# Semaphor vs Yubico Authenticator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Yubico Authenticator at none against Semaphor's 1. Yubico Authenticator also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 15%) and ratings volume (268 vs 15). Semaphor's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Semaphor sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per month. Yubico Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Yubico Authenticator holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Yubico Authenticator has 268 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Semaphor's written reviews are positive against 44% of Yubico Authenticator's.

Semaphor ships an update every 3 weeks, Yubico Authenticator monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Semaphor | Yubico Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semaphor/id1093566063/reviews) | **[3.7 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | 15.4% of reviews | **43.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 19 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SpiderOak, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/360584374) | [Yubico](https://appshunter.io/developer/586890748) |

## What reviewers say

### Semaphor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semaphor/id1093566063)

This app offers secure team communication and collaboration with end-to-end encryption and private blockchain technology. It provides features like direct messaging, file sharing, and project-specific channels for real-time teamwork.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Secure file sharing, Private direct messaging, Unlimited project channels, Real-time collaboration, Native offline mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal Plan Monthly | $8.99 | per month |


### Yubico Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808)

Secure your online accounts with hardware-backed two-factor authentication. Store unique credentials on a physical security key, eliminating the need to store sensitive data on your mobile device. Generate verification codes without an internet connection for enhanced account protection.

**Highlights:** Hardware-backed security key storage, Touch or NFC authentication, USB-C support, Biometric unlock (FaceID/TouchID), QR code setup, User presence verification, Smart Card support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well with Yubikey
- 🔒 Secure storage of OATH secrets
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 NFC support added

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 NFC not working on some devices
- 🐛 Clunky UI for password-protected keys
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes reported
- 🐛 Incompatible with some devices (iPad, older iPhones)

**Reported bugs**

- NFC not working reliably
- Accounts disappearing after updates
- Calculation of codes not working
- Keyboard issues when using keys

**Requested features**

- Allow editing and rearranging of entries
- Add support for multiple keys per account
- Improve iPad/tablet support
- Add dark mode option
- Improve QR code scanning


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Semaphor free?

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

### Is Yubico Authenticator free?

Yubico Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Semaphor or Yubico Authenticator?

Yubico Authenticator is rated higher. Semaphor averages 3.5 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Yubico Authenticator averages 3.7 from 268 ratings.

### Do Semaphor or Yubico Authenticator have ads?

Neither Semaphor nor Yubico Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Semaphor or Yubico Authenticator?

Semaphor ships an update every 3 weeks, and Yubico Authenticator monthly. Most recently, Semaphor was updated on June 1, 2026 and Yubico Authenticator on September 29, 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.*