# Authenticator Duo vs Authenticator

The clearest difference is rating: Authenticator Duo at 5.0 against Authenticator's 4.2. Authenticator's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (daily vs every 2 days). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator Duo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Authenticator sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator Duo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 6 respectively.

Authenticator Duo ships an update every 2 days, Authenticator daily. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and August 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator Duo | Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-duo-two-factor/id6504300892/reviews)** | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-otp-security/id6736878953/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 20 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Quentin Powell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1751779133) | [Toni Pessey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1775740925) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator Duo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-duo-two-factor/id6504300892)

Secure your online accounts with this app that generates and stores two-factor authentication codes. It offers end-to-end encryption, Face ID/Touch ID access, and encrypted iCloud backups for easy restoration across devices. Operate securely offline and import existing tokens.

**Highlights:** Generate and store 2FA/MFA tokens, Scan QR codes or manually input codes, End-to-end encryption for all codes, Face ID & Touch ID access, Encrypted iCloud backups, Offline operation, Import existing tokens

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly subscription with trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |


### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-otp-security/id6736878953)

This app enhances account security by generating time-based, one-time passwords for two-factor authentication. It works offline and supports multiple accounts for emails, social media, and banking.

**Highlights:** Time-based one-time password generation, Offline code generation, Supports multiple accounts, Unlimited code generation (subscription), Multi-device sync (subscription), Cloud backup (subscription)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| authenticatorWeekTrial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| authenticatorMonth | $19.99 | per month |
| authenticatorYear | $49.99 | per year |
| authenticatorLifeTime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator Duo free?

Authenticator Duo 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, Authenticator Duo or Authenticator?

Authenticator Duo is rated higher. Authenticator Duo averages 5.0 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Authenticator averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do Authenticator Duo or Authenticator have ads?

Neither Authenticator Duo nor Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Authenticator Duo or Authenticator?

Authenticator Duo ships an update every 2 days, and Authenticator daily. Most recently, Authenticator Duo was updated on June 1, 2026 and Authenticator on August 27, 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.*