# Standard Notes vs Bitwarden Authenticator

The clearest difference is rating: Standard Notes at 4.7 against Bitwarden Authenticator's 3.5. Standard Notes also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 41%) and ratings volume (3.8K vs 95). Bitwarden Authenticator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Standard Notes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $119.99 per year. Bitwarden Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Standard Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Standard Notes has 3.8K ratings behind it against 95, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Standard Notes's written reviews are positive against 41% of Bitwarden Authenticator's.

Standard Notes ships an update every 5 weeks, Bitwarden Authenticator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Standard Notes | Bitwarden Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/standard-notes/id1285392450/reviews)** | [3.5 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitwarden-authenticator/id6497335175/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.8K** | 95 |
| Positive reviews | **64.1% of reviews** | 41.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 92 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Standard Notes Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/586976285) | [Bitwarden Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1137397743) |

## What reviewers say

### Standard Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/standard-notes/id1285392450)

Securely capture and sync your thoughts across all devices with end-to-end encryption. This app offers a simple, lasting place for all your notes, from personal thoughts to sensitive information, with robust privacy features.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Cross-device syncing, Offline access, Passcode and biometric lock, Tagging system, Open-source code, Optional productivity editors and themes

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Plan | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable sync
- 🔒 Excellent privacy and security
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 📚 Great for organizing notes
- 💻 Cross-platform availability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔑 Frustrating login/authentication issues
- 💰 Expensive premium subscription
- 📱 Limited features in free version
- 🖍️ Lack of formatting options

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing or getting deleted unexpectedly
- Sync issues between devices
- Keyboard and UI bugs on mobile
- Compatibility problems with older iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add support for images and attachments
- Implement a more robust search function
- Introduce a dark mode option
- Allow for better note organization (folders, nested tags)
- Add undo/redo functionality


### Bitwarden Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitwarden-authenticator/id6497335175)

Generate secure verification codes for two-factor authentication on your device. This app supports any website or application using industry-standard TOTP, adding an extra layer of protection to your online accounts.

**Highlights:** Generate 2FA verification codes, Supports TOTP standard, Universal compatibility, Simple, intuitive interface, Adds extra layer of protection

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good start
- 🚀 Supports export and import
- 🔒 Backed by a trusted company
- 💡 Dedicated authenticator app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on launch
- 🐛 Search function not working
- 🐛 Backup not working as expected
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Search results showing placeholder codes
- Backup not restoring codes after device restore
- Crashes after app updates

**Requested features**

- Add icons for services
- Allow rearranging of entries
- Implement iCloud/cloud sync
- Add Apple Watch support
- Require biometric authentication on each app open


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Standard Notes free?

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

### Is Bitwarden Authenticator free?

Bitwarden Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Standard Notes or Bitwarden Authenticator?

Standard Notes is rated higher. Standard Notes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while Bitwarden Authenticator averages 3.5 from 95 ratings.

### Do Standard Notes or Bitwarden Authenticator have ads?

Neither Standard Notes nor Bitwarden Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Standard Notes or Bitwarden Authenticator?

Standard Notes ships an update every 5 weeks, and Bitwarden Authenticator fortnightly. Most recently, Standard Notes was updated on October 12, 2026 and Bitwarden Authenticator on October 7, 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.*