Short answer: Microsoft Authenticator is the better app for most people. It does everything Google Authenticator does, plus passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts, number-matching push approvals, and encrypted cloud backup. Google Authenticator’s advantage is simplicity and the fact that it will export your tokens to any other app — something Microsoft’s backup makes harder in practice.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Microsoft Authenticator | Google Authenticator |
|---|---|---|
| TOTP codes | Yes | Yes |
| Push approval | Yes, with number matching | Google prompts only, outside the app |
| Passwordless sign-in | Yes, for Microsoft accounts | No |
| Cloud backup | Yes, via Microsoft account (+ iCloud on iOS) | Yes, via Google account |
| Export to another app | No direct export | Yes, QR export |
| App lock / biometrics | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Price | Free | Free |
The codes are identical — that is not the differentiator
Both apps implement the same published TOTP standard. Feed either one the same secret key and it will show the same six digits at the same moment. Neither is cryptographically stronger. If you want the mechanics, see how TOTP codes actually work.
The real differences are backup behaviour, portability, and what each app can do beyond generating codes.
Where Microsoft Authenticator pulls ahead
Number-matching push approvals
For Microsoft and Entra ID accounts, signing in shows a two-digit number on screen that you type into the app. This defeats “prompt bombing” — the attack where someone spams approval requests until a tired user taps Approve. A plain yes/no prompt is guessable; a number you must read from the login screen is not.
Passwordless sign-in
You can remove the password from a Microsoft account entirely and sign in with the app alone. Fewer passwords means fewer things to phish.
It handles work accounts properly
If your employer uses Microsoft 365 or Entra ID, the app supports conditional access, device registration, and enterprise policies. Google Authenticator has no equivalent.
Better backup on iOS
Backups can go to your Microsoft account and, on iPhone, to iCloud — giving you two recovery paths rather than one. Our roundup of the best 2FA apps for iPhone covers how rivals handle the same job.
Where Google Authenticator pulls ahead
You can leave
This is the underrated one. Google Authenticator has a built-in export flow that produces a QR code any other TOTP app can read. Decide in two years to move to Aegis, 2FAS, or Bitwarden, and it takes minutes.
Microsoft Authenticator has no equivalent export. Migrating away means logging into every service, disabling 2FA, and re-enrolling. With forty accounts, that is a lost weekend. It is the same lock-in problem we flagged in our Authy vs Google Authenticator comparison.
It does one thing
No accounts to create, no extra features, no upsell. Install, scan, done. For someone who wants a code generator and nothing else, that restraint is a feature.
Lighter and faster
Microsoft Authenticator carries a lot of enterprise machinery. Google’s app opens instantly and shows codes.
The concern that applies to both
Both apps back up to the account they are most likely protecting. Google Authenticator syncs to your Google account; Microsoft Authenticator syncs to your Microsoft account. If that account is compromised, the second factor for everything else may be reachable too.
The fix is the same for both: protect the parent account with a passkey or hardware security key rather than relying on the authenticator it contains. See passkeys vs 2FA for how to set that up.
Which should you choose?
Pick Microsoft Authenticator if…
- Your work uses Microsoft 365 or Entra ID — you will likely need it anyway
- You want number-matching push approvals rather than typing codes
- You want to go passwordless on your Microsoft account
- You are unlikely to switch authenticator apps again
Pick Google Authenticator if…
- You want the option to migrate to another app later
- You want the simplest possible tool with nothing to configure
- You are already securing your Google account with a passkey or hardware key
- You have no Microsoft accounts in your life
Pick neither if…
You want open-source code, desktop access, or per-folder organisation. Aegis on Android, 2FAS on iOS, or a password manager with TOTP will serve you better — see our roundup of authenticator app alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use both apps at the same time?
Yes, and it is a reasonable redundancy strategy. Scan the same setup QR code into both during enrolment and each will generate valid codes. You must do it at setup — most services will not show the QR code again.
Is Microsoft Authenticator safer than Google Authenticator?
Slightly, for Microsoft accounts, because of number matching and passwordless sign-in. For ordinary third-party TOTP codes, the two are equivalent.
Can I move my accounts from Microsoft Authenticator to Google Authenticator?
Not directly. There is no export of secret keys. You must disable and re-enable 2FA on each service, scanning the new QR code into Google Authenticator.
Does Microsoft Authenticator work for non-Microsoft accounts?
Yes. It handles standard TOTP for any service — GitHub, Amazon, your bank, anything that offers an authenticator option.
Do either work offline?
TOTP code generation works offline in both apps. Push approvals and cloud sync require internet.
The bottom line
If Microsoft is already part of your working life, Microsoft Authenticator is the stronger choice and you will end up with it regardless. If not, Google Authenticator’s export ability makes it the safer long-term bet — because the worst position to be in is one where leaving costs you a weekend. Whichever you pick, save offline backup codes and read our guide on what to do if you lose your phone before you need it.
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