# Private Vault vs Authenticator

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Private Vault at 67% against Authenticator's 20%. Private Vault also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (45 vs 1). Authenticator's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Vault sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Authenticator sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Vault has 45 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Private Vault's written reviews are positive against 20% of Authenticator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Private Vault ships an update every 2 weeks, Authenticator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Vault | Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-vaultlock-photos/id6469342311/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-code/id6502896786/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **45** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 14.3 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [辉 孙](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711709744) | [林炽 钟](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743430951) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Vault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-vaultlock-photos/id6469342311)

Securely store and encrypt your photos, videos, files, contacts, and passwords locally. Protect your sensitive data with military-grade encryption and auto-lock features. Back up your information via encrypted iCloud sync.

**Highlights:** Local-only storage, Military-grade encryption, Passcode, Face ID, Touch ID lock, Photo and video vault, Password manager, Encrypted contacts and notes, Secure file storage, Encrypted iCloud sync

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Permanent member | $44.99 | one-time |


### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-code/id6502896786)

Enhance your online security with two-factor authentication. This app acts as a password manager, generating strong passwords and offering auto-fill for convenient and secure logins. It supports a wide range of services and securely backs up your data with encryption.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication, Password manager, QR code scanning, Auto-fill login information, Strong password generation, Encrypted data backup, Biometric unlock

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator - 1 Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Authenticator - 1 Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Authenticator 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Authenticator - Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Vault free?

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

### Is Authenticator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Private Vault or Authenticator?

Authenticator is rated higher. Private Vault averages 4.4 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Authenticator averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Private Vault or Authenticator have ads?

Neither Private Vault nor Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Private Vault or Authenticator?

Private Vault ships an update every 2 weeks, and Authenticator every 2 months. Most recently, Private Vault was updated on September 7, 2026 and Authenticator on September 23, 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.*