# The authenticator App vs SafeKey Authenticator

The clearest difference is monetization model: SafeKey Authenticator at freemium against The authenticator App's subscription. SafeKey Authenticator also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). The authenticator App's advantage is ratings volume (67 vs 14). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 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 — 4.4 for The authenticator App against 4.4 for SafeKey Authenticator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 67 and 14 respectively.

The authenticator App ships an update every 4 weeks, SafeKey Authenticator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The authenticator App | SafeKey Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701/reviews) | **[4.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safekey-authenticator/id6447234445/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **67** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 19 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NextPixel apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1584487280) | [阳 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1784616893) |

## 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 |


### 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 The authenticator App free?

The 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, The authenticator App or SafeKey Authenticator?

SafeKey Authenticator is rated higher. The authenticator App averages 4.4 out of 5 from 67 ratings, while SafeKey Authenticator averages 4.4 from 14 ratings.

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

Neither The authenticator App nor SafeKey Authenticator shows ads.

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

The authenticator App ships an update every 4 weeks, and SafeKey Authenticator fortnightly. Most recently, The authenticator App was updated on September 25, 2026 and SafeKey Authenticator on August 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*