# Authenticator App vs Authenticator

The clearest difference is update cadence: Authenticator App at every 10 days against Authenticator's every 2 months. Authenticator App also leads on ratings volume (32 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and Authenticator sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator App has 32 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Authenticator App ships an update every 10 days, Authenticator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator App | Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-sentinel/id1189922806/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-authentic/id6459019787/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 51 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tommaso Carpi](https://appshunter.io/developer/714996025) | [Committed Code Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1535330318) |

## 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 (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-authentic/id6459019787)

This app provides a secure way to manage two-factor authentication for various online accounts. It automatically generates one-time codes and supports easy setup via QR codes or manual entry. Accounts can be protected across social media, productivity, business, gaming, and finance platforms.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication management, Automatic one-time code generation, QR code setup, Manual account addition, Account export to new devices, Supports popular services

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authentic+ | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Authentic+ | $3.99 | per month |
| Authentic+ | $14.99 | per year |
| Authentic+ | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Is Authenticator free?

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

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

Authenticator is rated higher. Authenticator App averages 4.8 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Authenticator averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Authenticator App or Authenticator have ads?

Neither Authenticator App nor Authenticator shows ads.

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

Authenticator App ships an update every 10 days, and Authenticator every 2 months. Most recently, Authenticator App was updated on November 2, 2026 and Authenticator on November 3, 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.*