# Authenticator vs Bucksy

The clearest difference is ads: Authenticator at none against Bucksy's shown. Authenticator also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). Bucksy's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.5). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and Bucksy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Authenticator ships an update every 8 days, Bucksy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Authenticator | Bucksy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Size | 29 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [N & W DESIGN LTDA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1860207951) | [志煌 谢](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769521209) |

## What reviewers say

### Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-encrypt-codes/id6760289642)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instant Unlock | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Instant Unlock Year | $54.99 | per year |


### Bucksy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bucksy-modern-s3-client/id6760632160)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator free?

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

### Is Bucksy free?

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

### Do Authenticator or Bucksy have ads?

Bucksy shows ads; Authenticator does not.

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

Authenticator ships an update every 8 days, and Bucksy every 3 weeks. Most recently, Authenticator was updated on September 20, 2026 and Bucksy on October 12, 2026.

---

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