Yubico Authenticator vs KDE Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Yubico Authenticator
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.
- 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
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Store your unique credentials on a hardware-backed security key and take it wherever you go from mobile to desktop. No more storing sensitive secrets on your mobile phone, leaving your account vulnerable to takeovers. With the Yubico Authenticator you can raise the bar for security. * The Yubico Authenticator will work with any USB, Lightning, or NFC-enabled YubiKeys. * As iPads do not have NFC, they will only work through a Lightning or USB connection. The Yubico Authenticator generates a code used to verify your identity as you are logging into various services. No connectivity needed! Features include: Touch or NFC Authentication - Touch the YubiKey sensor or simply tap a YubiKey with NFC to a mobile phone that is NFC-enabled to store your credential on the YubiKey USB-C support - Connect the YubiKey 5Ci or any USB-C type YubiKey. When prompted, depending on the key, touch the contacts on the sides of the key or the golden ring on the top Biometric support - Experience greater convenience by unlocking your YubiKey with FaceID or TouchID Easy Setup - QR codes available from the services you wish to protect with strong authentication User Presence - New codes generated with just a touch or NFC tap of the YubiKey Compatible - Secure all the services currently compatible with other Authenticator apps Secure - Hardware-backed strong two-factor authentication with secret stored on the YubiKey, not on the mobile device Versatile - Support for multiple work and personal accounts Portable - Get the same set of codes across our other Yubico Authenticator apps for desktops as well as for all leading mobile platforms Flexible - Support for time-based and counter-based code generation Smart Card - Support for Apple's CryptoTokenKit Extension making it possible to use certificates stored on your YubiKey to authenticate with other apps and sites Experience security the modern way with the Yubico Authenticator. Visit yubico.com to learn more.
KDE Connect
Seamlessly integrate your devices with features like a shared clipboard, file sharing, and remote control. Use your phone as a virtual touchpad or keyboard, and even control presentations remotely. All communication is secured with end-to-end encryption.
- Shared clipboard
- File and URL sharing
- Virtual touchpad and keyboard
- Remote presentation control
- Remote command execution
- End-to-end encryption
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KDE Connect provides a set of features to integrate your workflow across devices: - Shared clipboard: copy and paste between your devices. - Share files and URLs to your computer from any app. - Virtual touchpad and keyboard: Use your phone screen as your computer's touchpad or keyboard - Remote presentation remote: control a laser pointer on the screen of your computer by moving your phone around. - Remote commands: run commands on your computer from your phone. - End-to-end TLS encryption: your information is safe. Please note you will need to install KDE Connect on your other computers/phones/tablets and keep the version up-to-date for the latest features to work. This app is part of an open source project and it exists thanks to all the people who contributed to it. Please visit the KDE Connect website to grab the source code.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: KDE Connect at 4.2 against Yubico Authenticator's 3.7. KDE Connect also leads on review sentiment (61% vs 44%) and device support (4 vs 2). Yubico Authenticator's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
KDE Connect holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 268 and 276 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Yubico Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 61% of KDE Connect's.
Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, KDE Connect every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.
| Parameter | Yubico Authenticator | KDE Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (268 ratings) | 4.2 (276 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 43.6% of reviews | 60.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 268 | 276 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yubico | KDE e.V. |
Customer experience
Yubico Authenticator
KDE Connect
User reviews
Yubico Authenticator
From 268 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works well with Yubikey
- 🔒 Secure storage of OATH secrets
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 NFC support added
Room to improve
- 🐛 NFC not working on some devices
- 🐛 Clunky UI for password-protected keys
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes reported
- 🐛 Incompatible with some devices (iPad, older iPhones)
KDE Connect
From 276 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works seamlessly across devices
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🔒 Secure file transfer
- 💡 Innovative remote control features
- 🤖 Great for Linux/KDE integration
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and connectivity issues
- 🔋 Drains battery when running in the background
- 🤖 Limited functionality on iOS compared to Android
- 🤔 Pairing can be unreliable at times
Bugs and requests
Yubico Authenticator
Reported bugs
4 issues- NFC not working reliably
- Accounts disappearing after updates
- Calculation of codes not working
- Keyboard issues when using keys
Requested features
5 requests- 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
KDE Connect
Reported bugs
4 issues- Clipboard push feature not working
- App crashes on launch for some users
- Incompatibility with certain device/OS combinations
- Inability to discover/connect to devices in some cases
Requested features
5 requests- Add support for background operation
- Improve multi-file transfer capabilities
- Integrate with system share sheet
- Implement two-finger scrolling and other gestures
- Add SMS/notification sync features
In-app purchases
Yubico Authenticator
No in-app purchases
KDE Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Yubico Authenticator free?
Is KDE Connect free?
Which has better reviews, Yubico Authenticator or KDE Connect?
Do Yubico Authenticator or KDE Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Yubico Authenticator or KDE Connect?
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