# Auth0 Guardian vs Authenticator app

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Authenticator app at 68% against Auth0 Guardian's 15%. Authenticator app also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.4) and ratings volume (5.8K vs 114). Auth0 Guardian's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator app sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Auth0 Guardian asks for nothing beyond the download.

Authenticator app holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator app has 5.8K ratings behind it against 114, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Auth0 Guardian's written reviews are positive against 68% of Authenticator app's.

Auth0 Guardian ships an update every 3 months, Authenticator app monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Auth0 Guardian | Authenticator app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (114 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auth0-guardian/id1093447833/reviews) | **[4.6 (5.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-mfa/id1625466768/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 114 | **5.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 14.6% of reviews | **67.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 20 MB | 279 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Auth0](https://appshunter.io/developer/1076692516) | [Maxima Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1153277200) |

## What reviewers say

### Auth0 Guardian

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auth0-guardian/id1093447833)

This app provides multi-factor authentication by sending push notifications to your device for easy approval or denial of account access. It can also generate one-time passwords for secure logins.

**Highlights:** Push notification authentication, Allow/deny account access, One-time password generation, Multi-factor authentication, Secure login

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Generally reliable authenticator
- 👍 Intuitive and simple
- 👍 Clean easy to use app
- 👍 Beautiful app that works
- 👍 Worked just fine

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Notifications not working properly
- 🐛 No more Apple Watch or lock screen approval
- 🐛 Cannot approve from Apple Watch
- 🐛 Push notifications stopped working
- 🐛 App is garbage

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working properly on iPhone iOS
- Limited notification configuration settings
- Apple Watch notification not working
- Push notifications not working
- New update broke Apple Watch approvals

**Requested features**

- Allow account transfer to another phone
- Create a feature to transfer connected accounts to the same app on another phone
- Add watch capability
- Needs a watch version
- Add Apple Watch notification support


### Authenticator app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-mfa/id1625466768)

This app provides secure two-factor authentication for over 1000 popular online accounts. It offers quick access via widgets and Apple Watch, and ensures your data is safe with no internet exchange. Easily set up accounts by scanning QR codes or entering secret keys.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication (2FA), Multi-factor authentication (MFA), Supports 1000+ apps, Apple Watch support, Quick widget support, QR code scanning, Encrypted backup

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Authenticator App Premium Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Authenticator App Weekly Premium | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Authenticator Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Authenticator App Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Access 3 Month Trial | $69.99 | per year |
| Authenticator Premium Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |
| Authenticator Premium Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |
| Authenticator App Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure authentication
- 👍 Reliable and works well
- 🚀 Quick and efficient
- 👍 Helpful for account recovery

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💰 Expensive or hidden fees
- 🤯 Confusing setup and usage
- 🔒 Issues with account access and recovery
- 🔋 Drains device battery

**Reported bugs**

- Codes not working or generating errors
- App crashing or freezing during use
- Accounts being deleted or inaccessible
- Compatibility issues with certain devices or platforms

**Requested features**

- Improved user interface and instructions
- Better compatibility with other apps and services
- Option to export/backup authentication codes
- Ability to easily manage and remove accounts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Auth0 Guardian free?

Auth0 Guardian is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Authenticator app free?

Authenticator app is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Auth0 Guardian or Authenticator app?

Authenticator app is rated higher. Auth0 Guardian averages 2.4 out of 5 from 114 ratings, while Authenticator app averages 4.6 from 5.8K ratings.

### Do Auth0 Guardian or Authenticator app have ads?

Neither Auth0 Guardian nor Authenticator app shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Auth0 Guardian or Authenticator app?

Auth0 Guardian ships an update every 3 months, and Authenticator app monthly. Most recently, Auth0 Guardian was updated on October 8, 2026 and Authenticator app on October 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*