# Yubico Authenticator vs WAVE ID Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: WAVE ID Mobile at 5.0 against Yubico Authenticator's 3.7. Yubico Authenticator's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 25 months) and ratings volume (268 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

WAVE ID Mobile holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Yubico Authenticator has 268 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, WAVE ID Mobile every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Yubico Authenticator | WAVE ID Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-id-mobile/id1498224533/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **268** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 42.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 25 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 4 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yubico](https://appshunter.io/developer/586890748) | [RF IDeas, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/983666252) |

## What reviewers say

### Yubico Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808)

Secure your online accounts with hardware-backed two-factor authentication. Store unique credentials on a physical security key, eliminating the need to store sensitive data on your mobile device. Generate verification codes without an internet connection for enhanced account protection.

**Highlights:** Hardware-backed security key storage, Touch or NFC authentication, USB-C support, Biometric unlock (FaceID/TouchID), QR code setup, User presence verification, Smart Card support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well with Yubikey
- 🔒 Secure storage of OATH secrets
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 NFC support added

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 NFC not working on some devices
- 🐛 Clunky UI for password-protected keys
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes reported
- 🐛 Incompatible with some devices (iPad, older iPhones)

**Reported bugs**

- NFC not working reliably
- Accounts disappearing after updates
- Calculation of codes not working
- Keyboard issues when using keys

**Requested features**

- Allow editing and rearranging of entries
- Add support for multiple keys per account
- Improve iPad/tablet support
- Add dark mode option
- Improve QR code scanning


### WAVE ID Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-id-mobile/id1498224533)

Transform your mobile device into a secure authentication credential for compatible readers. This app generates a unique ID for your phone, transmitting it wirelessly via Bluetooth for access control.

**Highlights:** Mobile device as authentication credential, Generates unique user identification number, Bluetooth transmission to compatible readers, Works with specific WAVE ID Mobile reader models, Requires Bluetooth 4.2 or higher

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Yubico Authenticator free?

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

### Is WAVE ID Mobile free?

WAVE ID Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Yubico Authenticator or WAVE ID Mobile?

WAVE ID Mobile is rated higher. Yubico Authenticator averages 3.7 out of 5 from 268 ratings, while WAVE ID Mobile averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Yubico Authenticator or WAVE ID Mobile have ads?

Neither Yubico Authenticator nor WAVE ID Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Yubico Authenticator or WAVE ID Mobile?

Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, and WAVE ID Mobile every 25 months. Most recently, Yubico Authenticator was updated on October 20, 2026 and WAVE ID Mobile on October 16, 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.*