Comparison

PCWorld Digital Magazine US vs Proton Authenticator & 2FA

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

Head to head
About

PCWorld Digital Magazine US

Access expert reviews, analysis of tech trends, and practical tips for navigating the computer world. Enjoy engaging content optimized for your device, with offline reading and text-to-speech options.

Highlights
  • Optimized reading modes
  • Offline access
  • Bookmark and share articles
  • Text-to-speech functionality
  • New issue alerts
Features
Read full description

PCWorld helps you navigate the computer ecosystem to find the products you want and the advice you need to get the job done. PCWorld offers buying advice through opinionated reviews of new products, provides authoritative analysis of technology news and trends, and gives practical tips on everything from troubleshooting Windows to securing wireless networks. Engaging, jargon-free writing and friendly design make the magazine as enjoyable as it is useful. PCWorld Magazine is published 12 times a year. Subscriptions Available: 
 • 1-year subscription - $19.99, automatically renewed until canceled • 1-month subscription - $1.99, automatically renewed until canceled
 • Single-issue - $7.99 
SUBSCRIBERS’ AUTOMATIC-RENEWAL FEATURE: Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal, as stated above, within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Current subscriptions may not be cancelled during the active subscription period, but you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. NOTE: WHEN PURCHASING A SUBSCRIPTION OR SINGLE-COPY OF THIS TITLE, YOU AGREE TO THE PRIVACY POLICY AND TERMS OF SERVICE WHICH CAN BE VIEWED BY GOING TO: Privacy Policy: https://www.idg.com/terms-of-service-agreement/ Terms of Service: https://www.idg.com/terms-of-service-agreement/ 
KEY FEATURES:
 • OPTIMIZED FOR YOUR DEVICE: Easily toggle between the traditional magazine layout and the innovative text mode for a seamless reading experience, built for your iOS device 
• OFFLINE READING: Download your magazines to your device to read them whenever and wherever you want, even without an internet connection 
• BOOKMARK AND SHARE: Bookmark articles to read later, or share them with your friends • TEXT TO SPEECH: Listen to your favorite magazines and all of your articles on the go
 • NEW ISSUE ALERTS: Be the first to read the latest issues of your favorite magazines with new issue reminders

About

Proton Authenticator & 2FA

Securely manage your two-factor authentication codes with an open-source, end-to-end encrypted authenticator app. It offers seamless cross-device syncing, effortless import from other apps, and robust backup options, all protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Take control of your digital security with a trusted and private solution.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted iCloud sync
  • Effortless import from other authenticators
  • Secure backup and export
  • Swiss privacy by design
  • Open source and transparent
  • Offline support
Features
Read full description

Get the authenticator trusted by millions — from Proton Mail, the world's largest encrypted email provider. Proton Authenticator is open source, end-to-end encrypted, and protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Protect all your new accounts and strengthen security on your existing ones. Proton Authenticator keeps your 2FA codes secure, accessible, and completely private — with full control over where your data is stored. KEY FEATURES Local-First Storage:Your 2FA codes are stored entirely on your device, giving you complete control over your data. Effortless Import: Migrate from Google Authenticator, Authy, or any other app in seconds. Secure Backup & Export: Retain full control of your data with easy backup and restore options. Swiss Privacy by Design: Built under Switzerland's strongest data protection regulations. Open Source & Transparent: Auditable code. No tracking. No ads. Take control of your digital security with encryption you can trust. Free to use: No Proton account required, ad-free. Offline support: On mobile and desktop apps No other 2FA app provides this combination of security and privacy. Trusted by millions. Built by Proton. Take control of your digital security today. Terms of service: https://proton.me/legal/terms Learn more: https://proton.me

