# Chat vs Authenticator App

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chat at none against Authenticator App's 3. Chat also leads on ads (none vs shown). Authenticator App's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Chat asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chat ships an update every 9 months, Authenticator App every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chat | Authenticator App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-codes/id6799962850/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Size | 44 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jonatan Miguel Claros Coca](https://appshunter.io/developer/1796478734) | [Radhika Pillai](https://appshunter.io/developer/6799962852) |

## What reviewers say

### Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-link/id6752226158)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-codes/id6799962850)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Plan | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chat free?

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

### Is Authenticator App free?

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

### Do Chat or Authenticator App have ads?

Authenticator App shows ads; Chat does not.

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

Chat ships an update every 9 months, and Authenticator App every 2 weeks. Most recently, Chat was updated on November 8, 2026 and Authenticator App on November 10, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*