# KDE Connect vs Proton Authenticator

The clearest difference is update cadence: Proton Authenticator at weekly against KDE Connect's every 3 months. Proton Authenticator also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.2). KDE Connect's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Proton Authenticator holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 271 and 242 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of KDE Connect's written reviews are positive against 56% of Proton Authenticator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

KDE Connect ships an update every 3 months, Proton Authenticator weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KDE Connect | Proton Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (271 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kde-connect/id1580245991/reviews) | **[4.4 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **271** | 242 |
| Positive reviews | **60.9% of reviews** | 56.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 8 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KDE e.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580245993) | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) |

## What reviewers say

### KDE Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kde-connect/id1580245991)

Seamlessly integrate your devices with features like a shared clipboard, file sharing, and remote control. Use your phone as a virtual touchpad or keyboard, and even control presentations remotely. All communication is secured with end-to-end encryption.

**Highlights:** Shared clipboard, File and URL sharing, Virtual touchpad and keyboard, Remote presentation control, Remote command execution, End-to-end encryption

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works seamlessly across devices
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🔒 Secure file transfer
- 💡 Innovative remote control features
- 🤖 Great for Linux/KDE integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and connectivity issues
- 🔋 Drains battery when running in the background
- 🤖 Limited functionality on iOS compared to Android
- 🤔 Pairing can be unreliable at times

**Reported bugs**

- Clipboard push feature not working
- App crashes on launch for some users
- Incompatibility with certain device/OS combinations
- Inability to discover/connect to devices in some cases

**Requested features**

- Add support for background operation
- Improve multi-file transfer capabilities
- Integrate with system share sheet
- Implement two-finger scrolling and other gestures
- Add SMS/notification sync features


### 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 KDE Connect free?

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

### Is Proton Authenticator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, KDE Connect or Proton Authenticator?

Proton Authenticator is rated higher. KDE Connect averages 4.2 out of 5 from 271 ratings, while Proton Authenticator averages 4.4 from 242 ratings.

### Do KDE Connect or Proton Authenticator have ads?

Neither KDE Connect nor Proton Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KDE Connect or Proton Authenticator?

KDE Connect ships an update every 3 months, and Proton Authenticator weekly. Most recently, KDE Connect was updated on September 11, 2026 and Proton Authenticator on September 22, 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.*