with the same platform (ie: iOS or Android only). I'm using one of them for years and at this moment I'm feeling bothered when switching to a mobile device every time login into a website or online service. So, I created Otentik Authenticator. A Google... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: How to enable 2FA for Google Account to use Authenticator app?
    Their only docs suggest using an authenticator app (which presumably runs on the 'phone which potentially can be lost' anyway) is possible: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1066447?hl=en&ref_topic=2954345 If it's not showing up for you, you'd need to contact their support team to find out why. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Bought Centric Swap / CNS? Here’s What To Do Next
    By the way, if you don’t already have 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) set up on your Centric Wallet, now would be a good time to do that. You’ll need to have a 2FA app installed on your smartphone, such as Google Authenticator or Authy. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Storing hex/pulse/pulse swap
    Use 2FA with Google Authenticator for your email, wallets, and pretty much anything else that allows you to do so. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Duo mobile and Google Authenticator, you can also consider the following products

Aegis Authenticator - Aegis Authenticator is a free, secure and open source app to manage your 2-step verification tokens...

Authy - Best rated Two-Factor Authentication smartphone app for consumers, simplest 2fa Rest API for developers and a strong authentication platform for the enterprise.

andOTP - andOTP is a two-factor authentication App for Android 4.4+

Duo Security - Duo Security provides cloud-based two-factor authentication. Duo’s technology can be deployed to protect users, data, and applications from breaches, credential theft, and account takeover.

Authenticator Plus - Authenticator Plus generates 2-step verification codes and lets you synchronize your accounts.

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication - Azure Multi-Factor Authentication helps safeguard access to data and applications while meeting user demand for a simple sign-in process.