Comparison

Commerzbank photoTAN vs ElsterSecure

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

ElsterSecure

This app simplifies logging into your tax account by using your smartphone for authentication. Once set up, you won't need certificate files or usernames for access. It's designed for secure and convenient tax-related logins.

Highlights
  • Smartphone-based authentication
  • Eliminates need for certificate files
  • Simplifies tax account logins
  • QR code scanning for setup
  • Secure user account management
Features
Read full description

ElsterSecure ist die neue Authentisierungs-App von ELSTER. Einmal eingerichtet, benötigen Sie für Ihren Login nur noch Ihr Smartphone. Eine Zertifikatsdatei oder einen Nutzernamen benötigen Sie nach erstmaliger Einrichtung nicht mehr. So richten Sie ElsterSecure ein: 1. Loggen Sie sich wie bisher gewohnt in MeinElster ein. 2. Gehen Sie zu "Mein Benutzerkonto" > "ElsterSecure": https://www.elster.de/eportal/meinKonto/elstersecure 3. Unter "Login-Option ElsterSecure hinzufügen" können Sie die App mit Ihrem MeinElster-Konto verknüpfen Wenn Sie noch kein MeinElster Konto besitzen, können Sie sich unter www.elster.de registrieren und ElsterSecure als Login-Option wählen. Derzeit ist eine Authentisierung mittels ElsterSecure nur für den Login in MeinElster möglich. Eine Übermittlung durch Drittanbieter von Steuersoftware wird noch nicht unterstützt, hierfür benötigen Sie weiterhin ein Zertifikat. ElsterSecure benötigt folgende Berechtigungen: - Zugriff auf die Kamera(s) des Geräts: Diese Berechtigung wird für das Scannen des QR-Codes benötigt. Datenschutzhinweis: https://www.elster.de/eportal/infoseite/elstersecure

Screenshots

Commerzbank photoTAN4 screens
ElsterSecure4 screens

Verdict

The call

Commerzbank photoTAN and ElsterSecure both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of ElsterSecure's written reviews are positive against 51% of Commerzbank photoTAN's. Commerzbank photoTAN's advantage is ratings volume (2K vs 130) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, rating, 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Commerzbank photoTAN against 4.7 for ElsterSecure. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Commerzbank photoTAN has 2K ratings behind it against 130, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of Commerzbank photoTAN's written reviews are positive against 84% of ElsterSecure's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Commerzbank photoTAN ships an update every 2 months, ElsterSecure every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Commerzbank photoTAN versus ElsterSecure: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCommerzbank photoTANElsterSecure
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2K ratings) — better4.7 (130 ratings)
Positive reviews51.4% of reviews84.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2K — better130
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size153 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCommerzbank AGBayerisches Landesamt fuer Steuern

Customer experience

Commerzbank photoTAN

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

ElsterSecure

All ratings89 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.2%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive84.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative8.0%

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

ElsterSecure

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Commerzbank photoTAN

No in-app purchases

None

ElsterSecure

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Commerzbank photoTAN free?
Commerzbank photoTAN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ElsterSecure free?
ElsterSecure is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Commerzbank photoTAN or ElsterSecure?
Commerzbank photoTAN is rated higher. Commerzbank photoTAN averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while ElsterSecure averages 4.7 from 130 ratings.
Do Commerzbank photoTAN or ElsterSecure have ads?
Neither Commerzbank photoTAN nor ElsterSecure shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Commerzbank photoTAN or ElsterSecure?
Commerzbank photoTAN ships an update every 2 months, and ElsterSecure every 4 months. Most recently, Commerzbank photoTAN was updated on October 29, 2026 and ElsterSecure on October 30, 2026.

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