Comparison

LocalAuth vs Aside

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

LocalAuth

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LocalAuth is an open-source, truly local-first 2FA authenticator. You no longer have to choose between convenience and strong protection: unlock everyday accounts quickly with Face ID, and protect critical assets with either a dedicated YubiKey channel or a generic FIDO hmac-secret channel, using a three-channel security model based on account value. Key features: • Open source: core logic is transparent and easier to audit • Zero-cloud local 2FA: tokens stay on your device by default • Three-channel tiered security: Face ID / Secure Enclave + YubiKey + generic FIDO hmac-secret • End-to-end encrypted Travel Vault: only connects when you explicitly use it, encrypts backups on-device first, and keeps plaintext tokens unreadable to the server • Fast import: QR scan, screenshot OCR, and manual entry • Google migration compatible: supports otpauth / otpauth-migration • Local device transfer: pairing code + QR over LAN sync • Privacy first: automatic privacy mask when the app goes to the background • Hardware key support list: continuously updated compatibility references No bloated workflow. No unnecessary account dependency. Built around local data sovereignty. For people who want a calm, trustworthy, and serious authenticator, LocalAuth is built to stay out of the way while keeping control in your hands. Open-source URL: https://github.com/LocalLens-Project/localauth-ios

About

Aside

Save links, text, photos, and files from any app with a single tap. This app uses on-device AI to automatically tag and categorize your saved content, organizing it into smart collections for easy access. It offers a clean, private, and offline experience, syncing data via iCloud Drive.

Highlights
  • Save from any app via Share Extension
  • Capture Now rapid-fire collection mode
  • On-device AI auto-tagging and categorization
  • Smart Collections for automatic sorting
  • Customizable collections and tagging
  • Offline functionality with iCloud sync
  • Privacy-first design with no account required
Features
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Aside is your personal content shelf — save links, text, photos, and files from any app with one tap. Collect anything: • Save from any app via Share Extension — links, articles, books, music, videos, podcasts, apps, repos, and more • Capture Now — rapid-fire collection mode for intensive research and gathering sessions • 30+ content types automatically recognized AI-powered organization: • On-device AI auto-tags and categorizes every item you save • Smart Collections auto-sort by content type — no manual work needed • Create custom collections for your own workflow • Tag items for quick filtering Read and explore: • Tap any item to see full details • Open books, music, podcasts in their native apps • Navigate between items without going back to the list Designed with intention: • Built with Apple's latest Liquid Glass design language for a modern, native feel • Editorial aesthetic — clean, calm, Kinfolk-inspired design • Privacy-first — all AI runs locally on your device, your data stays in iCloud Drive • No account required — download and start using immediately • Works offline — everything syncs automatically via iCloud Drive Aside is for readers, collectors, and curators who want a quiet space to save what matters.

Screenshots

LocalAuth4 screens
Aside4 screens

Verdict

The call

LocalAuth and Aside are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and June 27, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
LocalAuth versus Aside: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLocalAuthAside
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS1817.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB45 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperWenzhou Dulan Network Technology Co., Ltd.ArcBlock, Inc.

In-app purchases

None

LocalAuth

No in-app purchases

None

Aside

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LocalAuth free?
LocalAuth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Aside free?
Aside is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LocalAuth or Aside have ads?
Neither LocalAuth nor Aside shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LocalAuth or Aside?
LocalAuth ships an update every 2 months, and Aside every 2 months. Most recently, LocalAuth was updated on September 15, 2026 and Aside on June 27, 2026.

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