# Yubico Authenticator vs CogniNote

The clearest difference is ads: Yubico Authenticator at none against CogniNote's shown. CogniNote's advantage is update cadence (daily vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, CogniNote daily. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Yubico Authenticator | CogniNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **268** | — |
| Positive reviews | 43.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 4 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yubico](https://appshunter.io/developer/586890748) | [Ceyhun Yildiz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896713712) |

## 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


### CogniNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cogninote/id6799358679)

**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 CogniNote free?

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

### Do Yubico Authenticator or CogniNote have ads?

CogniNote shows ads; Yubico Authenticator does not.

### Which is updated more often, Yubico Authenticator or CogniNote?

Yubico Authenticator ships an update monthly, and CogniNote daily. Most recently, Yubico Authenticator was updated on October 16, 2026 and CogniNote on October 10, 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.*