# QuickSMS vs The authenticator App

The clearest difference is price: The authenticator App at Free against QuickSMS's $1.99. The authenticator App also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 12 months). QuickSMS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

The authenticator App is free to download; QuickSMS costs $1.99 up front. The authenticator App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. QuickSMS asks for nothing beyond the download.

QuickSMS ships an update every 12 months, The authenticator App every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QuickSMS | The authenticator App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **67** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Size | 1 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Control Technologies Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/459063089) | [NextPixel apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1584487280) |

## What reviewers say

### QuickSMS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quicksms/id877416078)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### The authenticator App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-authenticator-app-2fa/id1641113701)

Securely manage all your two-factor authentication codes in one place. Scan QR codes or manually add accounts for easy access, protected by Face ID or password.

**Highlights:** 2FA Code Generation, QR Code Scanning, Centralized Account Management, Face ID Access, Password Lock

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The authy authenticator | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 2fa 2 factor authentication | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QuickSMS free?

QuickSMS costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The authenticator App free?

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

### Do QuickSMS or The authenticator App have ads?

Neither QuickSMS nor The authenticator App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, QuickSMS or The authenticator App?

QuickSMS ships an update every 12 months, and The authenticator App every 4 weeks. Most recently, QuickSMS was updated on September 29, 2026 and The authenticator App on September 25, 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.*