# Stake vs Macquarie Authenticator

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Stake | Macquarie Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stake-stocks-etfs-smsf/id1399461540/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macquarie-authenticator/id1441276749/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **70** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **34.7% of reviews** | 14.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 203 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stake](https://appshunter.io/developer/1399461539) | [Macquarie Bank Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/455148996) |

## What reviewers say

### Stake

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stake-stocks-etfs-smsf/id1399461540)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Best broker fee
- 🛒 Easy and efficient trading
- 🤖 Great for beginners
- 🔍 Comprehensive stock selection
- 🏆 Positive user experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚧 Unreliable platform performance
- 🕰️ Slow deposit and withdrawal times
- 🤖 Limited features compared to competitors
- 🤑 High fees and exchange rates
- 🤔 Unclear policies and poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macquarie-authenticator/id1441276749)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*