# ID.me Authenticator vs Authenticator ® App

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ID.me Authenticator at none against Authenticator ® App's 13. ID.me Authenticator also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (100K vs 3.2K). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator ® App sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. ID.me Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for ID.me Authenticator against 4.4 for Authenticator ® App. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ID.me Authenticator has 100K ratings behind it against 3.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 12% of ID.me Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 19% of Authenticator ® App's.

ID.me Authenticator ships an update every 2 months, Authenticator ® App every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ID.me Authenticator | Authenticator ® App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (100K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idme-authenticator/id1446335066/reviews) | **[4.4 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id6480253221/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **100K** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | 12.3% of reviews | **19.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#42** | #87 |
| Size | 22 MB | 135 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | +17 |
| Developer | [ID.me](https://appshunter.io/developer/1189278595) | [MatechMobile Software JSC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1567017153) |

## What reviewers say

### ID.me Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idme-authenticator/id1446335066)

**Currently charting:** #42 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

This app provides a free multi-factor authentication solution for your account, adding an extra security layer to prevent unauthorized access. It generates secure verification tokens, including time-based codes and push notifications, to confirm your identity during login.

**Highlights:** Multi-factor authentication (MFA), Time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), Push notification verification, Mobile security keys, Account protection from hackers

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Comprehensive identity verification
- 👍 Clean and straightforward interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent technical issues
- 🕰️ Slow and unresponsive support
- 🤯 Confusing and frustrating workflow
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
- 🙍‍♀️ Poor user experience for non-tech-savvy individuals

**Reported bugs**

- Repeated login failures
- Inability to upload documents successfully
- Inconsistent error messages
- Compatibility issues with certain phone models

**Requested features**

- Improved customer support with live agents
- Simplified identity verification process
- Compatibility with more device types
- Ability to reset passwords and accounts easily


### Authenticator ® App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id6480253221)

**Currently charting:** #87 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app enhances online security by managing two-factor authentication codes for over 1,000 applications. It offers features like password leak detection, VPN protection, and secure password autofill, with cloud backups and biometric security options.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication code generation, Password leak detection, VPN protection, Password and account autofill, Cloud backups, Biometric security (Face ID, Touch ID), Organize apps with folders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Siri integration, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Plan | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VPN Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Plan | $12.99 | per month |
| Monthly VPN Plan | $14.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Upgrade Plan | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly 7 Day Free Plan | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Plan | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly VPN Plan | $69.99 | per year |
| One-time Payment | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Reliable and efficient
- 🚀 Smooth experience
- 🔒 Keeps accounts safe

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work as expected
- 💰 Not free, charges subscription fees
- 🔒 Poor security, unable to log in
- 🤖 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🤔 Misleading advertising

**Reported bugs**

- Camera not working for face scan
- Unable to find authentication codes
- Codes not working, locked out of accounts

**Requested features**

- Add option to cancel subscription
- Improve customer support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ID.me Authenticator free?

ID.me Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Authenticator ® App free?

Authenticator ® App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ID.me Authenticator or Authenticator ® App?

Authenticator ® App is rated higher. ID.me Authenticator averages 4.3 out of 5 from 100K ratings, while Authenticator ® App averages 4.4 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do ID.me Authenticator or Authenticator ® App have ads?

Authenticator ® App shows ads; ID.me Authenticator does not.

### Which is updated more often, ID.me Authenticator or Authenticator ® App?

ID.me Authenticator ships an update every 2 months, and Authenticator ® App every 5 weeks. Most recently, ID.me Authenticator was updated on September 25, 2026 and Authenticator ® App on September 22, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ID.me Authenticator or Authenticator ® App?

ID.me Authenticator currently peaks at #42 in the App Store charts, and Authenticator ® App at #87. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*