# Authenticator vs WatchBuddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WatchBuddy at none against Authenticator's 5. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. WatchBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Authenticator ships an update every 8 days, WatchBuddy every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator | WatchBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 5.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 44 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [绪强 方](https://appshunter.io/developer/1800492591) | [长沙本迈信息科技有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/1862340255) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app/id6745140943)

Enhance your online security with dynamic verification codes. This app provides a second layer of protection for your accounts, generating codes that refresh every 30 seconds. It supports quick addition of accounts and offers a unique keyboard for easy access to codes, even offline.

**Highlights:** Dynamic verification codes, Automatic refresh every 30 seconds, Offline code generation, Quick account addition (QR, key, photo), Compatible with 10,000+ apps, Unique application keyboard for code access

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Version | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Version | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Version | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Version | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Version | $24.99 | one-time |


### WatchBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watchbuddy/id6761092649)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator free?

Authenticator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is WatchBuddy free?

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

### Do Authenticator or WatchBuddy have ads?

Neither Authenticator nor WatchBuddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Authenticator or WatchBuddy?

Authenticator ships an update every 8 days, and WatchBuddy every 5 days. Most recently, Authenticator was updated on September 27, 2026 and WatchBuddy on September 21, 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.*