Comparison

Yubico Authenticator vs Pocket LSO

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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.

About

Pocket LSO

This toolkit provides Laser Safety Officers with essential mobile and web-based tools for laser classification, hazard analysis, and regulatory compliance. It simplifies complex calculations and report generation, streamlining safety management for professionals.

Highlights
  • Laser classification (IEC 60825-1, ANSI Z136.1)
  • NOHD calculator for CW and pulsed lasers
  • MPE & Optical Density computation
  • Broadband & LED hazard analysis (IEC 62471)
  • Outdoor laser operations hazard zones
  • Automated FDA CDRH 3632 reports
  • AI Laser Safety Agent
Features
Read full description

Pocket LSO™ — The Laser Safety Officer's Essential Toolkit Designed for iPhone and iPad. SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED — start with a 14-day FREE trial, then choose a monthly or annual plan (save 15% with annual). Cancel anytime. Stop juggling spreadsheets, standards PDFs, and half-broken calculator apps. Pocket LSO puts every tool a Laser Safety Officer needs right on your iPhone or iPad — AND unlocks the full lasersafety.net web portal so you can move seamlessly from a field measurement to a finished regulatory filing. MOBILE APP FEATURES • LASER CLASSIFICATION Classify Class 1, 1M, 2, 2M, 3R, 3B, and Class 4 lasers per IEC 60825-1 and ANSI Z136.1. Multi-wavelength support with additive exposure ratios, pulsed and CW emission, and full hazard breakdowns. • NOHD CALCULATOR Calculate the Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance for CW and pulsed lasers — including diffuse reflection NOHD for Class 4 systems and extended-source analysis. • MPE & OPTICAL DENSITY Compute Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) for skin and eye, and determine the exact optical density your protective eyewear needs. No more guessing from OD charts. • BROADBAND & LED HAZARD ANALYSIS Full IEC 62471 photobiological safety assessment for non-laser light sources — blue light, UV, IR, and retinal thermal hazards. • OUTDOOR LASER OPERATIONS Beam hazard zones for outdoor and airspace-adjacent operations: NOHD, Sensitive Zone, Critical Zone, and Laser Free Flight Zone per ANSI Z136.6 and FAA guidance. FULL WEB PORTAL INCLUDED Your subscription unlocks lasersafety.net — the complete web toolkit: → AUTOMATED FDA CDRH 3632 REPORTS Generate compliant draft product filings in minutes instead of days. Stop copying formulas from old Word templates. → AI LASER SAFETY AGENT Ask questions about standards, get guidance on classification edge cases, and draft safety documentation with an AI built on the same calculations the rest of the app uses. → DATASHEET SCANNER Pull laser specifications straight from manufacturer PDFs — wavelength, power, divergence, pulse parameters — with a single upload. → FMEA TOOL Structured Failure Mode & Effects Analysis for laser systems, with severity, occurrence, and detection tracking. → SOP GENERATOR Build fully compliant Standard Operating Procedures with section-by-section guidance. Export, review, share. → ADVANCED MODELING Interactive plots, combined beam geometries, and exposure modeling that go beyond what the mobile app alone can display. STANDARDS COVERED • IEC 60825-1 — Laser Products Safety • ANSI Z136.1 — Safe Use of Lasers • ANSI Z136.6 — Safe Use of Lasers Outdoors • IEC 62471 — Photobiological Safety • FDA 21 CFR 1040.10 / 1040.11 (CDRH) • ICNIRP Guidelines BUILT FOR PROFESSIONALS Pocket LSO is made for Laser Safety Officers, laser physicists, medical laser safety teams, research lab managers, defense program safety leads, entertainment lighting technicians, manufacturing QA teams, and anyone responsible for laser safety in the workplace. SUBSCRIPTION • 14-day FREE trial, then a recurring monthly or annual plan • Save 15% with annual vs. monthly • Pricing shown in your local currency above — set by App Store for your region • Includes the full iPhone/iPad app AND lasersafety.net web portal access • Managed through your Apple ID — cancel anytime in Settings • Internet connection required for some features Ready to stop guessing and start knowing? Start your free trial today and take the full power of professional laser safety compliance with you — everywhere you go. Laser Safety Net LLC · lasersafety.net Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Yubico Authenticator4 screens
Pocket LSO4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket LSO at 5.0 against Yubico Authenticator's 3.7. Pocket LSO also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). Yubico Authenticator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (268 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Pocket LSO sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Yubico Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pocket LSO 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, Pocket LSO every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Yubico Authenticator versus Pocket LSO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterYubico AuthenticatorPocket LSO
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (268 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews43.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings268 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYubicoLaser Safety Net LLC

Customer experience

Yubico Authenticator

All ratings268 ratings
Positive64.9%
Neutral6.7%
Negative28.4%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive43.6%
Neutral11.2%
Negative45.3%

Pocket LSO

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Pocket LSO

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Yubico Authenticator

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Pocket LSO

Subscriptions2
  • Pocket LSO Monthly Sub14 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Pocket LSO Annual Sub and Web tools14 Days trial$199.991 Year

Questions

Is Yubico Authenticator free?
Yubico Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pocket LSO free?
Pocket LSO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Yubico Authenticator or Pocket LSO?
Pocket LSO is rated higher. Yubico Authenticator averages 3.7 out of 5 from 268 ratings, while Pocket LSO averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Yubico Authenticator or Pocket LSO have ads?
Neither Yubico Authenticator nor Pocket LSO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Yubico Authenticator or Pocket LSO?
Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, and Pocket LSO every 2 weeks. Most recently, Yubico Authenticator was updated on September 14, 2026 and Pocket LSO on September 18, 2026.

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