Comparison

CA Auth ID vs SMART Union

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CA Auth ID

Enhance online security with two-factor authentication using your iPhone. This app generates unique identification certificates for secure logins to websites and networks, protecting your accounts from unauthorized access.

Highlights
  • Two-factor strong authentication
  • Generates identification certificates
  • Securely accesses online banking
  • Protects corporate VPNs
  • PKI-based cryptographic keys
Features
Read full description

NOTE: CA Auth ID is the new name of the former CA ArcotID PKI app. The CA Auth ID App provides 2-factor strong authentication using your iPhone. Online sites using CA Auth ID authentication provide better logon security using something you’re already carrying, your iPhone. Using the CA Auth ID App is as simple as entering a password, and a lot more secure. How does it work? To access your favorite site or network, you first get a CA Auth ID soft token from that site. Your CA Auth ID soft token is unique to you and to the site you are accessing. When you enter your password, the CA Auth ID app combines your password with the CA Auth ID soft token on the iPhone to generate a identification certificate and sends it automatically to the site for verification. Your password is not stored on the phone, nor is it transmitted to the web portal. A fraudster cannot access your accounts with just your password or just your iPhone. Even if you lose your iPhone, the attacker cannot brute-forece attack the password. The CA Auth ID soft token can be used to securely access your online banking accounts, personal Web sites, corporate VPNs or anywhere that you typically use a password. Why is it secure? Each user account gets a CA Auth ID soft token. The CA Auth ID soft token contains PKI-based cryptographic keys used to securely authenticate you to an online site. CA Technology’s patented technology protects these keys so that an attacker cannot use them, even if he gets your iPhone. How can I use it? Follow the instructions on the site that issued the CA Auth ID soft token. Or if you want to sign up for a demonstration account and experience CA Auth ID authentication for yourself, go to http://mobile.arcot.com/aid/gettingstarted.html

About

SMART Union

Stay informed with union news and important notifications. Access member benefits, local union information, and resources to manage your meeting experience with schedules and maps.

Highlights
  • Union news updates
  • Important notifications
  • Member benefits access
  • Local union information
  • Meeting schedules and maps
  • Member resources
Read full description

The new SMART Union app gets information to members faster and easier than ever before! STAY INFORMED Keep up to date with SMART news, and receive important notifications and updates. GET ANSWERS FAST Access member benefits, Local Union information, and member resources MANAGE YOUR VISIT Maximize your meeting experience with session schedules, maps, and more.

Screenshots

CA Auth ID3 screens
SMART Union4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SMART Union at 3.3 against CA Auth ID's 1.0. SMART Union also leads on review sentiment (29% vs 5%) and ratings volume (28 vs 3). CA Auth ID's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SMART Union holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SMART Union has 28 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 5% of CA Auth ID's written reviews are positive against 29% of SMART Union's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CA Auth ID versus SMART Union: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCA Auth IDSMART Union
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (3 ratings)3.3 (28 ratings) — better
Positive reviews5.3% of reviews28.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings328 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB165 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCA, IncInternational Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers

Customer experience

CA Auth ID

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive5.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative94.7%

SMART Union

All ratings28 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative71.4%

In-app purchases

None

CA Auth ID

No in-app purchases

None

SMART Union

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CA Auth ID free?
CA Auth ID is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SMART Union free?
SMART Union is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CA Auth ID or SMART Union?
SMART Union is rated higher. CA Auth ID averages 1.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while SMART Union averages 3.3 from 28 ratings.
Do CA Auth ID or SMART Union have ads?
Neither CA Auth ID nor SMART Union shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CA Auth ID or SMART Union?
CA Auth ID ships an update every 2 months, and SMART Union every 2 months. Most recently, CA Auth ID was updated on September 19, 2026 and SMART Union on September 28, 2026.

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