Screenshots

PCWorld Digital Magazine US4 screens
Proton Authenticator & 2FA4 screens

Verdict

The call

PCWorld Digital Magazine US and Proton Authenticator & 2FA both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 58% of Proton Authenticator & 2FA's written reviews are positive against 12% of PCWorld Digital Magazine US's. Proton Authenticator & 2FA also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). PCWorld Digital Magazine US's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and device support 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. PCWorld Digital Magazine US sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Proton Authenticator & 2FA asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for PCWorld Digital Magazine US against 4.5 for Proton Authenticator & 2FA. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton Authenticator & 2FA has 484 ratings behind it against 84, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 12% of PCWorld Digital Magazine US's written reviews are positive against 58% of Proton Authenticator & 2FA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PCWorld Digital Magazine US ships an update every 5 months, Proton Authenticator & 2FA weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PCWorld Digital Magazine US versus Proton Authenticator & 2FA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPCWorld Digital Magazine USProton Authenticator & 2FA
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (84 ratings)4.5 (484 ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.8% of reviews57.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings84484 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB120 MB
Age rating+174+
DeveloperIDG Communications Inc.Proton AG

Customer experience

PCWorld Digital Magazine US

All ratings85 ratings
Positive87.1%
Neutral1.2%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive11.8%
Neutral2.4%
Negative85.9%

Proton Authenticator & 2FA

All ratings314 ratings
Positive82.8%
Neutral6.7%
Negative10.5%
Written reviews255 reviews
Positive57.6%
Neutral19.2%
Negative23.1%

User reviews

PCWorld Digital Magazine US

From 84 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to read content
  • 👍 Excellent content and recommendations
  • 👍 Improved performance, fun to read again
  • 👍 Graphics sharp and clear on Retina display

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes constantly
  • 🐛 App freezes frequently
  • 🐛 App loses subscription status
  • 🐛 App loses place in articles
  • 🐛 Updates wipe out library

Proton Authenticator & 2FA

From 484 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Cross-platform support
  • 🔒 Secure cloud sync
  • 👍 Easy import from other authenticators
  • 🚀 Convenient 'next' feature for codes

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy UI (scrolling jitters, random sorting)
  • 👎 Lack of customization options (pin favorites, change icons)
  • 🐛 Sync/login issues on iPad

Bugs and requests

PCWorld Digital Magazine US

Reported bugs

114 issues
  • Unable to ascertain subscription status
  • Randomly loses subscription access
  • Update wipes out library and does not restore
  • App crashes constantly
  • App never remembers where you left off
Show 109 more
  • App freezes
  • App locks up the iPad
  • App crashes within a minute or two
  • App does not remember where you were
  • Asked if you want to restore purchases every time
  • App blocks access to issues
  • App never remembers subscription
  • Loses previously downloaded issues
  • App asks to subscribe even with active subscription
  • White screen and no magazine displayed
  • App often requests purchase of latest issue despite subscription
  • Cannot change orientation
  • App crashes within 5 seconds with iOS update
  • No user feedback during account login
  • Subscription ends soon, considering lapse
  • App crashes before displaying available issues
  • Uninstall/reinstall has no effect
  • App crashes after you log in
  • Zinio support is email only and slow
  • App fails to work at all
  • App crashes frequently
  • Will not download articles
  • Support is not helpful
  • Loses all back issues with every renewal
  • Cannot reliably read recent issues
  • Login and download doesn't work
  • Cannot restore purchases due to error
  • Internal Server Error on renewal
  • App wants to buy every issue
  • Cannot download latest issue
  • Subscription website is broken
  • Cannot get issues and cannot reset password
  • Customer service takes a long time to help
  • September issue content is non-existent
  • App is telling users they need to buy every issue
  • Cannot download issues
  • Customer service states incompetence
  • App loads at a snail's pace
  • Often have to start over
  • App does not remember last location
  • Only November magazine is available in December
  • App has never worked correctly
  • App never has worked
  • Update still does not work
  • Previous paid content vanished after subscription expired
  • Unable to connect, retrieve past or present issues
  • App asks for subscription number at login
  • Instructions to find subscription number online don't work
  • Cannot download latest edition
  • Does not allow any connection
  • Access is almost impossible
  • Downloading is a ridiculous process
  • Never received all paid issues
  • Super Guides could not be downloaded
  • No response from customer service
  • Account cancelled
  • Digital subscription no longer works on iPad
  • Bounced back to Newsstand
  • Workaround reported by other subscribers has worked
  • App broke, will not download new issues
  • App freezes and bounces back to Newsstand
  • Upgrading iOS didn't help
  • Deleting and reinstalling didn't help
  • App won't even run anymore
  • Crashes right after startup
  • No way to access previously downloaded editions
  • No way to get new editions
  • Lost all issues after recent update
  • My account button is missing
  • Review link went to wrong page
  • Link and text missing
  • Page numbering issues
  • Review recommended a scam app
  • Articles about irrelevant topics
  • App is a nightmare
  • Quick index does nothing
  • Always searching from page 1
  • Cannot access first four pages of an issue
  • New cover shown but doesn't work
  • No magazine displayed
  • No way to bring up bottom menu
  • Moved print version verbatim over
  • Dull reading experience
  • Slow loading and memory hog
  • Cannot pinch and zoom inside the app
  • Have to get a Zinio account
  • Still can't see the issue already paid for
  • Zero option to use the app without paying
  • Cannot zoom in the app
  • Very slow to download
  • Resource hog
  • Cannot read in landscape orientation
  • Unfriendly digital version
  • Cannot adjust text size or brilliance
  • Lost Internet connection while downloading
  • Restarted download at 0 meg
  • Cannot save downloaded progress
  • File size is too large
  • Only June copy available on August 6th
  • App logs you out of account
  • Won't let you log back in
  • Sends to Google Play for update
  • No way to access account from iPad
  • No digital version for print subscribers
  • Not tied in with paper subscription
  • Paying twice for the same issue
  • Not cutting edge of the electronic age
  • App is adequate but needs zoom and text size options
  • Option to view in portrait or landscape would be better

