Comparison

Commerzbank photoTAN vs DB Secure Authenticator

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

Head to head
About

Commerzbank photoTAN

Approve online banking transactions securely and quickly with push notifications or by scanning a graphic. Offers a streamlined activation process for immediate use.

Highlights
  • One-click order approval via push notification
  • Scan photoTAN graphics to generate TANs
  • Digital first activation with VideoIdent
  • High security for online and mobile banking
  • Device security checks
Features
Read full description

Commerzbank's new photoTAN app. Receive push message, check order, approve - with the new photoTAN push function, you can approve orders quickly and securely with just one click. With the photoTAN scan function, you still have the option of scanning a photoTAN graphic to generate a TAN. It is now possible to fully legitimize yourself from the comfort of your own home with the VideoIdent app. With our new feature, the digital first activation, you can after the legitimation with VideoIdent in the next 3 hours easily and quickly activate the photoTAN app with a code that you receive by SMS. This means you no longer have to wait for the activation graphic The photoTAN app is our most innovative security method. The app offers the highest possible security through a modern and convenient TAN procedure - for all customers who use Commerzbank's online and / or mobile banking. ####################### Hard-/software checks of your device: At runtime, we check known, security-relevant attack vectors (e.g. rooted/jailbreak, malicious apps, etc.) To do this, we need your consent. If you do not agree to do such a security checks, we kindly ask you not to install our photoTAN app and instead to use our reading device to use the online banking offer on the Internet (https://www.commerzbank.de/). You can also revoke your consent at any time for the future by uninstalling our photoTAN app from your device. ####################### What do I need the photoTAN app for? The photoTAN app is one of our security factors. The photoTAN is an important part of every login and transaction in your online and mobile banking. It is used to verify the order data you have entered and to generate the transaction number (TAN). How does photoTAN-Push work? The push function of our new photoTAN app is particularly convenient. As soon as a new order is available for you to approve, we send you a notification to your smartphone when you use photoTAN-Push. When you then open the photoTAN app, the order to be approved is displayed directly for you to check. If the data displayed is correct, you release the order with just one click. How does photoTAN scan work? After placing an order in Online Banking, a mosaic-like colorful graphic appears on the monitor. You scan this with the photoTAN app. A TAN is displayed immediately. To check, you then see the essential details of your order again in the app. If everything is correct, simply enter the TAN on the computer and the order is confirmed. By the way: With our mobile banking, you can make transfers even faster and easier than on your computer. To do this, use the free Commerzbank banking app! The advantages of the new photoTAN app at a glance: • Security: Commerzbank's most innovative TAN procedure. • Uncomplicated: You receive a notification on your smartphone when a new order is ready for approval. • Fast: You can approve orders with just one click. • Free of charge: The use of photoTAN is free of charge for you. • Mobile banking: Quick order approvals via the banking app using the App2App function. • Offline usability: If your smartphone is offline, you can continue to approve orders easily with the scan function. For more information on the new photoTAN process, visit http://www.commerzbanking.de/phototan.

About

DB Secure Authenticator

This app offers a secure two-factor authentication solution for logging into accounts and authorizing transactions. It provides multiple methods for generating codes, including scanning QR codes, creating one-time passwords, and challenge/response for customer service verification. It also supports push notifications for transaction authorization.

Highlights
  • Two-factor authentication
  • QR code scanning
  • One-time password generation
  • Challenge/Response verification
  • Push notification authorization
  • PIN and biometric login
Read full description

DB Secure Authenticator provides customers with a two-factor authentication solution for logging into accounts and for authorising transactions. For signing transactions on Deutsche Bank’s Online and Mobile banking platforms, customers from Germany can use the photoTAN app, which can be downloaded from the app store. There is a choice of 4 functions within the app: 1. Scan QR Code: Using your phone’s camera, a QR-code is scanned on-screen and a numeric response code is provided. The code may be used for logging into a DB banking application or for authorising transactions. 2. Generate a One-Time Password (OTP): On request, the app generates a numeric code which may be used for logging into a DB banking application. 3. Challenge / Response: When speaking with a DB customer service agent, an 8-digit number provided by the agent is entered into the app and a response code is provided. This function is used for customer identification via the telephone. 4. Authorising transactions: If enabled, Push Notifications can be received to inform the user of outstanding transactions. When the app is next opened the transaction details are displayed, and can be authorized without the need to scan a QR-code or type a code into the online banking application. App setup: Access to DB Secure Authenticator is controlled either via a 6 digit PIN, which you choose on first launch of the app or by using the device's biometric functionalities, such as fingerprint or facial recognition. Following the PIN setup, you are required to activate the device. This is done by either entering a provided Registration ID or by scanning two QR-codes through the online activation portal.

Screenshots

Commerzbank photoTAN4 screens
DB Secure Authenticator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Commerzbank photoTAN at 4.8 against DB Secure Authenticator's 1.5. Commerzbank photoTAN also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 10%) and ratings volume (2K vs 24). 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

Commerzbank photoTAN holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Commerzbank photoTAN has 2K ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Commerzbank photoTAN's written reviews are positive against 10% of DB Secure Authenticator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Commerzbank photoTAN ships an update every 2 months, DB Secure Authenticator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Commerzbank photoTAN versus DB Secure Authenticator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCommerzbank photoTANDB Secure Authenticator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2K ratings) — better1.5 (24 ratings)
Positive reviews51.4% of reviews — better10.5% of reviews
Number of ratings2K — better24
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size153 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCommerzbank AGDeutsche Bank AG

Customer experience

Commerzbank photoTAN

All ratings2,045 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews140 reviews
Positive51.4%
Neutral6.4%
Negative42.1%

DB Secure Authenticator

All ratings24 ratings
Positive12.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative87.5%
Written reviews153 reviews
Positive10.5%
Neutral2.6%
Negative86.9%

Bugs and requests

Commerzbank photoTAN

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatible with iOS 12 and iPhone XS/XS Max
  • Camera won't load after iOS 8 upgrade
  • Crashes on launch, crashes on iPhone XS/XS Max

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow pasting from clipboard for password
  • Extend mobile TAN to more countries
  • Add cloud backup option
  • Add passcode lock for protection

DB Secure Authenticator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Commerzbank photoTAN

No in-app purchases

None

DB Secure Authenticator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Commerzbank photoTAN free?
Commerzbank photoTAN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DB Secure Authenticator free?
DB Secure Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Commerzbank photoTAN or DB Secure Authenticator?
Commerzbank photoTAN is rated higher. Commerzbank photoTAN averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while DB Secure Authenticator averages 1.5 from 24 ratings.
Do Commerzbank photoTAN or DB Secure Authenticator have ads?
Neither Commerzbank photoTAN nor DB Secure Authenticator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Commerzbank photoTAN or DB Secure Authenticator?
Commerzbank photoTAN ships an update every 2 months, and DB Secure Authenticator every 3 months. Most recently, Commerzbank photoTAN was updated on September 25, 2026 and DB Secure Authenticator on September 20, 2026.

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