# Pebblebee vs Proton Authenticator

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pebblebee | Proton Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pebblebee/id6739783037/reviews)** | [4.4 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 143 | **242** |
| Positive reviews | 35.0% of reviews | **56.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 56 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.2** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PebbleBee LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/888957833) | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) |

## What reviewers say

### Pebblebee

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pebblebee/id6739783037)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Proton Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Cross-platform support
- 🔒 Secure cloud sync
- 👍 Easy import from other authenticators
- 🚀 Convenient 'next' feature for codes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy UI (scrolling jitters, random sorting)
- 👎 Lack of customization options (pin favorites, change icons)
- 🐛 Sync/login issues on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- Sync/login loop on iPad
- 2FA input broken on non-iPhone devices
- Screen strobing on iPad
- Duplicate entries after import

**Requested features**

- PIN unlock for desktop
- Alphabetical sorting option
- Export function (not just Proton-specific backup)
- Native macOS app
- Option to hide item icons


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