When two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled on your account, you can generate one-time use backup codes to use as a 2FA method. Backup codes and your recovery code are all single use codes. The difference is that when you use your recovery code to log in to your Hopscotch account, 2FA is automatically removed from your Hopscotch account, so you will need to set it up again. However, when you use a backup code, only that one code is removed from your Hopscotch account, and all other 2FA authentication methods on your Hopscotch account remain.
Think of your recovery code as the last resort to regain access to your Hopscotch account if you cannot use any other 2FA authentication method to sign in.