# Authenticator vs Authenticator App

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Authenticator App at 16.0 against Authenticator's 18.5. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and Authenticator App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator ships an update weekly, Authenticator App every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator | Authenticator App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 11 days |
| Size | 112 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BU Guard GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858539616) | [Rubiklab](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787767335) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-2fa-app/id6760155508)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Access Year | $44.99 | per year |


### Authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-nexauth/id6776078454)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Plan | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator free?

Authenticator 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 Authenticator or Authenticator App have ads?

Neither Authenticator nor Authenticator App shows ads.

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

Authenticator ships an update weekly, and Authenticator App every 11 days. Most recently, Authenticator was updated on September 16, 2026 and Authenticator App on September 10, 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.*