# Authenticator App vs Auth

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Auth at 87% against Authenticator App's 43%. Auth also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Authenticator App's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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 and Auth sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator App holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator App has 49K ratings behind it against 365, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 43% of Authenticator App's written reviews are positive against 87% of Auth's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Authenticator App ships an update fortnightly, Auth every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator App | Auth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (49K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id1538761576/reviews)** | [4.2 (365 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auth-authenticator-app/id6470453559/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **49K** | 365 |
| Positive reviews | 42.8% of reviews | **87.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#48** | — |
| Size | 251 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [2Stable](https://appshunter.io/developer/1534145511) | [婷 兰](https://appshunter.io/developer/1666722179) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator App

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

**Currently charting:** #48 Top Grossing · Productivity, #73 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


### Auth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auth-authenticator-app/id6470453559)

Enhance your online security with this app that generates time-based one-time passwords. Protect your accounts from unauthorized access by enabling two-factor authentication and scanning QR codes. Secure your digital life with robust encryption and convenient backup options.

**Highlights:** Generates one-time tokens, Two-factor authentication, Encrypted vault, Password/biometric unlock, Supports HOTP and TOTP, Automatic iCloud backups, Multiple entry methods

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Robust security features
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Convenient multi-device sync
- 🚀 Reliable performance
- 🔒 Secure backup and recovery options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent ads disrupting usage
- 💰 Paid premium version required for ad-free experience

**Reported bugs**

- Ads interfering with account setup
- Occasional crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved free tier with fewer ads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Is Auth free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Authenticator App or Auth?

Authenticator App is rated higher. Authenticator App averages 4.6 out of 5 from 49K ratings, while Auth averages 4.2 from 365 ratings.

### Do Authenticator App or Auth have ads?

Auth shows ads; Authenticator App does not.

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

Authenticator App ships an update fortnightly, and Auth every 2 weeks. Most recently, Authenticator App was updated on October 16, 2026 and Auth on October 4, 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.*