Requested features

8 requests
  • Allow users to go to the last read page
  • Add a zoom feature
  • Increase text size options
  • Allow viewing in landscape orientation
  • Provide a dark mode option
Show 3 more
  • Improve customer support response time
  • Integrate digital with print subscriptions
  • Allow deletion of duplicate issues

Proton Authenticator & 2FA

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Sync/login loop on iPad
  • 2FA input broken on non-iPhone devices
  • Screen strobing on iPad
  • Duplicate entries after import

Requested features

5 requests
  • PIN unlock for desktop
  • Alphabetical sorting option
  • Export function (not just Proton-specific backup)
  • Native macOS app
  • Option to hide item icons

In-app purchases

13 purchases

PCWorld Digital Magazine US

Subscriptions2
  • 1 Month | PCWorld Magazine$1.991 Month
  • 1 Year | PCWorld Magazine$19.991 Year
One-time11
  • PCWorld November 2012$6.99
  • PCWorld February 2015$6.99
  • PCWorld September 2015$6.99
Show 8 more
  • PCWorld March 2016$6.99
  • PCWorld April 2016$6.99
  • PCWorld April 2017$6.99
  • PCWorld May 2017$6.99
  • PCWorld July 2017$6.99
  • February 2024$6.99
  • September 2023$6.99
  • August 2023$6.99
None

Proton Authenticator & 2FA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PCWorld Digital Magazine US free?
PCWorld Digital Magazine US is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Proton Authenticator & 2FA free?
Proton Authenticator & 2FA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PCWorld Digital Magazine US or Proton Authenticator & 2FA?
Proton Authenticator & 2FA is rated higher. PCWorld Digital Magazine US averages 4.5 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while Proton Authenticator & 2FA averages 4.5 from 484 ratings.
Do PCWorld Digital Magazine US or Proton Authenticator & 2FA have ads?
Neither PCWorld Digital Magazine US nor Proton Authenticator & 2FA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PCWorld Digital Magazine US or Proton Authenticator & 2FA?
PCWorld Digital Magazine US ships an update every 5 months, and Proton Authenticator & 2FA weekly. Most recently, PCWorld Digital Magazine US was updated on October 26, 2026 and Proton Authenticator & 2FA on October 27, 2026.

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