# Authenticator vs ShiftMate

Authenticator and ShiftMate both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of ShiftMate's written reviews are positive against 0% of Authenticator's. Authenticator's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (62 vs 3). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and ShiftMate sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Authenticator against 4.3 for ShiftMate. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Authenticator has 62 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 0% of Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 67% of ShiftMate's.

Authenticator ships an update every 3 days, ShiftMate every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator | ShiftMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-secure-2fa-mfa/id6748400576/reviews)** | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftmate-work-hours-tracker/id6755911060/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **62** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 29 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DEDUSHKA DEVELOPMENT - FZCO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895610448) | [藤萍 余](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599041337) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-secure-2fa-mfa/id6748400576)

Generate accurate, time-based verification codes for secure account sign-ins, even offline. Easily import from other authenticator apps and manage your codes and passwords in one secure location with iCloud sync and Face ID protection.

**Highlights:** Generate TOTP codes (6-8 digits, SHA1/256/512, 30/60s intervals), Import from Google Authenticator via QR codes/screenshots, Scan otpauth QR codes or enter secret keys manually, iCloud sync and backup with Face ID/passcode protection, Organize accounts with folders, favorites, and color labels, Generate and store passwords with a private browser, Offline code generation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


### ShiftMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftmate-work-hours-tracker/id6755911060)

Easily track work shifts, calculate earnings, and manage complex schedules. This app helps users visualize their work calendar, log hours, and estimate pay with features like automatic overtime calculation and multi-job support.

**Highlights:** Intuitive shift painting calendar, Support for multiple jobs per day, Precise wage and overtime calculation, Smart auto-rotation for repeating schedules, Payslip export (PDF & CSV), Home screen widgets for quick info, Calendar sync and shift alarms

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ShiftMate Pro - Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| ShiftMate Pro - Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| ShiftMate Pro - Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro (New User Offer) | $55.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator free?

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

### Is ShiftMate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Authenticator or ShiftMate?

Authenticator is rated higher. Authenticator averages 4.5 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while ShiftMate averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Authenticator or ShiftMate have ads?

Neither Authenticator nor ShiftMate shows ads.

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

Authenticator ships an update every 3 days, and ShiftMate every 2 weeks. Most recently, Authenticator was updated on November 14, 2026 and ShiftMate on November 14, 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.*