# BBSS vs Authenticator App

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BBSS at none against Authenticator App's 18. Authenticator App's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 6 weeks) and chart position (#40 vs unranked). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. BBSS asks for nothing beyond the download.

BBSS ships an update every 6 weeks, Authenticator App every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on August 1, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BBSS | Authenticator App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (49K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id1538761576/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **49K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 42.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#40** |
| Size | 15 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fennex Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1248475156) | [2Stable](https://appshunter.io/developer/1534145511) |

## What reviewers say

### BBSS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbss/id1529588082)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id1538761576)

**Currently charting:** #40 Top Grossing · Productivity, #44 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

This app provides secure two-factor authentication codes for your online accounts, enhancing security with encryption and backups. It offers seamless synchronization across Apple devices and quick access via widgets, even when offline.

**Highlights:** Secure & Private Encryption, Encrypted Backup, Automatic Synchronization, Quick Access Widget, Offline Code Generation, Multi-Account Import, Native Apple Experience

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator App | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator App | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Authenticator App | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator App | $39.99 | per year |
| Authenticator App | $49.99 | per year |
| Authenticator App Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Authenticator App | $49.99 | per year |
| Authenticator App | $69.99 | per year |
| Authenticator App | $69.99 | per year |
| Authenticator App Premium | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 👍 Easy to use and set up
- 💡 Excellent cross-device sync and backup
- 👍 Convenient desktop app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Limited free version
- 👎 Confusing setup and instructions
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- App not launching on M2 MacBook Air
- Widget showing incorrect codes
- Login issues after device changes

**Requested features**

- More widget customization options
- Bulk import/export of accounts
- Password manager integration
- Automatic locking and unlocking options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BBSS free?

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

### Is Authenticator App free?

Authenticator App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do BBSS or Authenticator App have ads?

Neither BBSS nor Authenticator App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BBSS or Authenticator App?

BBSS ships an update every 6 weeks, and Authenticator App every 10 days. Most recently, BBSS was updated on August 1, 2026 and Authenticator App on September 24, 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.*