# Authenticator App vs Auth

The clearest difference is rating: Authenticator App at 4.8 against Auth's 4.2. Authenticator App also leads on ads (none vs shown). Auth's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 72%) and ratings volume (365 vs 32). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Auth sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Auth has 365 ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Authenticator App's written reviews are positive against 87% of Auth's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Authenticator App ships an update fortnightly, Auth every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator App | Auth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-sentinel/id1189922806/reviews)** | [4.2 (365 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auth-authenticator-app/id6470453559/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **365** |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | **87.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Tommaso Carpi](https://appshunter.io/developer/714996025) | [婷 兰](https://appshunter.io/developer/1666722179) |

## 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)


### Auth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auth-authenticator-app/id6470453559)

Enhance your online security with this app that generates time-based one-time passwords. Protect your accounts from unauthorized access by enabling two-factor authentication and scanning QR codes. Secure your digital life with robust encryption and convenient backup options.

**Highlights:** Generates one-time tokens, Two-factor authentication, Encrypted vault, Password/biometric unlock, Supports HOTP and TOTP, Automatic iCloud backups, Multiple entry methods

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Robust security features
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Convenient multi-device sync
- 🚀 Reliable performance
- 🔒 Secure backup and recovery options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent ads disrupting usage
- 💰 Paid premium version required for ad-free experience

**Reported bugs**

- Ads interfering with account setup
- Occasional crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved free tier with fewer ads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Is Auth free?

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

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

Authenticator App is rated higher. Authenticator App averages 4.8 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Auth averages 4.2 from 365 ratings.

### Do Authenticator App or Auth have ads?

Auth shows ads; Authenticator App does not.

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

Authenticator App ships an update fortnightly, and Auth every 2 weeks. Most recently, Authenticator App was updated on September 29, 2026 and Auth on September 30, 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.*