Comparison

Macquarie Authenticator vs Pearler

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

Head to head
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.

About

Pearler

This app simplifies investing for long-term financial independence. Discover your style with shares, LICs, and ETFs, or use template portfolios. Build wealth with automated investing and track your progress towards your goals.

Highlights
  • Share, LIC, and ETF investing
  • Low trading fees
  • Template portfolios
  • Set-and-forget Autoinvest
  • Financial goal tracking
  • Community insights
Features
Read full description

Build financial independence, no matter where you are on the investing journey. Pearler can help you get there – it’s investing made simple again. Pearler is a share trading app designed to help you invest smart to build financial independence. We don’t have all the answers (nobody does), but we’re on a mission to help you find your own. With the Pearler app, you can: • Discover your investing style through shares trading, LICs and ETF investing • Avoid hidden fees and simply pay low fees per trade • Choose assets to invest in or use a template portfolio to get you started • Build wealth while you sleep with a set-and-forget Autoinvest strategy • Track your progress towards financial independence or any other financial goal • Follow Finfluencers to learn and help you find your investing path Get rich slow – that’s the Pearler mantra. Real investing should be about going the distance. Investing should be boring. That’s why Pearler is built for long-term investors, not traders. No FOMO, no get-rich-quick stock tips, just insights from a community you can trust. With Pearler, you don’t do the journey alone. Plus, you can earn investment credits for referring your friends! Ready to build your wealth? Download the Pearler app for free and start your journey today. IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ The information is prepared by Pearler Investments Pty Ltd t/a Pearler (ABN 32 625 120 649) (Pearler) who is an authorised representative (AFS Representative No. 1281540) of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd (ABN 18 136 960 775, AFSL 337927) (Sanlam). At Pearler, we strive to make investing for your long-term goals easier and fun but we only provide general information and/ or general advice. We have not taken into consideration any of your personal circumstances, objectives, financial situation or needs nor do we use your preferences or search history to tailor your user experience. Any information is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal circumstances, objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on the information, you should consider its appropriateness, having regard to your personal circumstances, objectives, financial situation and needs. You may also wish to consider seeking appropriate financial, taxation and/or legal advice. All investments carry risk. You may lose some or all of your money invested. Except as expressly disclosed otherwise, the performance of an investment or the repayment of capital is not guaranteed. Please view our Financial Services Guide (https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide) before deciding to use or invest on Pearler.

Screenshots

Macquarie Authenticator3 screens
Pearler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pearler at 5.0 against Macquarie Authenticator's 3.0. Pearler also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (25% vs 15%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Pearler holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Macquarie Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 25% of Pearler's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Macquarie Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, Pearler weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Macquarie Authenticator versus Pearler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMacquarie AuthenticatorPearler
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.8% of reviews24.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings24 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size220 MB130 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMacquarie Bank LimitedPearler Investments

Customer experience

Macquarie Authenticator

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

Pearler

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews125 reviews
Positive24.8%
Neutral17.6%
Negative57.6%

Bugs and requests

Macquarie Authenticator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pearler

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Login failures and authentication errors
  • Buttons not responding or not clickable
  • App crashes during purchases and transactions
  • Verification email code input not working
  • Address field not accepting input
Show 15 more
  • File upload rejecting documents (too large or wrong format)
  • Blank screens when switching between apps
  • Password reset loop - multiple resets required
  • Face ID and biometric sign-in not working
  • App freezing on loading screens
  • Back button functionality broken
  • Text overlapping and pixelated graphics
  • Net wealth graph showing incorrect or broken data
  • Verification process rejecting correct information
  • Automatic investments not executing as scheduled
  • Incorrect capital growth calculations for US stocks
  • Cannot find sell functionality after UI updates
  • Account reactivation blocked by email already registered error
  • Chat support feature causing app crashes
  • Inactive buttons until screen is reset

Requested features

15 requests
  • Complete UI/UX overhaul with modern design
  • Dark mode option
  • Back button that returns to previous screen, not top level
  • Daily/YTD/annual returns data display
  • Ability to see stock price trends and daily changes
Show 10 more
  • Watch list for stocks not yet owned
  • Customizable dashboard with less information clutter
  • Native mobile app instead of web wrapper
  • Reduce frequency of mandatory updates
  • Better customer service and support options
  • Faster fund transfer and transaction processing
  • Ability to schedule ASX purchases for later dates
  • Better accessibility for vision-impaired users
  • Option to choose between old and new dashboard designs
  • Restore lifetime earnings display without paywall

In-app purchases

None

Macquarie Authenticator

No in-app purchases

None

Pearler

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Macquarie Authenticator free?
Macquarie Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pearler free?
Pearler is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Macquarie Authenticator or Pearler?
Pearler is rated higher. Macquarie Authenticator averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Pearler averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Macquarie Authenticator or Pearler have ads?
Neither Macquarie Authenticator nor Pearler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Macquarie Authenticator or Pearler?
Macquarie Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pearler weekly. Most recently, Macquarie Authenticator was updated on October 17, 2026 and Pearler on October 15, 2026.

Other comparisons