Comparison

Pebblebee vs Proton Authenticator

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read 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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read 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

Pebblebee4 screens
Proton Authenticator4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pebblebee ships an update every 3 weeks, Proton Authenticator weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pebblebee versus Proton Authenticator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPebblebeeProton Authenticator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (143 ratings) — better4.4 (242 ratings)
Positive reviews35.0% of reviews56.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings143242 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.2 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPebbleBee LLCProton AG

Customer experience

Pebblebee

All ratings143 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.7%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive35.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative60.0%

Proton Authenticator

All ratings242 ratings
Positive82.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews231 reviews
Positive56.3%
Neutral20.8%
Negative22.9%

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

None

Pebblebee

No in-app purchases

None

Proton Authenticator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pebblebee free?
Pebblebee is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Proton Authenticator free?
Proton Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pebblebee or Proton Authenticator?
Pebblebee is rated higher. Pebblebee averages 4.9 out of 5 from 143 ratings, while Proton Authenticator averages 4.4 from 242 ratings.
Do Pebblebee or Proton Authenticator have ads?
Neither Pebblebee nor Proton Authenticator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pebblebee or Proton Authenticator?
Pebblebee ships an update every 3 weeks, and Proton Authenticator weekly. Most recently, Pebblebee was updated on September 21, 2026 and Proton Authenticator on September 22, 2026.

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