Proton Authenticator vs NanoBeard
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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
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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
NanoBeard
This app offers four distinct AI language models that run entirely on your device, ensuring privacy and offline functionality. Choose from models of varying sizes and personalities for unique conversational experiences. It's a playful demonstration of on-device AI capabilities.
- Four on-device AI language models
- Offline functionality
- No internet or account required
- Adjustable model precision
- Variety of model sizes and personalities
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nanoBeard runs four small language models, trained completely from scratch, entirely on your phone. No internet, no servers, no accounts, nothing leaves your device. Each model has its own size and personality, from a tiny 14M rambler to a sharper 360M. Pick one, tweak the precision, and chat. Everything happens on-device, so it works in airplane mode. Fair warning: these are deliberately tiny models, so the pirate banter is gloriously unhinged. That's the point, it's a playful demo of how far on-device AI can be pushed on hardware you already own. A passion project, made for fun. Hope it brings you a laugh.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: NanoBeard at 100% against Proton Authenticator's 56%. NanoBeard also leads on update cadence (daily vs weekly). Proton Authenticator's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (242 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Proton Authenticator holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton Authenticator has 242 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Proton Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 100% of NanoBeard's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Proton Authenticator ships an update weekly, NanoBeard daily. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Proton Authenticator | NanoBeard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (242 ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 55.8% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 242 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 119 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Proton AG | Youniss Kandah |
Customer experience
Proton Authenticator
NanoBeard
Bugs and 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
NanoBeard
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Proton Authenticator
No in-app purchases
NanoBeard
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Proton Authenticator free?
Is NanoBeard free?
Which has better reviews, Proton Authenticator or NanoBeard?
Do Proton Authenticator or NanoBeard have ads?
Which is updated more often, Proton Authenticator or NanoBeard?
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