# PrivateID Authenticator vs Shelf Image Recognition

The clearest difference is update cadence: PrivateID Authenticator at every 2 weeks against Shelf Image Recognition's every 3 months. Shelf Image Recognition's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

PrivateID Authenticator ships an update every 2 weeks, Shelf Image Recognition every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PrivateID Authenticator | Shelf Image Recognition |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Size | 20 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRIVATE IDENTITY LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1587923938) | [SoftServe Business Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447886154) |

## What reviewers say

### PrivateID Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privateid-authenticator/id6739881160)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shelf Image Recognition

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-image-recognition/id6748251437)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PrivateID Authenticator free?

PrivateID Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shelf Image Recognition free?

Shelf Image Recognition is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do PrivateID Authenticator or Shelf Image Recognition have ads?

Neither PrivateID Authenticator nor Shelf Image Recognition shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PrivateID Authenticator or Shelf Image Recognition?

PrivateID Authenticator ships an update every 2 weeks, and Shelf Image Recognition every 3 months. Most recently, PrivateID Authenticator was updated on September 16, 2026 and Shelf Image Recognition on September 5, 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.*