# Authenticator App vs Rainbow Authenticator

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Rainbow Authenticator at 12.0 against Authenticator App's 16.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Rainbow Authenticator sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator App ships an update fortnightly, Rainbow Authenticator monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator App | Rainbow Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-sentinel/id1189922806/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **32** | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 50 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tommaso Carpi](https://appshunter.io/developer/714996025) | [彦欣 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/1628212399) |

## 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)


### Rainbow Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rainbow-authenticator/id6444103637)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly(30-day trial) | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Is Rainbow Authenticator free?

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

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

Neither Authenticator App nor Rainbow Authenticator shows ads.

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

Authenticator App ships an update fortnightly, and Rainbow Authenticator monthly. Most recently, Authenticator App was updated on September 29, 2026 and Rainbow Authenticator on September 19, 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.*