# MFA vs Authenticator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MFA at none against Authenticator's 15. MFA also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 4 weeks). Authenticator's advantage is chart position (#184 vs unranked). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. MFA asks for nothing beyond the download.

MFA ships an update every 3 days, Authenticator every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MFA | Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-app/id6642706929/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 74.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#184** |
| Size | 1 MB | 202 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Florian Finder](https://appshunter.io/developer/1120974380) | [Vitalii Kuprenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1763634127) |

## What reviewers say

### MFA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mfa/id1598755729)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-app/id6642706929)

**Currently charting:** #184 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Secure your online accounts with two-factor authentication (2FA). Easily generate and store one-time codes by scanning QR codes or entering details manually. Offers data breach monitoring and a basic password manager for free, with premium features available via subscription.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication (2FA) code generation, QR code scanning for setup, Broad service compatibility, Data breach monitoring, Basic password manager, Unlimited 2FA accounts (subscription), Unlimited password manager with autofill (subscription)

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly PRO Access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly PRO Access | $4.99 | per month |
| Weekly PRO Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Access | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $11.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Pro Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual Unlimited Access | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Pro Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Forever Unlimited Access | $59.99 | one-time |
| Forever Unlimited Access | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick setup
- 🔒 Secure authentication
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Works flawlessly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Charges users despite cancellation
- 🐛 Incompatible with some services

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Unable to access 2FA for some services

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MFA free?

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

### Is Authenticator free?

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

### Do MFA or Authenticator have ads?

Authenticator shows ads; MFA does not.

### Which is updated more often, MFA or Authenticator?

MFA ships an update every 3 days, and Authenticator every 4 weeks. Most recently, MFA was updated on September 9, 2026 and Authenticator on October 2, 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.*