# Authenticator App vs Authenticator App

The clearest difference is ads: Authenticator App at none against Authenticator App's shown. Authenticator App also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 38%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). Authenticator App's advantage is ratings volume (547 vs 32) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Authenticator App sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator App holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator App has 547 ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Authenticator App's written reviews are positive against 38% of Authenticator App's.

Authenticator App ships an update every 3 weeks, Authenticator App every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator App | Authenticator App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-sentinel/id1189922806/reviews)** | [4.4 (547 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa/id1665498541/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **547** |
| Positive reviews | **72.4% of reviews** | 38.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 49 MB | 231 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tommaso Carpi](https://appshunter.io/developer/714996025) | [Fire Technologies Hong Kong Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871390749) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-sentinel/id1189922806)

Secure your online accounts with this app that manages all your two-factor authentication (2FA) codes in one place. It offers seamless syncing across devices, organized folders, and encrypted backups for peace of mind. Personalize your experience with custom icons and themes for easy account recognition.

**Highlights:** Manage all 2FA codes in one app, Seamless sync across Apple devices, Encrypted backups for code protection, Organize accounts with folders, Custom icons and themes, iOS & macOS widgets for quick access

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and set up
- 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices (iOS, macOS)
- 🔒 Secure and dependable 2FA solution
- 💡 Responsive and friendly developer
- 💰 One-time purchase/lifetime option appreciated

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Widgets not working consistently (Mac/iPhone)
- 💰 Paid app, no free tier for some features
- 🐛 Some users experienced issues with syncing
- 🐛 Codes not working for specific services (e.g., Discord, Amazon)
- 🐛 App stuck on loading tokens for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets not working on Mac Desktop and iPhone
- App stuck on loading tokens
- Syncing issues between devices
- Codes not working for specific services (Discord, Amazon)
- Unexpected charges/multiple purchases

**Requested features**

- Ability to reorder/hide folders
- Sort accounts by email address or service
- Show duplicates
- Show date service added
- Backup options (more explicit)


### Authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa/id1665498541)

This app generates secure two-factor authentication codes for your online accounts. It adds an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized access and offers cloud backup for your authentication keys. Easily add accounts by scanning QR codes or manual entry.

**Highlights:** Secure accounts with 2FA, Generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), Encrypted cloud backup and sync, Offline code generation, Add accounts via QR code or manual entry, Cross-device synchronization (Premium)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Full Version 3D TRIAL | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Full Version | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Full Version | $24.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription With Trial | $49.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Strong security and protection features
- ✅ Effective 2FA functionality
- 👍 Simple and straightforward to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Deceptive pricing model - advertised as free but charges subscription
- 💳 Aggressive upselling of premium/pro version
- ⚠️ Lack of transparency about costs
- 📞 Poor customer support and unresponsive developers
- 🔐 Suspicious data harvesting and privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- App stops working after initial setup period
- Users locked out of accounts
- Repeated unauthorized subscription charges
- App fails to function despite payment

**Requested features**

- Clear pricing disclosure upfront
- Better customer support channels
- Option to use app without premium subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Authenticator App or Authenticator App?

Authenticator App is rated higher. Authenticator App averages 4.8 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Authenticator App averages 4.4 from 547 ratings.

### Do Authenticator App or Authenticator App have ads?

Authenticator App shows ads; Authenticator App does not.

### Which is updated more often, Authenticator App or Authenticator App?

Authenticator App ships an update every 3 weeks, and Authenticator App every 9 days. Most recently, Authenticator App was updated on September 24, 2026 and Authenticator App on September 17, 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.*