# QR GO vs Proton Authenticator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Proton Authenticator at none against QR GO's 4. Proton Authenticator also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 21 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR GO sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Proton Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

QR GO ships an update every 21 months, Proton Authenticator weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR GO | Proton Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **242** |
| Positive reviews | — | 55.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 18 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stronger Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570617572) | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) |

## What reviewers say

### QR GO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-go-qr-code-reader-scanner/id1570617570)

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Monthly Promotion | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $79.99 | per year |


### Proton Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667)

Securely manage your two-factor authentication codes with an open-source, end-to-end encrypted authenticator app. It offers seamless cross-device syncing, effortless import from other apps, and robust backup options, all protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Take control of your digital security with a trusted and private solution.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted iCloud sync, Effortless import from other authenticators, Secure backup and export, Swiss privacy by design, Open source and transparent, Offline support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Cross-platform support
- 🔒 Secure cloud sync
- 👍 Easy import from other authenticators
- 🚀 Convenient 'next' feature for codes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy UI (scrolling jitters, random sorting)
- 👎 Lack of customization options (pin favorites, change icons)
- 🐛 Sync/login issues on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- Sync/login loop on iPad
- 2FA input broken on non-iPhone devices
- Screen strobing on iPad
- Duplicate entries after import

**Requested features**

- PIN unlock for desktop
- Alphabetical sorting option
- Export function (not just Proton-specific backup)
- Native macOS app
- Option to hide item icons


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR GO free?

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

### Is Proton Authenticator free?

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

### Do QR GO or Proton Authenticator have ads?

Neither QR GO nor Proton Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, QR GO or Proton Authenticator?

QR GO ships an update every 21 months, and Proton Authenticator weekly. Most recently, QR GO was updated on September 18, 2026 and Proton Authenticator on October 12, 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.*