# Authenticator App vs Authenticator

Authenticator App and Authenticator both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 29% of Authenticator App's. Authenticator also leads on chart position (#194 vs unranked) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 400). Authenticator App's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). 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 $6.99 per 7 days and Authenticator sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 — 4.6 for Authenticator App against 4.7 for Authenticator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator has 2.5K ratings behind it against 400, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of Authenticator App's written reviews are positive against 75% of Authenticator's.

Authenticator App ships an update every 11 days, Authenticator every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator App | Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (400 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-two-factor/id1660270019/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-app/id6642706929/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 400 | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | **74.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#194** |
| Size | 34 MB | 202 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Linda Lopez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767333589) | [Vitalii Kuprenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1763634127) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-two-factor/id1660270019)

Secure your online accounts with this simple and safe two-factor authentication app. It generates 6-digit one-time passwords to add an extra layer of security against hackers. Protect your accounts by scanning QR codes or manually entering tokens.

**Highlights:** Secures online accounts, Generates 6-digit TOTP codes, Supports QR code scanning, Manual token entry, Offline code generation, Adds extra security layer

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator App Duo Authy | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator App Duo Authy | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator App Duo Authy | $14.99 | per month |


### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-app/id6642706929)

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Secure your online accounts with two-factor authentication (2FA). Easily generate and store one-time codes by scanning QR codes or entering details manually. Offers data breach monitoring and a basic password manager for free, with premium features available via subscription.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication (2FA) code generation, QR code scanning for setup, Broad service compatibility, Data breach monitoring, Basic password manager, Unlimited 2FA accounts (subscription), Unlimited password manager with autofill (subscription)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly PRO Access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly PRO Access | $4.99 | per month |
| Weekly PRO Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Access | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $11.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Pro Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual Unlimited Access | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Pro Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Forever Unlimited Access | $59.99 | one-time |
| Forever Unlimited Access | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick setup
- 🔒 Secure authentication
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Works flawlessly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Charges users despite cancellation
- 🐛 Incompatible with some services

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Unable to access 2FA for some services

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator App free?

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, Authenticator App or Authenticator?

Authenticator is rated higher. Authenticator App averages 4.6 out of 5 from 400 ratings, while Authenticator averages 4.7 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do Authenticator App or Authenticator have ads?

Both Authenticator App and Authenticator show ads.

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

Authenticator App ships an update every 11 days, and Authenticator every 3 weeks. Most recently, Authenticator App was updated on September 22, 2026 and Authenticator on September 23, 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.*