# Duo Mobile vs Authenticator App ⁸

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Duo Mobile at 68% against Authenticator App ⁸'s 25%. Duo Mobile also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). Authenticator App ⁸'s advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App ⁸ sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Duo Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

Duo Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Duo Mobile has 2.3M ratings behind it against 898, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Duo Mobile's written reviews are positive against 25% of Authenticator App ⁸'s.

Duo Mobile ships an update fortnightly, Authenticator App ⁸ every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Duo Mobile | Authenticator App ⁸ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duo-mobile/id422663827/reviews)** | [4.6 (898 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id6744388310/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.3M** | 898 |
| Positive reviews | **68.2% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | #99 |
| Size | 46 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Duo Security LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/413163561) | [Secure Shield Tech](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807464826) |

## What reviewers say

### Duo Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duo-mobile/id422663827)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Free · Business (US App Store)

Enhance login security with two-factor authentication. Generate passcodes or use one-tap push notifications for seamless access to your accounts. Manage authentication for multiple applications and web services.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication, Passcode generation, Push notification authentication, One-tap login, Manage multiple accounts

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Provides an extra layer of security
- 🚀 Quick and convenient authentication
- 🔒 Secure login experience
- 👍 Straightforward and user-friendly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable notifications and push functionality
- 🐛 Compatibility issues when changing devices
- 🐛 Slow and frustrating authentication process
- 🐛 Confusing and non-intuitive user interface
- 🐛 Forced use of the app causing inconvenience

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working as expected
- App not recognizing new devices after replacement
- Authentication process getting stuck or timing out
- Inability to recover accounts after device changes
- Unexpected language changes in the app

**Requested features**

- Allow more control and customization for users
- Improve integration with other authentication methods
- Provide better support and guidance for new users
- Add an option to remember trusted devices
- Streamline the authentication flow for faster access


### Authenticator App ⁸

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id6744388310)

**Currently charting:** #99 Top Grossing · Business (US App Store)

This app enhances password management and recall through memory-testing features and secure storage. It also provides two-factor authentication for an extra layer of online security.

**Highlights:** Password recall tests, Secure password manager, Two-factor authentication, Organize passwords, Enhance memory

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator 1 Week Premium | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator 1 Week Premium | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator 1 Year Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Authenticator 1 Year Premium | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Secure devices
- 😊 For security
- 👍 Good
- 👍 Best app on the hood
- 👍 Secure good devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Scam app
- 😠 Fake app
- 😠 Deceptive subscription
- 😠 Unnecessary paywalls
- 😠 Sneaky app

**Reported bugs**

- App does not work
- Bugs
- Authenticator app doesn't work most of the time
- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- Fix bugs
- Create something without bugs
- Allow use of existing Microsoft authenticator


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Duo Mobile free?

Duo Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Authenticator App ⁸ free?

Authenticator App ⁸ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Duo Mobile or Authenticator App ⁸?

Duo Mobile is rated higher. Duo Mobile averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.3M ratings, while Authenticator App ⁸ averages 4.6 from 898 ratings.

### Do Duo Mobile or Authenticator App ⁸ have ads?

Neither Duo Mobile nor Authenticator App ⁸ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Duo Mobile or Authenticator App ⁸?

Duo Mobile ships an update fortnightly, and Authenticator App ⁸ every 4 months. Most recently, Duo Mobile was updated on September 24, 2026 and Authenticator App ⁸ on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Duo Mobile or Authenticator App ⁸?

Duo Mobile currently peaks at #19 in the App Store charts, and Authenticator App ⁸ at #99. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*