CA Auth ID vs SMART Union
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Two-factor strong authentication
- Generates identification certificates
- Securely accesses online banking
- Protects corporate VPNs
- PKI-based cryptographic keys
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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
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.
- Union news updates
- Important notifications
- Member benefits access
- Local union information
- Meeting schedules and maps
- Member resources
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CA Auth ID | SMART Union |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (3 ratings) | 3.3 (28 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 5.3% of reviews | 28.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 28 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 165 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CA, Inc | International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers |
Customer experience
CA Auth ID
SMART Union
In-app purchases
CA Auth ID
No in-app purchases
SMART Union
No in-app purchases







