# The authenticator App vs Authenticator + 2FA

The clearest difference is monetization model: Authenticator + 2FA at freemium against The authenticator App's subscription. Authenticator + 2FA also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 4 weeks). The authenticator App's advantage is ratings volume (67 vs 11). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The authenticator App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Authenticator + 2FA sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator + 2FA holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The authenticator App has 67 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

The authenticator App ships an update every 4 weeks, Authenticator + 2FA every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The authenticator App | Authenticator + 2FA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701/reviews) | **[4.7 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-plus-2fa/id6444275196/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **67** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 19 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NextPixel apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1584487280) | [长金 陶](https://appshunter.io/developer/1657336976) |

## What reviewers say

### The authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701)

Securely manage all your two-factor authentication codes in one place. Scan QR codes or manually add accounts for easy access, protected by Face ID or password.

**Highlights:** 2FA Code Generation, QR Code Scanning, Centralized Account Management, Face ID Access, Password Lock

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The authy authenticator | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 2fa 2 factor authentication | $9.99 | per month |


### Authenticator + 2FA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-plus-2fa/id6444275196)

This app provides two-factor authentication for your online accounts, generating security codes and offering encrypted backups to protect against data loss or device switching. It supports popular platforms and enhances account security with an additional layer of protection.

**Highlights:** Two-Factor Authentication, Generate security codes, Push message notifications, Secure encrypted backups, Supports popular accounts, One-click local backup

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator Pro Month | $6.99 | per month |
| Authenticator Pro Lifetime | $15.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The authenticator App free?

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

### Is Authenticator + 2FA free?

Authenticator + 2FA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The authenticator App or Authenticator + 2FA?

Authenticator + 2FA is rated higher. The authenticator App averages 4.4 out of 5 from 67 ratings, while Authenticator + 2FA averages 4.7 from 11 ratings.

### Do The authenticator App or Authenticator + 2FA have ads?

Neither The authenticator App nor Authenticator + 2FA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The authenticator App or Authenticator + 2FA?

The authenticator App ships an update every 4 weeks, and Authenticator + 2FA every 6 days. Most recently, The authenticator App was updated on September 11, 2026 and Authenticator + 2FA on September 14, 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.*