AusweisApp Bund vs privacyIDEA Authenticator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AusweisApp Bund
This software allows you to digitally identify yourself online using your German national ID card, electronic residence permit, or EU citizen card. It's designed for secure online authentication across various platforms.
- Online identification with national ID card
- Supports electronic residence permit
- Enables EU citizen card identification
- Secure online authentication
- Available for iPhone, Mac, and iPad
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Die AusweisApp ist eine Software, die Sie auf Ihrem iPhone, Mac oder iPad installieren, um sich mit Ihrem Personalausweis, Ihrem elektronischen Aufenthaltstitel oder der eID-Karte für Unionsbürger:innen online auszuweisen. Alle weiterführenden Informationen finden Sie unter: www.ausweisapp.bund.de Die Erklärung zur Barrierefreiheit der Software finden Sie unter: https://www.ausweisapp.bund.de/barrierefreiheit-app Entwickelt im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik.
privacyIDEA Authenticator
This app transforms your smartphone into a secure authentication device for two-factor authentication. It seamlessly integrates with a backend system, offering a more secure rollout process than traditional tokens.
- Two-factor authentication
- OTP token support
- Secure rollout process
- Smartphone as authentication device
- REST API integration
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privacyIDEA is a modular solution for two factor authentication especially with OTP tokens. It is multi-tenency- and multi-instance-capable. Due to the modular structure privacyIDEA can be quickly and easily adapted and enhanced. E.g. adding new token types is as simple as writing a new lean python module. You do not need to modify your network for privacyIDEA, it does not write to existing databases or user stores. It only needs read access to your user stores like LDAP, Active Directory, SQL, SCIM-service or flat files. Existing workflows can be enhanced without the need to modify them. Using its simple REST like API it can be automated and smoothly be integrated. The Smartphone App "privacyIDEA Authenticator" turns your smartphone into an authentication device, which smoothlessly runs with the privacyIDEA backend. In contrast to classical smartphone based tokens the privacyIDEA Authenticator also allows for a more secure rollout process.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: AusweisApp Bund at 4.2 against privacyIDEA Authenticator's 3.0. AusweisApp Bund also leads on ratings volume (1K vs 7). privacyIDEA Authenticator's advantage is review sentiment (43% vs 34%) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
AusweisApp Bund holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AusweisApp Bund has 1K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 34% of AusweisApp Bund's written reviews are positive against 43% of privacyIDEA Authenticator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AusweisApp Bund | privacyIDEA Authenticator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (1K ratings) — better | 3.0 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 34.4% of reviews | 42.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1K — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Governikus GmbH & Co. KG | NetKnights GmbH |
Customer experience
AusweisApp Bund
privacyIDEA Authenticator
Bugs and requests
AusweisApp Bund
Reported bugs
3 issues- Fails to read ID card
- Disconnects during verification
- Incompatible with newer devices
Requested features
4 requests- Support for dual citizenship
- Simplified setup process
- Consistent instructions across devices
- Integration with Apple Wallet
privacyIDEA Authenticator
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
AusweisApp Bund
No in-app purchases
privacyIDEA Authenticator
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AusweisApp Bund free?
Is privacyIDEA Authenticator free?
Which has better reviews, AusweisApp Bund or privacyIDEA Authenticator?
Do AusweisApp Bund or privacyIDEA Authenticator have ads?
Which is updated more often, AusweisApp Bund or privacyIDEA Authenticator?
Other comparisons
