# Authenticator App vs Authenticator

The clearest difference is update cadence: Authenticator at weekly against Authenticator App's every 4 months. Authenticator also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Authenticator App's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (136 vs 13). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Authenticator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator App holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator App has 136 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Authenticator App ships an update every 4 months, Authenticator weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator App | Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-and-mfa/id1621928288/reviews)** | [4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-security/id1642451164/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **136** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [BEYLER Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551010741) | [Hoa Huynh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642451166) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-and-mfa/id1621928288)

Securely store and generate two-factor authentication tokens for your online accounts. This app enhances your digital security by providing Time-based One-time Passwords (TOTP) and Hash-based one-time passwords (HOTP). It offers encrypted backups and cross-device access for peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication token generation, Time-based and Hash-based OTP support, Encrypted backup for security, Access across multiple Apple devices, Supports thousands of online accounts

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium | $19.99 | per year |


### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-security/id1642451164)

This app provides secure two-factor authentication (2FA) for your online accounts. It generates time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) to protect against unauthorized access, working with thousands of popular services. All data is encrypted for your privacy and security.

**Highlights:** Secure two-factor authentication (2FA), Generates Time-based One-time Passwords (TOTP), Works with thousands of popular online services, Encrypted data for enhanced security, Premium subscription options available

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Premium | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Is Authenticator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Authenticator App or Authenticator?

Authenticator App is rated higher. Authenticator App averages 4.5 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while Authenticator averages 4.2 from 13 ratings.

### Do Authenticator App or Authenticator have ads?

Neither Authenticator App nor Authenticator shows ads.

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

Authenticator App ships an update every 4 months, and Authenticator weekly. Most recently, Authenticator App was updated on September 17, 2026 and Authenticator on September 19, 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.*