Aegis + syncthing for remote backups
this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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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.
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.
The more-than-one-year lifetime is a problem with anything, including plenty of Google projects. There are over 60 contributors on github, so that's something.
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.
until you need to update them, or when you need recovery when travelling
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.
Aegis seems to be just an app. The thing is, that I see an app as second option for accessing the data. I’d like to have a selfhosted service that is accessible independent from a device and – for convenience – has an app, too.
Ah, ok. Sounds like it's 2FAuth you're after. There's an app for it, too: auff. Or Bitwarden (Vaultwarden if you want everything that Bitwarden have with no paywalls.
Thank you! 2FAuth looks very promising. Especially with the Android app! I need to check out the repo and history when I'm back home, though. It seems to be a one-man show.
Yes, I agree and I have been thinking about install it and use it, too. But I do have Vaultwarden installed already :)
Vaultwarden
Then use KeePass(XC) and don't put your passwords in that database. Has/does everything you want if you can survive that it can also do more.
Has support for Steam OTP codes too.
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. 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 (I use KeepassXC on desktop and KeepassDX on Android).
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?
This question comes up all the time with KeepassXC... like its not a 2nd factor if the TOTP is in the same app as the password.
Factor 1 is knowing the master password, and
Factor 2 is having the password file.
Im not trying to suggest the KeepassXC is the best for all uses, but its sufficient for me in this context.
You can have a separate KeePass DB just for your TOTPs.
Seems s bit extra but ok.
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.
Also if someone gets into your password manager then they have all the keys to everything
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.
Came here to say this
Aegis Authenticator hits every one of your points. I know because I have the same requirements for a TOTP application.
I also use KeePass for all of my passwords. KeePass can do TOTP, but I prefer that to remain separate.
I’m happy with vaultwarden doing this for me.
I'm using FreeOTP from F-droid and imho 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.
+1 for FreeOTP+ - been using it for a while and it does everything I need.
Though development seems to have ceased for a few years now
Hmmm.
I've just noticed that FDroid FreeOTP (no "+") is newer (updated 3 weeks ago) than FreeOTP+ (updated 2 years ago)... which I thought it was a fork of...
Ok, thanks, I might have to reassess...
@solrize@lemmy.ml - I presume you're using the non-plus version??
I don't see a plus. It says "FreeOTP version 2.0.6 (48) © 2013-2023 - Red Hat Inc, et al". But I think I've gotten updates more recently than 2023.
Yep, that's the one... ie not the one I was using.
'K thanks.. looks lile I need to swap.
Stratum all the way
I second stratum, I think it ticks all your boxes.
Store the secrets on a Yubikey. They are unstealable then.
Yubico has their own GUI app or you can wrappers for their CLI tool to use something like dmenu, rofi or Fuzzel to pick one.
You can use deltachat with a totp app: it's simple, it's synchronized, there's no need to selfhost anything, ...
You can get it directly from deltachat
I'm using freeotp+ I don't know if it's any fancy, bit never had issues with it (I'm using it rather rarely)