# HC Key vs Authenticator App ©

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HC Key at 100% against Authenticator App ©'s 33%. HC Key also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). Authenticator App ©'s advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (668 vs 121). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App © sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. HC Key asks for nothing beyond the download.

HC Key holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator App © has 668 ratings behind it against 121, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of HC Key's written reviews are positive against 33% of Authenticator App ©'s.

HC Key ships an update every 6 months, Authenticator App © every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HC Key | Authenticator App © |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (121 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hc-key/id1559953335/reviews)** | [3.9 (668 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id1662071074/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 121 | **668** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 32.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hartmann Controls Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1470461774) | [IntelliVision limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853739780) |

## What reviewers say

### HC Key

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hc-key/id1559953335)

This app allows you to use your smartphone to unlock doors, eliminating the need for physical credentials. Grant temporary access to visitors with customizable timeframes and usage limits.

**Highlights:** Unlock doors with smartphone, Replace physical credentials, Grant temporary visitor access, Customize access duration and usage, Easy user registration, Visitor access without app installation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Authenticator App ©

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id1662071074)

This app generates Time-based One-time Passwords (TOTP) for secure two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA). It simplifies logins by scanning QR codes and storing encrypted account data, offering backup and sync features.

**Highlights:** Generates Time-based One-time Passwords (TOTP), Supports Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Supports Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), QR code scanning for setup, Encrypted data storage, Secure backup and sync, Touch ID/Face ID authorization

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator Weekly PRO | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator Monthly PRO | $9.99 | per month |
| Authenticator Weekly Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator 6-Months PRO | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Authenticator Yearly Plan - Offer | $29.99 | per year |
| Authenticator Yearly PRO | $39.99 | per year |
| Authenticator Yearly PRO | $39.99 | per year |
| Authenticator Yearly Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| Authenticator Yearly Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| Authenticator Lifetime PRO | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Well-made app
- 🔒 Secure authentication
- 🚀 Quick and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Confusing setup process
- 🤔 Misleading pricing information

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Unable to add accounts
- Subscription issues

**Requested features**

- Free trial option
- Easier integration with other services
- More transparent pricing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HC Key free?

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

### Is Authenticator App © free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HC Key or Authenticator App ©?

HC Key is rated higher. HC Key averages 4.4 out of 5 from 121 ratings, while Authenticator App © averages 3.9 from 668 ratings.

### Do HC Key or Authenticator App © have ads?

Authenticator App © shows ads; HC Key does not.

### Which is updated more often, HC Key or Authenticator App ©?

HC Key ships an update every 6 months, and Authenticator App © every 2 months. Most recently, HC Key was updated on November 3, 2026 and Authenticator App © on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*