# Macquarie Authenticator vs Pearler

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Macquarie Authenticator | Pearler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macquarie-authenticator/id1441276749/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearler/id1559930798/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 14.8% of reviews | **24.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 220 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Macquarie Bank Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/455148996) | [Pearler Investments](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559930800) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Pearler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearler/id1559930798)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for beginners
- 💰 Low transaction fees (when prepaid)
- 🎯 Good for long-term investing and dollar-cost averaging
- 📊 Useful educational features and guides
- 🤖 Automated investment options available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches throughout app
- 🔐 Persistent login and authentication issues
- ⚠️ Poor UI/UX design and navigation
- 🔄 Constant mandatory app updates required
- ⏱️ Slow load times and performance lag

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*