Comparison

Instant Guard vs QNAP Authenticator

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

Head to head
About

Instant Guard

This app provides a secure VPN connection, allowing you to browse anonymously and protect your financial information on public Wi-Fi. It enables remote access to your home ASUS router, ensuring your privacy and security wherever you go.

Highlights
  • One-click VPN connection
  • Secured and encrypted connectivity
  • Anonymous browsing
  • Change IP address and location
  • Remote ASUS router access
Features
Read full description

Instant Guard is basing on VPN feature of ASUS Router and only available for manager now. Use the Instant Guard app when you connect to public Wi-Fi and just as you are using safety network at home - ensuring your personal privacy remains safe and financial information protected. Instant Guard allows you easily access to your ASUS router at home while you are away and keeps 100% anonymous while you browser bank, shop and chat with Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection. In the future, this feature will improve to allow to share VPN connection permissions to your friends or family members. Key Feature : 1.One-Click Operation 2.Secured and encrypted connectivity 3.Surf Anonymously 4.Change your IP Address and Location *The ASUS routers sold in the CN region do not support Instant Guard. Instant Guard app supports the following ASUS router. RT-BE96U RT-AXE7800 RT-AX92U RT-AX89X RT-AX88U_Pro RT-AX88U RT-AX86U_PRO RT-AX86U RT-AX86S RT-AX82U_V2 RT-AX82U RT-AX68U RT-AX59U RT-AX58U_V2 RT-AX58U RT-AX57_Go RT-AX57 RT-AX56U RT-AX55 RT-AX5400 RT-AX54 RT-AX53U RT-AX52 RT-AC88U RT-AC86U RT-AC3100 RT-AC5300 GS-AX3000 GS-AX5400 GT6 GT-AC2900 GT-AC5300 GT-AX11000 GT-AX11000_PRO GT-AX6000 GT-AXE11000 GT-AXE16000 TUF-AX3000 TUF-AX3000_V2 TUF-AX4200 TUF-AX5400 TUF-AX6000 ZenWiFi CT8 ZenWiFi XD4 ZenWiFi XD5 ZenWiFi XD6 ZenWiFi XP4 ZenWiFi XT9 ZenWiFi AX (XT8) ZenWiFi AX Hybrid (XC5) ZenWiFi ET8 ZenWiFi Pro ET12 ZenWiFi Pro XT12

About

QNAP Authenticator

Enhance your account security with this mobile app that provides 2-Step Verification and Passwordless Login. It offers multiple verification methods, including login approval, QR code scanning, and online codes, with TOTP support for offline use and third-party accounts.

Highlights
  • 2-Step Verification
  • Passwordless Login
  • Login Approval
  • QR Code Verification
  • Online Verification Code
  • Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP)
  • Offline TOTP generation
Read full description

QNAP Authenticator is a free app that adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by using your mobile device to verify your login. You can authenticate your identity using 2-Step Verification or Passwordless Login and choose from multiple verification methods. 【Requirements】 - QNAP NAS running QTS 5.1.0 (or later) - iOS 15 (or later) 【Major features of QNAP Authenticator】 - Supports 2-Step Verification and Passwordless Login - Supports scanning a QR code to quickly add an account - Supports the following verification methods:  1.Login Approval: Approve a login request with just a tap  2.QR Code: Scan a QR code to verify a login request  3.Online Verification Code: Receive a code sent from your QNAP device for verification  4.Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP): Generate a code automatically renewed for verification Login Approval, QR Code, and Online Verification Code require a connection to your NAS, whereas TOTP can work offline. This method also supports verifying third-party accounts from Google, Microsoft, Facebook, GitHub, and other service providers that have implemented their authentication following the TOTP standard.

Screenshots

Instant Guard4 screens
QNAP Authenticator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Instant Guard at 3.4 against QNAP Authenticator's 2.0. Instant Guard also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 20%) and ratings volume (61 vs 12). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Instant Guard holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instant Guard has 61 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Instant Guard's written reviews are positive against 20% of QNAP Authenticator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Instant Guard ships an update every 2 months, QNAP Authenticator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Instant Guard versus QNAP Authenticator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInstant GuardQNAP Authenticator
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (61 ratings) — better2.0 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews38.5% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings61 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASUSQNAP Systems, Inc.

Customer experience

Instant Guard

All ratings61 ratings
Positive54.1%
Neutral9.8%
Negative36.1%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive38.5%
Neutral13.5%
Negative48.1%

QNAP Authenticator

All ratings10 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

Bugs and requests

Instant Guard

Reported bugs

31 issues
  • Auto connection still conflicts
  • Cannot connect after current iOS update
  • Cellular data severely affected
  • Auto protect feature comes on when on cellular network
  • IP Address did not change
Show 26 more
  • App has stopped working
  • No longer works
  • Breaks internet connection completely
  • Useless - Won't connect
  • Stuck at finding router
  • Not a VPN as IP address does not change
  • Auto protect feature ignores settings
  • Share feature simply doesn't work
  • iOS 17 still not working
  • Stopped working after updating
  • Not working with iOS 16.5.1
  • No luck on Mac Studio
  • Won't connect
  • iOS 16.5 incompatible
  • Disconnects every hour or so
  • Can't share connection
  • Connection drops
  • Super buggy app
  • Terrible app with terrible support
  • Worked before, now stopped
  • No ability to share connection
  • Router not detected
  • No Internet connection
  • Kills internet connection
  • Slower upload compared to OpenVPN
  • Router crashed multiple times when connected to WiFi

Requested features

11 requests
  • Add split tunnelling
  • Automatic connection when leaving home network
  • Ability to automatically connect/disconnect based on WiFi network
  • Shortcuts widget for one-touch control
  • Automation capabilities
Show 6 more
  • Family sharing option
  • Set time for VPN disconnection or make disconnection longer
  • Improve auto connect function on iOS
  • Fix auto protect feature on cellular
  • More information on app and web admin page
  • Add option to turn VPN on/off automatically

QNAP Authenticator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Instant Guard

No in-app purchases

None

QNAP Authenticator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Instant Guard free?
Instant Guard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is QNAP Authenticator free?
QNAP Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Instant Guard or QNAP Authenticator?
Instant Guard is rated higher. Instant Guard averages 3.4 out of 5 from 61 ratings, while QNAP Authenticator averages 2.0 from 12 ratings.
Do Instant Guard or QNAP Authenticator have ads?
Neither Instant Guard nor QNAP Authenticator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Instant Guard or QNAP Authenticator?
Instant Guard ships an update every 2 months, and QNAP Authenticator every 3 months. Most recently, Instant Guard was updated on September 20, 2026 and QNAP Authenticator on September 15, 2026.

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