# Notepad vs Authenticator App

The clearest difference is ads: Authenticator App at none against Notepad's shown. Authenticator App also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notepad sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Authenticator App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notepad ships an update every 2 months, Authenticator App fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on April 27, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | Authenticator App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Size | 56 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Arvind Murali](https://appshunter.io/developer/1806336604) | [Forms](https://appshunter.io/developer/1765480567) |

## What reviewers say

### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad/id6746407477)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $4.99 | per year |


### Authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-secureguard/id6746441080)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authenticator Weekly Plan | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Authenticator Monthly Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Authenticator Yearly Plan | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad free?

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

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Do Notepad or Authenticator App have ads?

Notepad shows ads; Authenticator App does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad or Authenticator App?

Notepad ships an update every 2 months, and Authenticator App fortnightly. Most recently, Notepad was updated on April 27, 2026 and Authenticator App on September 17, 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.*