# Authenticator vs Unlock

The clearest difference is rating: Authenticator at 4.7 against Unlock's 4.0. Authenticator also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 58%). Unlock's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Unlock sells 10 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, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.5K and 3.4K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 58% of Unlock's.

Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, Unlock every 6 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator | Unlock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-app/id6642706929/reviews)** | [4.0 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unlock-r/id6692621275/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.5K | **3.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 57.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #167 | **#114** |
| Size | 202 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vitalii Kuprenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1763634127) | [RoadPass Trading LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504076195) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-app/id6642706929)

**Currently charting:** #167 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Secure your online accounts with two-factor authentication (2FA). Easily generate and store one-time codes by scanning QR codes or entering details manually. Offers data breach monitoring and a basic password manager for free, with premium features available via subscription.

**Highlights:** Two-factor authentication (2FA) code generation, QR code scanning for setup, Broad service compatibility, Data breach monitoring, Basic password manager, Unlimited 2FA accounts (subscription), Unlimited password manager with autofill (subscription)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly PRO Access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly PRO Access | $4.99 | per month |
| Weekly PRO Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Access | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Access | $11.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Pro Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual Unlimited Access | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Pro Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Forever Unlimited Access | $59.99 | one-time |
| Forever Unlimited Access | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick setup
- 🔒 Secure authentication
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Works flawlessly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Charges users despite cancellation
- 🐛 Incompatible with some services

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Unable to access 2FA for some services

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option


### Unlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unlock-r/id6692621275)

**Currently charting:** #114 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Generate secure access codes for your online accounts with this intuitive app. It offers a fast, seamless, and reliable way to protect your personal information and manage account security with ease. Stay in control of your online security.

**Highlights:** Generate secure access codes, Intuitive design for easy management, Protect online accounts, Privacy-focused with no third-party access, Unlimited access to secure codes (subscription)

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly with trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Basic | $0.99 | one-time |
| Special | $3.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Helpful for unlocking keys
- ✨ Convenient and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall and subscription model
- 🐛 Ads and bugs
- 🤔 Unclear how the app works

**Reported bugs**

- Paywall issues
- Ads not working as expected
- Compatibility problems

**Requested features**

- Remove paywall and subscription
- Improve ad experience
- Provide more transparency on app functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator free?

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

### Is Unlock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Authenticator or Unlock?

Authenticator is rated higher. Authenticator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Unlock averages 4.0 from 3.4K ratings.

### Do Authenticator or Unlock have ads?

Both Authenticator and Unlock show ads.

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

Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, and Unlock every 6 days. Most recently, Authenticator was updated on September 25, 2026 and Unlock on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Authenticator or Unlock?

Authenticator currently peaks at #167 in the App Store charts, and Unlock at #114. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*