Kite app code vs external TOTP vs SMS OTP: which second factor to use

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Kite offers three ways to satisfy the second factor of a two-factor login: the in-app app code, an external authenticator TOTP, and SMS OTP. An external authenticator TOTP is the most secure and most reliable of the three, because it computes codes offline, removes the SIM and the telecom network from the attack surface, and lets you log in to Kite web without opening the Kite mobile app. The in-app app code is a solid default; SMS OTP is the weakest link and is best treated as a fallback only.

Kite app code: what it is and how it works as a login factor

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Kite app code is a six-digit time-based one-time password (TOTP) generated inside Zerodha’s Kite mobile app that you type into Kite web as the second factor of a two-factor login. After you enter your user ID and password on Kite web, the app shows a code that is valid for 30 seconds; entering it completes the login. Zerodha documents this as the default second factor for clients who have the Kite mobile app and have not switched to an external authenticator.

Kite App Code on WebNotes

Kite app code vs external TOTP vs SMS OTP: which second factor to use

Kite app code: what it is and how it works as a login factor