# Authenticator App vs SafeKey Authenticator

The clearest difference is update cadence: SafeKey Authenticator at fortnightly against Authenticator App's every 4 months. SafeKey Authenticator also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Authenticator App's advantage is ratings volume (136 vs 14) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 SafeKey Authenticator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Authenticator App against 4.4 for SafeKey Authenticator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator App has 136 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Authenticator App ships an update every 4 months, SafeKey Authenticator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator App | SafeKey Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-and-mfa/id1621928288/reviews)** | [4.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safekey-authenticator/id6447234445/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **136** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 19 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BEYLER Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551010741) | [阳 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1784616893) |

## 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 |


### SafeKey Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safekey-authenticator/id6447234445)

This app provides secure two-factor authentication (2FA) for your online accounts. It generates one-time passwords, offers encrypted backups, and supports Face ID for quick logins. Protect your accounts with this user-friendly authenticator.

**Highlights:** Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Time-based One-time Passwords (TOTP), Encrypted data storage, Encrypted cloud backup, Multi-device synchronization, Face ID and Touch ID unlock, Quick widgets for faster access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP member | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| VIP member | $59.99 | per year |
| VIP member | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Is SafeKey Authenticator free?

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

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

Authenticator App is rated higher. Authenticator App averages 4.5 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while SafeKey Authenticator averages 4.4 from 14 ratings.

### Do Authenticator App or SafeKey Authenticator have ads?

Neither Authenticator App nor SafeKey Authenticator shows ads.

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

Authenticator App ships an update every 4 months, and SafeKey Authenticator fortnightly. Most recently, Authenticator App was updated on October 12, 2026 and SafeKey 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.*