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Hey!

I basically want to replace the Google Authenticator app in style and functionality:

1. List all TOTP tokens and their validity time (with a name and order I decide).
2. Allow me to periodically or on change back up the whole thing to some off-site storage, keeping the last N backups.
3. Have a native app for Android or an actually good PWA.
4. Don’t do magic bullshit like fetching icons, hide tokens, etc.
5. Be actually secure (i.e. don’t roll your own auth)
6. Just be a TOTP manager, and nothing more! No, I’m not interested in a password manager, thank you. I also don’t want any other OTP methods I don’t use.
7. Don’t be a one-man projects where the availability is not clear in >1 year.

Any experience is welcomed. Thank you!

Aegis + syncthing for remote backups

I’m using FreeOTP from F-droid and it suffices if you’re going to use a phone app at all. The ability to back up OTP keys in principle defeats the concept of 2FA but it’s hard to live without, once you have enough keys. The thing about retain last N backups is hard to enforce without special arrangements in your backup scheme.

This. Aegis does all of the points except offsite backups. And for good reason.
The Aegis app has no network permissions at all, which is obviously a massive boost for security and privacy. And besides, off-device backuping is a nightmare.

Syncing the Aegis backups made on change to some other server is better handled by a great dedicated app. Syncthing is the best such program (by far), though for the few files involved here nextcloud would work just as well.

Print out all the QR codes on a sheet of paper and keep them secure in a fire safe. That’s really the best way to keep them backed up and secure.

Yeah, either Aegis, or your favorite password manager with TOTP token support. Some of them have it built in. Though depending on what you do it might not be ideal to store them alongside the passwords.

I second Aegis. You can drag icons and rename tokens. You can also sort by a to z, last used, usage count, etc. Aegis supports automatic backups and can export plaintext or encrypted backup files, after which you can transfer them to other devices however you transfer other files from your phone.

The backup files work with Aegis and with several independent desktop apps depending on your OS of choice. While I haven’t looked into it, that suggests that the encryption method isn’t something homebrew.

As far as #6 goes Aegis doesn’t try to save my passwords, encourage me to use passkeys, or suggest AI solutions. Magic bullshit is a vague qualifier, but I think Aegis is thaumaturgically inert. The ‘icons’ are just the first letter of the name of the token issuer by default.

until you need to update them, or when you need recovery when travelling

Stratum all the way

If you need to update them, you just reprint and replace.

If you need to recover on the road, well that depends on your risk tolerance. I’m never away from home so long that it’s a problem, and pretty much every service has a way to bypass 2FA in case of emergency.

You might want to check Ente Auth. Not sure how many checkboxes it ticks for you but I know people are quite happy with it.

I second stratum, I think it ticks all your boxes.

No, I’m not interested in a password manager, thank you

Ok. But since you already use a password manager (right?), why not use its built-in TOTP management (I use KeepassXC on desktop and KeepassDX on Android). Why do you need yet-another-separate app?

If I really had to, I’d recommend Aegis.

But I’ll still recommend using a password manager.

Why do you need yet-another-separate app?

To keep your two factor codes and passwords separate in the event that your password manager is breached.

Also if you need a 2FA code to log into your password manager, how are you going to get it if its in the password manager that you can’t log into without the 2FA code inside it?

If you want to have them locally stored with export and import capability: Aegis.

If you want them in the cloud: Bitwarden. Just make sure to backup the 2FA tokens every now and then.

Fair enough.

I decided against web/network-based password managers for my personal needs since the additional attack surface is a concern. A Keepass database file synced across machines strikes a good balance for me (requires password + keyfile to open). It’s also simple to backup and protect.

So yeah, for you use case, I’d recommend Aegis Authenticator.