KeyNesta vs Aegis Authenticator
Current as of 2 October 2026. Aegis rows checked against the Aegis repository and wiki.
Aegis is the authenticator people recommend when the requirement is open source, offline, and no cloud. It is Android-only, free, encrypts its vault on the device, exports in plain or encrypted form, and — unusually for this category — it has groups. If you are on Android and you do not want a sync service in your life, it is an excellent app and we are not going to pretend otherwise.
Where it runs
| Where it runs | KeyNesta | Aegis Authenticator |
|---|---|---|
| Codes in a web browser | Yes, the full app | No |
| iPhone | No, built and in store review | No |
| Android | No, built and in store review | Yes |
| Desktop app | No | No |
Your data
| Your data | KeyNesta | Aegis Authenticator |
|---|---|---|
| Sync | Optional, zero-knowledge; the server holds ciphertext only | None by design; you move the vault file yourself |
| Backup | Encrypted backup file you keep, plus optional sync | Encrypted or plain vault export you keep |
| Export | Plain standard file, any time | Yes, plain or encrypted |
| Account needed | No account to start, no phone number ever | None at all |
| Open source | No | Yes |
Organization
| Organization | KeyNesta | Aegis Authenticator |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Vaults, spaces, nested groups, tags | Groups, one flat level |
| Folders that nest | Yes | No |
| Separate encrypted vaults | Yes | No |
Where Aegis is the better choice
If your threat model says no server should ever hold your tokens, even as ciphertext, Aegis is built for exactly that and KeyNesta is not. It is open source and auditable by anyone; KeyNesta is neither open source nor independently audited. And if every device you care about is an Android phone, Aegis's single-platform focus costs you nothing at all. Both apps are free.
Where KeyNesta is the better choice
Everything that is not an Android phone. Aegis has no iPhone app, no desktop app and no browser app, so a second device means copying a vault file around and keeping two copies in step by hand. The KeyNesta web app runs the full authenticator in any modern browser with no install and no sign-up, and optional zero-knowledge sync keeps devices in step without the server being able to read anything — each entry, group and space is encrypted before it leaves the device.
On organization, Aegis is one of the few competitors that has any, which is why this comparison is about depth rather than presence: one flat level of groups against coloured spaces, groups that nest, tags that cut across them, and separate cryptographically independent vaults, with ranked search over the full group path.
Honest gaps, in full: KeyNesta is not open source, has had no independent security audit, has no shared or team vaults, no browser extension and no desktop app, and its sync asks you to trust our servers with ciphertext — which Aegis never asks of you at all. Import from Aegis and 2FAS covers the move, and features lists the rest, including what is not built.
Sources
- Aegis Authenticator — repository
- Aegis wiki — importing from another app
- KeyNesta — everything it does, and what it does not
Frequently asked questions
Can KeyNesta import an Aegis vault?
It imports an unencrypted Aegis export. An encrypted Aegis vault cannot be read by KeyNesta, so export it without a password from Aegis, import it, then delete the plaintext file. The import shows a preview with duplicates flagged, and can be undone in one action.
Aegis already has groups. What does KeyNesta add?
Depth and separation. Aegis groups are a single flat level inside one vault. KeyNesta has coloured spaces, groups that nest as deep as you need, tags across the hierarchy, and separate vaults that each have their own passphrase, master key and sync account.
Is Aegis safer because it never touches a server?
For that threat model, yes. Aegis asks nothing of anyone's servers. KeyNesta's sync is optional and the server only ever holds ciphertext, but that is still more trust than none at all.
Try KeyNesta free. The web app needs no sign-up.
Open the web app All platforms