# Authenticator — Simple 2-factor authentication

> Free, open-source app for generating secure two-factor authentication codes. (iPhone/iPad app by Matt Rubin.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator/id766157276 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Matt Rubin](https://appshunter.io/developer/766157279)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.70/5 from 407 App Store ratings · 293 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 16 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2013-12-03
- Data updated: 2026-08-17
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator/id766157276/reviews.md

## What is Authenticator?

Authenticator is a simple, free, and open source two-factor authentication app. It helps keep your online accounts secure by generating unique one-time passwords, which you use in combination with your other passwords to log into supporting websites. The simple combination of the password in your head and the rotating passwords generated by the app make it much harder for anyone but you to access your accounts.

• Easy: Simple setup via QR code, "otpauth://" URL, or manual entry
• Secure: All data is stored in encrypted form on the iOS keychain
• Compatible: Full support for time-based and counter-based one-time passwords as standardized in RFC 4226 and 6238
• Off the Grid: The app never connects to the internet, and your secret keys never leave your device.

## Key features

- Generates one-time passwords
- QR code setup
- Encrypted data storage
- Time-based and counter-based OTP support
- Offline operation

## What do users think of Authenticator?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Secure, no cloud backup
- 👍 Clean and intuitive UI
- 💡 Open-source and transparent

**Cons**

- 🐛 Tokens easily deleted by accident
- 🔒 No backup/transfer options for tokens
- 🔒 Locked out when changing devices
- 🐛 Codes not working after app updates

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Blank screen on iOS 26 upgrade
- Codes not working on new devices
- Unable to log in to accounts after token loss

**Most requested features**

- Add biometric lock (Touch ID/Face ID)
- Ability to export/backup tokens
- Companion Apple Watch app
- Folder/tag organization for accounts

## Recent user reviews (10 of 293)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator/id766157276/reviews.md

### 3/5 — If you get a new iPhone you are done…

*2026-06-25, version 2.1.2*

Sorry but for me it’s not very nice to disable the possibility to back up my tokens in the apple cloud. Who the hell does backups and everything via iTunes this day? I don’t want to set up a new 1tb iPhone via iTunes! Perhaps this made sense in times of 64gb iPhones! But not now anymore! I will quit using this app and switch to something useful. What if I have two iPhones and two tablets? I just want to have it synced automatically and that’s it. I don’t wanna make 20 times 4 keys…

### 5/5 — Open source, gratuit, sans pub, sur iOS

*2026-05-29, version 2.1.2*

Parfait

### 1/5 — Doesnt work anymore

*2026-05-28, version 2.1.2*

As at 2026 it is not operational. Didntbwork but i used another app and it was fine.

### 5/5 — How to export?

*2026-05-12, version 2.1.2*

This is a great app that does nothing at all except display 2fa codes. All apps try to do everything. It is refreshing to see an app that does as little as possible.

A side effect of this is that it is not clear how to export the codes. Can the developer reply to this or email me and let me know?

I can handle complicated solutions like decrypting and dissecting a full phone backup if this is the only way. (but plz lmk where to get what)

### 5/5 — Great, but with one improvement please!

*2026-03-27, version 2.1.2*

If multiple Government Gateway IDs are created using the same email address and personal name, the Authenticator app displays all associated codes under that single name. This makes it difficult to identify which code corresponds to which company.

It would be very helpful to include an option to edit the display name or add an alias, allowing users to distinguish between accounts and select the correct code with ease.

Thank you for considering this improvement.

### 1/5 — No longer working

*2026-03-15, version 2.1.2*

Some of my MFA Codes are no longer working with Authenticator.

### 1/5 — Lose everything code

*2026-03-14, version 2.1.2*

That’s a major issue , i can’t log in to my account because that code was not showing and app can’t run

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work at all on IOS 26

*2026-02-05, version 2.1.2*

Been using this app for 2FA for years. Upgraded my phone to IOS 26 due to security updates no longer being available for IOS 18 and it turns out this app no longer works on IOS 26. It just shows a blank screen. I lost all my tokens which sucks.

