Comparison

Stake vs Macquarie Authenticator

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Stake

Invest in global markets with a single platform. Access US stocks, ETFs, and Australian shares with low brokerage fees. Manage your superannuation and explore income funds for diversified growth.

Highlights
  • Access 9,500+ Wall St stocks and ETFs
  • Invest in 2,500+ Aussie stocks, ETFs
  • Fractional shares from US$10
  • CHESS sponsorship for ASX shares
  • Income fund with target return
  • SMSF administration services
  • Paperless onboarding and tax reporting
Features
Read full description

Stake is a Sydney-based investing platform that breaks barriers between ambition and financial progress. Join 1M+ customers and get seamless access to ASX & Wall St stocks, an income fund, SMSF admin and more. EFFORTLESS U.S. INVESTING + Access 11,000+ Wall St stocks and ETFs + Invest from as little as US$10 with fractional shares + Extended Hours brings you pre-market and after hours trading ASX WITH CONFIDENCE + Invest in 2,500+ Aussie stocks, ETFs, exchange-traded bonds and more + Enjoy the security of CHESS sponsorship – your HIN, your shares + A$3 brokerage on all trades up to A$30K SIMPLE TRADING EXPERIENCE + $3 brokerage on all trades up to $30K (figures in USD for Stake Wall St) + Jump between markets with a single tap + Fund instantly with convenient methods including Apple Pay and Google Pay + Performance chart to track your overall returns + Paperless onboarding and uncomplicated tax reporting STAKE ACCUMULATE + An income fund with a target return 1.5-2% p.a. above the RBA cash rate + Ability to reinvest earnings with the aim of compounding over time + Move your money in and out with no exit fees + Features that aim to make up for shortfalls if the target return isn’t met + Read the Product Disclosure Statement for details STAKE SUPER + Take control of your super investments with Australia’s most hassle-free SMSF admin + SMSF setup, administration, accounting, audits and more from only $990/year + Seamless integration with Stake’s award-winning investing platform + Invest your own super in shares, property, and more + Refer a friend and split a $400 reward when they successfully join Stake Super SECURITY FOCUS + Stake and its partners are regulated in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. + Multi-factor authentication to help protect your account + Direct ownership of your ASX stocks via CHESS + Your U.S. shares are protected for up to US$500K under SIPC + Adherence to a strict privacy policy and commitment to data security STAKE REWARDS + Free U.S. stock when you open and fund your account + Refer friends to receive brokerage discounts and free stock + Bring A$1,000+ of ASX shares and get a year of $0 brokerage on Stake AUS + Transfer US$500 worth of U.S. stock to Stake Wall St and get a full $DBX share ADVANCED FEATURES WITH STAKE BLACK + View Analyst Ratings and Price Targets with Stake Black Wall St + Access Full Financials on U.S. stocks + Trade Wall St on unsettled funds with Instant Buying Power + See Market Depth and Course of Sales with Stake Black AUS + Memberships starting at A$12/month ***What the experts say: “Stake is a game changer.” — Motley Fool “Stake changed the investment scene.” — Canstar ***Over 12,000 5-star reviews: “The best place to invest in ASX and U.S. shares” — Mitchell R “Super simple, easiest set up, HIN and US tax forms all taken care of.” — Joe W “Stake’s platform is uncomplicated, so easy to navigate across markets and listings.” — Bruce S LEGAL At Stake, we’re focused on giving you a better investing experience, but we don’t take into account your personal objectives, circumstances or financial needs. When you invest, your capital is at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may receive back less than your original investment. All references and images are for demonstrative purposes only and is not a recommendation to invest in the securities listed. We recommend that you do your own research before making any investment decision. It may be appropriate to speak with a licensed financial adviser or seek appropriate taxation and legal advice. No representation or warranty is made as to the timeliness, reliability, accuracy or completeness of the material and Stake does not accept any responsibility arising from errors in, or omissions from, the data. Our full terms and conditions, privacy policy and disclaimers can be accessed on our website: https://hellostake.com/legal/terms-conditions

About

Macquarie Authenticator

Enhance your account security with this app, offering push notifications for transaction approval or denial and generating one-time passcodes for authentication. It provides a faster, more secure alternative to SMS, especially when traveling internationally.

Highlights
  • Push notifications for transaction approval/denial
  • Generate one-time rolling codes
  • Offline authentication with rolling codes
  • Manage pending tasks
  • PIN, fingerprint, and facial recognition unlock
Features
Read full description

Protect your Macquarie account with Macquarie Authenticator. Our two-factor authentication app is designed to maximise your security, while also providing a beautiful banking experience.​ Separate security, seamless experience Macquarie Authenticator works seamlessly with the Macquarie Mobile Banking app. Approve or deny requests in an instant, directly through your notifications, for stronger security that feels like a single, seamless flow. More secure than SMS  Unlike with SMS, you can see exactly what you’re approving. We send detailed alerts directly to your secure app, not your phone number. You’re in control Verify important transaction details upfront, such as the amount, recipient and location, so you can approve or deny transactions with confidence.

Screenshots

Stake4 screens
Macquarie Authenticator3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Stake at 4.3 against Macquarie Authenticator's 3.0. Stake also leads on review sentiment (35% vs 15%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Macquarie Authenticator's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Stake holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stake has 70 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Stake's written reviews are positive against 15% of Macquarie Authenticator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stake ships an update every 5 days, Macquarie Authenticator every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Stake versus Macquarie Authenticator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStakeMacquarie Authenticator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (70 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews34.7% of reviews — better14.8% of reviews
Number of ratings70 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size203 MB220 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperStakeMacquarie Bank Limited

Customer experience

Stake

All ratings70 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral7.1%
Negative12.9%
Written reviews372 reviews
Positive34.7%
Neutral7.8%
Negative57.5%

Macquarie Authenticator

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews108 reviews
Positive14.8%
Neutral4.6%
Negative80.6%

Bugs and requests

Stake

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Issues with login and account verification
  • Inconsistent order execution and pricing
  • Discrepancies between app and actual market data
  • Problems with deposit and withdrawal processing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add stop-loss and take-profit order types
  • Improve portfolio tracking and analytics
  • Introduce dark mode and customization options
  • Enhance news and research capabilities
  • Allow joint/shared account ownership

Macquarie Authenticator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Stake

No in-app purchases

None

Macquarie Authenticator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Stake free?
Stake is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Macquarie Authenticator free?
Macquarie Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Stake or Macquarie Authenticator?
Stake is rated higher. Stake averages 4.3 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Macquarie Authenticator averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Stake or Macquarie Authenticator have ads?
Neither Stake nor Macquarie Authenticator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Stake or Macquarie Authenticator?
Stake ships an update every 5 days, and Macquarie Authenticator every 3 weeks. Most recently, Stake was updated on October 29, 2026 and Macquarie Authenticator on October 29, 2026.

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