# Authenticator vs Spare Maintain

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Spare Maintain at none against Authenticator's 4. Spare Maintain also leads on ads (none vs shown). Authenticator's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Authenticator ships an update weekly, Spare Maintain every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator | Spare Maintain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (406 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator/id6463820946/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **406** | — |
| Positive reviews | 14.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ali El Malki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699908413) | [Spare Labs Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1073027185) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator/id6463820946)

Enhance your online account security with this two-factor authentication utility. Easily add accounts by scanning QR codes and benefit from bank-grade encryption and biometric unlock for peace of mind. Supports thousands of websites and services.

**Highlights:** Bank-Grade Encryption, Secure 2FA and MFA Tokens, Effortless Setup (QR Scan), Biometric Unlock, Encrypted Backups to iCloud, Cross-Device Sync, TOTP Support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator Pro Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription Authly | $12.99 | per month |
| Authenticator Pro | $44.99 | per year |
| Authenticator Pro Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ❤️ Amazing app
- 👍 Loved it
- 👍 Top
- 👍 Wouah super
- 👍 Congratulations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Not working
- 😞 Too complicated
- 😞 Horrible
- 😞 Too expensive
- 😞 Scam app

**Reported bugs**

- Not working
- Cannot make app work
- Cannot cancel subscription
- App freezes
- Locked out of everything

**Requested features**

- Show cost first
- Provide free version without payment
- Offer manual key entry
- Provide email support option
- Clearer instructions for setup and configuration


### Spare Maintain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spare-maintain/id6747355824)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator free?

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

### Is Spare Maintain free?

Spare Maintain is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Authenticator or Spare Maintain have ads?

Authenticator shows ads; Spare Maintain does not.

### Which is updated more often, Authenticator or Spare Maintain?

Authenticator ships an update weekly, and Spare Maintain every 5 weeks. Most recently, Authenticator was updated on September 30, 2026 and Spare Maintain on September 7, 2026.

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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.*