Comparison
Tokn vs Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator is where most people start with 2FA. It is simple and it works, but it is closed source, tied to Google Play Services, and its convenience features run through your Google account. Tokn takes the opposite approach: your codes stay on your device in an encrypted vault, and the code that handles them is public.
Feature by feature
| Tokn | Google Authenticator | |
|---|---|---|
Open source | Yes | No |
No secrets in the cloud No account sync of your tokens | Yes | Partial |
Encrypted vault at rest Encrypted on disk with a key only you can unlock | Yes | Partial |
Biometric / app lock Gate access with a fingerprint or PIN | Yes | Yes |
No Google Play Services Runs on de-Googled phones, on F-Droid | Yes | No |
Local network sync Move accounts over Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct or an animated QR code | Yes | No |
Self-controlled backups Export an encrypted copy you own | Yes | No |
Import from other apps Bring tokens over from other authenticators | Yes | No |
Custom icons & icon packs Pick your own images, or import Aegis-style packs | Yes | No |
Organize with groups Sort into custom groups, more than one per account | Yes | No |
Material You theming Dynamic color, light / dark / system | Yes | Yes |
Where Tokn pulls ahead
Tokn is open source, runs without Google Play Services, and never uploads your secrets anywhere. The vault is encrypted with SQLCipher and locked behind your fingerprint or a password. You can export an encrypted backup you control, organize accounts into groups, and move everything to a new phone over your local network instead of through a Google account. Switching is quick: Tokn scans Google Authenticator's export QR codes directly.
Where Google Authenticator has the edge
Google Authenticator is effortless if you already live in the Google ecosystem. Account sync means a lost phone is not a lost vault, as long as you trust Google with that role, and there is nothing to configure at all.
Bottom line
If you are comfortable with your 2FA codes living in your Google account, Google Authenticator is fine. If you want them offline, encrypted, and under your own control, Tokn is the switch, and it takes about a minute.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I move from Google Authenticator to Tokn?
Open Google Authenticator, choose Transfer accounts, then Export accounts, and scan the QR codes with Tokn's import screen. Everything comes across in a minute or two.
Does Tokn sync my codes to the cloud like Google Authenticator?
No. Tokn has no account and no server. To move codes between devices you use the encrypted local sync over Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, or an animated QR code, or an encrypted backup file you control.
Does Tokn work on phones without Google services?
Yes. Tokn has no Google Play Services dependency and is published on F-Droid as well as Google Play, so it runs fine on de-Googled phones.
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Get Tokn
Install the app, add your first account in a few seconds, and keep your second factor where it belongs: with you.