### 1/5 — Не устанавливайте это приложение

*2026-01-09, version 2.1.2*

Очень грустно, телефон сломался, а на новом устройстве восстановить пароли никак нельзя. Очень не предусмотрено со стороны разработчика, так как у людей там могут храниться важные вещи

### 2/5 — No easy way to port to a new phone

*2025-12-17, version 2.1.2*

There’s no easy way to transfer the app contents to a new phone, even if you have them side by side. It wants me to do a full backup and restore from iTunes. Impractical.

## Frequently asked questions about Authenticator

### What does this app do?

This app is a free and open-source tool for two-factor authentication. It generates unique, time-sensitive one-time passwords (OTPs) that you use in addition to your regular passwords to log into supported online accounts, significantly increasing their security.

### How does it enhance account security?

By requiring both your existing password and a one-time password generated by the app, it creates a much stronger barrier against unauthorized access. Even if someone obtains your regular password, they would still need the current OTP to log in.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, this application is completely free to use. It is also open source, meaning its code is publicly available for review and modification.

### What devices is this app compatible with?

The provided description specifically mentions compatibility with iOS devices. It fully supports both time-based (TOTP) and counter-based (HOTP) one-time passwords as standardized in RFC 4226 and 6238.

### How do I set up an account with this authenticator?

Setup is designed to be simple. You can add accounts by scanning a QR code provided by the service you wish to secure, by entering an "otpauth://" URL, or by manually inputting the necessary details.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1.2 — 2019-06-01

This update fixes a crash that could occur when trying to manually enter a token on a 32-bit device (iPhone 5 or earlier).

### 2.1.1 — 2019-04-26

For users on iOS 12.2 and above, the app binary size has been reduced by more than 85%.

### 2.1.0 — 2019-03-08

• Added a new menu where a user can select whether they prefer passwords shown in groups of two digits or groups of three.
• Fixed a user interface bug that could occur after a user declined the app's request for camera access.

### 2.0.5 — 2018-09-19

• Added an alert to ask the user for confirmation before permanently deleting a token.

### 2.0.4 — 2018-04-29

This release fixes an issue that was causing the app to crash on launch for some users.

## Apps similar to Authenticator

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Authenticator App ™](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id6443508147) | 4.4 (24,169) | Free | Utilities |
| [Authenticator app - 2FA, MFA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-mfa/id1625466768) | 4.6 (5,694) | Free | Utilities |
| [Authenticator™ App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id6449135969) | 4.1 (436) | Free | Utilities |
| [InstAddr](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instaddr/id806157957) | 4.5 (953) | Free | Utilities |
| [Authenticator ·](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator/id1602061522) | 4.6 (26,199) | Free | Utilities |
| [Octohide VPN: Private & Secure](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octohide-vpn-private-and-secure/id6443674175) | 3.7 (307) | Free | Utilities |

## Related topics

[matt rubin](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/matt-rubin) · [google two factor authentication](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/google-two-factor-authentication) · [time based one time password](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/time-based-one-time-password) · [canara offline otp](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/canara-offline-otp) · [authenticator 2fa by keepsolid](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/authenticator-2fa-by-keepsolid) · [2fa authenticator password app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/2fa-authenticator-password-app) · [authenticator otp manager](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/authenticator-otp-manager) · [tofu authenticator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tofu-authenticator) · [onelogin otp](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/onelogin-otp) · [duo push app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/duo-push-app) · [two factor authenticator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/two-factor-authenticator) · [two factor authenticator 2fa](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/two-factor-authenticator-2fa) · [alpaca authenticator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/alpaca-authenticator) · [authenticator app password](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/authenticator-app-password) · [bofa authenticator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bofa-authenticator) · [two-factor authentication app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/two-factor-authentication-app) · [mobile authenticator otp](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/mobile-authenticator-otp)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-17.*