Pebblebee vs Proton Authenticator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pebblebee
This app helps you locate your belongings like keys and bags using Bluetooth and crowdsourced networks. It also offers safety features like an emergency alert and secure messaging with finders.
- Bluetooth item finding
- Global crowdsourced tracking
- Emergency alert with strobe and siren
- Location sharing with trusted contacts
- Phone finder via device double-tap
- Secure messaging with finders
- Device firmware management
Read full descriptionHide full description
Pebblebee keeps your keys, bags, and phone close – and now keeps you safer, too. Pair your rechargeable Clip, Card or Tag as well as manage your item finding Link Labels. Our products use Bluetooth to find close-by items and Apple Find My or Google Find Hub for global crowdsourcing - millions of phones helping you track anything, anywhere. With powerful additional features Pebblebee turns a simple item finder into a powerful addition to your everyday life. New for Summer of 2025 - Alert – A free feature inside every Clip, turns an ordinary key ring into a lifeline: rapid presses activate a strobe, blasts a siren, and sends your location straight to the people you trust. - Phone Finder - Double tap your Pebblebee device to find your phone! Other Features - Device management – activate, rename, and update firmware for Clip, Card, Tag in one place. - Safety Circle - manage a list of people you trust that get notified when Alert is triggered. - Link Label management – add return instructions, chat securely with finders, and get instant scan alerts. - Secure messaging - Communicate safely with people who may find your items without revealing personal information. - Instant alerts - Get notified when your Link Labels are scanned so you know where your item was found More upgrades roll out all year, including expanded Alert support, new device features and Link types. Find us anywhere! support@pebblebee.com facebook.com/pebblebee instagram.com/pebblebee reddit.com/r/Pebblebee Track What Matters Most
Proton Authenticator
Securely manage your two-factor authentication codes with an open-source, end-to-end encrypted authenticator app. It offers seamless cross-device syncing, effortless import from other apps, and robust backup options, all protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Take control of your digital security with a trusted and private solution.
- End-to-end encrypted iCloud sync
- Effortless import from other authenticators
- Secure backup and export
- Swiss privacy by design
- Open source and transparent
- Offline support
Read full descriptionHide full description
Get the authenticator trusted by millions — from Proton Mail, the world's largest encrypted email provider. Proton Authenticator is open source, end-to-end encrypted, and protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Protect all your new accounts and strengthen security on your existing ones. Proton Authenticator keeps your 2FA codes secure, accessible, and completely private — with full control over where your data is stored. KEY FEATURES Local-First Storage:Your 2FA codes are stored entirely on your device, giving you complete control over your data. Effortless Import: Migrate from Google Authenticator, Authy, or any other app in seconds. Secure Backup & Export: Retain full control of your data with easy backup and restore options. Swiss Privacy by Design: Built under Switzerland's strongest data protection regulations. Open Source & Transparent: Auditable code. No tracking. No ads. Take control of your digital security with encryption you can trust. Free to use: No Proton account required, ad-free. Offline support: On mobile and desktop apps No other 2FA app provides this combination of security and privacy. Trusted by millions. Built by Proton. Take control of your digital security today. Terms of service: https://proton.me/legal/terms Learn more: https://proton.me
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pebblebee at 4.9 against Proton Authenticator's 4.4. Proton Authenticator's advantage is review sentiment (56% vs 35%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Pebblebee holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 143 and 242 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of Pebblebee's written reviews are positive against 56% of Proton Authenticator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Pebblebee ships an update every 3 weeks, Proton Authenticator weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pebblebee | Proton Authenticator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (143 ratings) — better | 4.4 (242 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 35.0% of reviews | 56.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 143 | 242 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 119 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PebbleBee LLC | Proton AG |
Customer experience
Pebblebee
Proton Authenticator
Bugs and requests
Pebblebee
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Proton Authenticator
Reported bugs
4 issues- Sync/login loop on iPad
- 2FA input broken on non-iPhone devices
- Screen strobing on iPad
- Duplicate entries after import
Requested features
5 requests- PIN unlock for desktop
- Alphabetical sorting option
- Export function (not just Proton-specific backup)
- Native macOS app
- Option to hide item icons
In-app purchases
Pebblebee
No in-app purchases
Proton Authenticator
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Pebblebee free?
Is Proton Authenticator free?
Which has better reviews, Pebblebee or Proton Authenticator?
Do Pebblebee or Proton Authenticator have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pebblebee or Proton Authenticator?
Other comparisons















