# Yubico Authenticator vs XL Sidekick

The clearest difference is rating: XL Sidekick at 5.0 against Yubico Authenticator's 3.7. Yubico Authenticator's advantage is ratings volume (287 vs 4) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). 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.

XL Sidekick holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Yubico Authenticator has 287 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, XL Sidekick every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Yubico Authenticator | XL Sidekick |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (287 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xl-sidekick/id6751604755/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **287** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 42.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 4 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yubico](https://appshunter.io/developer/586890748) | [Vorne Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835995344) |

## 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


### XL Sidekick

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xl-sidekick/id6751604755)

Enhance manufacturing productivity with a companion app for XL devices. Enter data, view real-time production insights, and mirror operator displays on your mobile device. Securely access information from anywhere on your plant floor.

**Highlights:** Data entry via action screens, Real-time production data visualization, Operator display mirroring (scoreboard), Secure local network access, Free to use and support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Yubico Authenticator free?

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

### Is XL Sidekick free?

XL Sidekick is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Yubico Authenticator or XL Sidekick?

XL Sidekick is rated higher. Yubico Authenticator averages 3.7 out of 5 from 287 ratings, while XL Sidekick averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Yubico Authenticator or XL Sidekick have ads?

Neither Yubico Authenticator nor XL Sidekick shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Yubico Authenticator or XL Sidekick?

Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, and XL Sidekick every 4 months. Most recently, Yubico Authenticator was updated on October 29, 2026 and XL Sidekick on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*