# AusweisApp Bund vs LinOTP Authenticator

The clearest difference is update cadence: AusweisApp Bund at every 2 months against LinOTP Authenticator's every 8 months. LinOTP Authenticator's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

AusweisApp Bund ships an update every 2 months, LinOTP Authenticator every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AusweisApp Bund | LinOTP Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ausweisapp-bund/id948660805/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 33.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 49 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Governikus Service GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/948660804) | [KeyIdentity GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/571941070) |

## What reviewers say

### AusweisApp Bund

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ausweisapp-bund/id948660805)

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.

**Highlights:** Online identification with national ID card, Supports electronic residence permit, Enables EU citizen card identification, Secure online authentication, Available for iPhone, Mac, and iPad

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works seamlessly
- 💡 Useful for more services
- 👍 It works as advertised

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Complicated to set up
- 🐛 Unreliable connection
- 👎 Confusing interface
- 👎 Technologically outdated
- 👎 Waste of taxpayer money

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to read ID card
- Disconnects during verification
- Incompatible with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Support for dual citizenship
- Simplified setup process
- Consistent instructions across devices
- Integration with Apple Wallet


### LinOTP Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linotp-authenticator/id6450118468)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AusweisApp Bund free?

AusweisApp Bund is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is LinOTP Authenticator free?

LinOTP Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do AusweisApp Bund or LinOTP Authenticator have ads?

Neither AusweisApp Bund nor LinOTP Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AusweisApp Bund or LinOTP Authenticator?

AusweisApp Bund ships an update every 2 months, and LinOTP Authenticator every 8 months. Most recently, AusweisApp Bund was updated on October 20, 2026 and LinOTP Authenticator on October 12, 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.*