# Hamster Authenticator vs Nova Standby

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hamster Authenticator at 100% against Nova Standby's 0%. Hamster Authenticator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (4 vs 1). Nova Standby's advantage is price (Free vs $5.99) and rating (4.0 vs 3.7). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Nova Standby is free to download; Hamster Authenticator costs $5.99 up front. Nova Standby sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hamster Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Nova Standby holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Hamster Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 0% of Nova Standby's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hamster Authenticator ships an update every 2 months, Nova Standby monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hamster Authenticator | Nova Standby |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamster-authenticator/id1586816631/reviews) | **[4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-standby-color-widgets/id6449999319/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 15 MB | 268 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [俊 林](https://appshunter.io/developer/1511359065) | [Beesoft Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1420966143) |

## What reviewers say

### Hamster Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamster-authenticator/id1586816631)

This app provides two-factor authentication with a strong focus on privacy and security. Your authentication codes are stored securely on your device and can be synced across multiple devices using iCloud Keychain.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication, Privacy-focused design, Secure on-device storage, iCloud Keychain sync, Cross-device compatibility

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Nova Standby

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-standby-color-widgets/id6449999319)

Personalize your device's home and standby screens with a variety of customizable widgets. Adjust colors, fonts, and styles to create a unique and visually appealing interface that reflects your personal taste.

**Highlights:** Personalize home and standby screens, Customizable widgets, Diverse functional widgets (time, date, calendar, weather), Adjustable fonts, colors, and styles, Up-to-date and diverse themes, Optimized for iOS 17

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime | Free | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hamster Authenticator free?

Hamster Authenticator costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Nova Standby free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hamster Authenticator or Nova Standby?

Nova Standby is rated higher. Hamster Authenticator averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Nova Standby averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Hamster Authenticator or Nova Standby have ads?

Neither Hamster Authenticator nor Nova Standby shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hamster Authenticator or Nova Standby?

Hamster Authenticator ships an update every 2 months, and Nova Standby monthly. Most recently, Hamster Authenticator was updated on October 5, 2026 and Nova Standby on September 25, 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.*