# The authenticator App vs Authenticator Duo

The clearest difference is rating: Authenticator Duo at 5.0 against The authenticator App's 4.4. Authenticator Duo also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 weeks). The authenticator App's advantage is ratings volume (67 vs 14). 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 Duo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator Duo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 67 and 14 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

The authenticator App ships an update every 4 weeks, Authenticator Duo every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The authenticator App | Authenticator Duo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701/reviews) | **[5.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-duo-two-factor/id6504300892/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **67** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Size | 19 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [NextPixel apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1584487280) | [Quentin Powell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1751779133) |

## 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 Duo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-duo-two-factor/id6504300892)

Secure your online accounts with this app that generates and stores two-factor authentication codes. It offers end-to-end encryption, Face ID/Touch ID access, and encrypted iCloud backups for easy restoration across devices. Operate securely offline and import existing tokens.

**Highlights:** Generate and store 2FA/MFA tokens, Scan QR codes or manually input codes, End-to-end encryption for all codes, Face ID & Touch ID access, Encrypted iCloud backups, Offline operation, Import existing tokens

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly subscription with trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The authenticator App free?

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

### Is Authenticator Duo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The authenticator App or Authenticator Duo?

Authenticator Duo is rated higher. The authenticator App averages 4.4 out of 5 from 67 ratings, while Authenticator Duo averages 5.0 from 14 ratings.

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

Neither The authenticator App nor Authenticator Duo shows ads.

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

The authenticator App ships an update every 4 weeks, and Authenticator Duo every 2 days. Most recently, The authenticator App was updated on September 25, 2026 and Authenticator Duo 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.*