# Authenticator vs X

The clearest difference is price: X at Free against Authenticator's $0.99. X also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Authenticator's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#188 vs unranked). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

X is free to download; Authenticator costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Authenticator ships an update every 2 months, X daily. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator | X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-auth-app/id1511791282/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#188** | — |
| Size | 7 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [兵 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1492987808) | [Bao Tran](https://appshunter.io/developer/1541146400) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-auth-app/id1511791282)

**Currently charting:** #188 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

Secure your online accounts with this open-source two-factor authentication app. It supports TOTP and offers multiple convenient setup and export options, all while remaining completely offline and private.

**Highlights:** TOTP algorithm support, QR code scanning for setup, Import accounts from files, Manual account entry, Export account keys, Offline functionality, Open-source

**In-app purchases:** none


### X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-qr-code-scanner-and-generator/id6740887337)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator free?

Authenticator costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is X free?

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

### Do Authenticator or X have ads?

X shows ads; Authenticator does not.

### Which is updated more often, Authenticator or X?

Authenticator ships an update every 2 months, and X daily. Most recently, Authenticator was updated on September 24, 2026 and X on September 22, 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.*