# The authenticator App vs Authenticator

The clearest difference is monetization model: Authenticator at free with in-app purchases against The authenticator App's subscription. Authenticator also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 4 weeks). The authenticator App's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (67 vs 6). On price, 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 sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The authenticator App holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The authenticator App has 67 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The authenticator App ships an update every 4 weeks, Authenticator daily. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and August 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The authenticator App | Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701/reviews)** | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-otp-security/id6736878953/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **67** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 19 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NextPixel apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1584487280) | [Toni Pessey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775740925) |

## 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-otp-security/id6736878953)

This app enhances account security by generating time-based, one-time passwords for two-factor authentication. It works offline and supports multiple accounts for emails, social media, and banking.

**Highlights:** Time-based one-time password generation, Offline code generation, Supports multiple accounts, Unlimited code generation (subscription), Multi-device sync (subscription), Cloud backup (subscription)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| authenticatorWeekTrial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| authenticatorMonth | $19.99 | per month |
| authenticatorYear | $49.99 | per year |
| authenticatorLifeTime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The authenticator App free?

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

### Is Authenticator free?

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

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

The authenticator App is rated higher. The authenticator App averages 4.4 out of 5 from 67 ratings, while Authenticator averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.

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

Neither The authenticator App nor Authenticator shows ads.

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

The authenticator App ships an update every 4 weeks, and Authenticator daily. Most recently, The authenticator App was updated on September 11, 2026 and Authenticator on August 27, 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.*