# Auth vs The authenticator App

The clearest difference is rating: Auth at 5.0 against The authenticator App's 4.4. Auth also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). The authenticator App's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 38 months) and ratings volume (67 vs 4). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Auth sells 5 one-off in-app purchases 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.

Auth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The authenticator App has 67 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Auth ships an update every 38 months, The authenticator App every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Auth | The authenticator App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auth/id1437751869/reviews)** | [4.4 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **67** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 38 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 2 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oliver Hayman](https://appshunter.io/developer/914520817) | [NextPixel apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1584487280) |

## What reviewers say

### Auth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auth/id1437751869)

This app generates time-based one-time passwords for multi-factor authentication. It supports iCloud sync for seamless access across devices and offers quick code copying. It also recognizes TOTP QR codes for easy setup.

**Highlights:** Time-based one-time password generation, iCloud Sync for multi-device access, Tap to copy authentication codes, TOTP QR code recognition, iOS Dark Theme support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nice Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kind Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Amazing Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Unbelievable Tip | $19.99 | 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 Auth free?

Auth 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, Auth or The authenticator App?

Auth is rated higher. Auth averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while The authenticator App averages 4.4 from 67 ratings.

### Do Auth or The authenticator App have ads?

Neither Auth nor The authenticator App shows ads.

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

Auth ships an update every 38 months, and The authenticator App every 4 weeks. Most recently, Auth was updated on September 16, 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.*