# 2FA vs The authenticator App

The clearest difference is monetization model: 2FA at free with in-app purchases against The authenticator App's subscription. The authenticator App's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 2FA sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and The authenticator App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

2FA holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 67 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of 2FA's written reviews are positive against 100% of The authenticator App's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

2FA ships an update every 3 months, The authenticator App every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 2FA | The authenticator App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2fa-totp-authenticator-app/id1219919851/reviews)** | [4.4 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **67** |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 59 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Taras Markevych](https://appshunter.io/developer/1219919850) | [NextPixel apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1584487280) |

## What reviewers say

### 2FA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2fa-totp-authenticator-app/id1219919851)

Enhance your digital security with this app, providing time-based one-time passwords for authentication across various platforms. It offers secure backups, easy migration from other authenticators, and organizational tools. Protect your accounts on finance, crypto, and social media services.

**Highlights:** Time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), Local and iCloud encrypted backups, Import from Google Authenticator, URLs, QR, Organize with folders, Home screen widgets, Offline token generation, Pin code and biometric security

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Month Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Remove Add | $5.99 | one-time |


### The authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701)

Securely manage all your two-factor authentication codes in one place. Scan QR codes or manually add accounts for easy access, protected by Face ID or password.

**Highlights:** 2FA Code Generation, QR Code Scanning, Centralized Account Management, Face ID Access, Password Lock

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The authy authenticator | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 2fa 2 factor authentication | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 2FA free?

2FA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The authenticator App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 2FA or The authenticator App?

2FA is rated higher. 2FA averages 4.6 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while The authenticator App averages 4.4 from 67 ratings.

### Do 2FA or The authenticator App have ads?

2FA shows ads; The authenticator App does not.

### Which is updated more often, 2FA or The authenticator App?

2FA ships an update every 3 months, and The authenticator App every 4 weeks. Most recently, 2FA was updated on September 15, 2026 and The authenticator App on September 11, 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.*