# Authenticator

> Authenticator generates 2-Step Verification codes in your browser.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/auth-helper](https://chrome-stats.com/d/auth-helper)

## Overview

- **ID:** `auth-helper`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** mymindstorm
- **Category:** privacy-security
- **Daily users:** 157,753
- **Weekly downloads:** 4,070
- **Rating:** 4.26 / 5 (400 ratings)
- **Version:** 8.0.2
- **Last updated:** 2024-09-19
- **First published:** 2017-11-19
- **Size:** 2.89 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-06
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/auth-helper/)
- **Website:** [https://github.com/Authenticator-Extension/Authenticator/wiki/Firefox-Issues](https://github.com/Authenticator-Extension/Authenticator/wiki/Firefox-Issues)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/auth-helper/privacy/](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/auth-helper/privacy/)

## Description

Authenticator is a powerful Chrome extension that generates two-factor authentication (2FA) codes directly in your browser, enhancing the security of your online accounts. It supports multiple authentication protocols including TOTP, HOTP, Steam Guard, and Blizzard Authenticator.

Key features include the ability to add accounts by scanning QR codes, quick account searching with keyboard shortcuts, multi-language support, and strong encryption of your secrets. Users can securely back up their authentication data to files, Google Drive, or Dropbox, and optionally sync with their Firefox Account. This extension emphasizes privacy and security, recommending encrypted backups and safe storage of your secrets. Additionally, Authenticator is open source, allowing transparency and community trust.

## Rankings

- #115 — Overall
- #48 — Privacy & Security
- #2 — education
- #4 — education
- #6 — catalog
- #12 — category

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `activeTab`
- `storage`
- `identity`
- `alarms`
- `scripting`

### Host permissions

- `https://www.google.com/`
- `https://*.dropboxapi.com/*`
- `https://www.googleapis.com/*`
- `https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/revoke`
- `https://graph.microsoft.com/me/*`
- `https://login.microsoftonline.com/common/oauth2/v2.0/token`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** Very high risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Request access to the following domains: google.com, dropboxapi.com, googleapis.com, microsoft.com, microsoftonline.com
- This extension was updated more than 6 months ago. Older versions are more likely to be stable and safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

Summary: Users broadly praise Authenticator for its clean, lightweight UI, reliable performance on Firefox desktop, and strong import/export options with local, privacy-minded storage and optional encrypted backups. Some users appreciate cross-device syncing and mobile support planning. Recurrent complaints center on backup reliability (TXT exports and nags), privacy worries about Google data access, QR code enrollment failures, confusing instructions leading to lockouts, and platform gaps like no Firefox Android version.

### Pros

- Generally positive reviews, with users expressing that Authenticator is loved and reliable for daily use.
- Clean, simple, and lightweight user interface that makes it easy to manage codes.
- Strong import/export and backup options, including support for plain text otpauth links and JSON backups.
- Local storage design with privacy focus, giving users control over their secrets (no forced cloud syncing), plus optional encrypted backups to cloud services.
- Cross-device syncing via a Mozilla account is valued, with expectations for mobile support continuing.

### Cons

- Backup reliability issues are recurring (TXT backups can be incomplete, and occasional nags about backup processes).
- Privacy concerns about data access to Google services ( questions about data flow when using cloud backup options).
- QR code enrollment can fail or be problematic, forcing manual entry which is slower and frustrating for users.
- Confusing instructions can lead to lockouts or difficulties using the addon for some users.
- Platform limitations: lack of Firefox Android support currently, limiting use on mobile devices.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Authenticator](https://chrome-stats.com/d/authenticator_mozilla) — 335 users, 4.00 / 5
- [2FA](https://chrome-stats.com/d/2fa_exten) — 90 users
- [EasyAuth](https://chrome-stats.com/d/easyauth) — 1 users, 1.00 / 5
- [2! Authenticator](https://chrome-stats.com/d/2-authenticator) — 17 users
- [Auth Plus](https://chrome-stats.com/d/foxauth) — 42 users, 4.56 / 5
- [Authenticator - 2FA](https://chrome-stats.com/d/authenticator-2fa) — 889 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Authenticator App](https://chrome-stats.com/d/authenticator-2fa-secure) — 372 users, 3.00 / 5
- [AuthZ Pro – Authenticator Extension for PC Browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/authz-pro) — 1 users
- [Authenticator App](https://chrome-stats.com/d/authenticator-app) — 1,359 users, 2.80 / 5
- [2FA Authenticator](https://chrome-stats.com/d/2fa_fire) — 36 users
- [2FAFast Authenticator](https://chrome-stats.com/d/2fafast-authenticator) — 8 users
- [Vault2FA - 2FA authenticator in browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/vault2fa) — 136 users, 5.00 / 5

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/auth-helper)