# Proton Mail vs Yubico Authenticator

The clearest difference is rating: Proton Mail at 4.8 against Yubico Authenticator's 3.7. Proton Mail also leads on ratings volume (48K vs 268) and update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly). Yubico Authenticator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Proton Mail sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Yubico Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Proton Mail holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton Mail has 48K ratings behind it against 268, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Proton Mail's written reviews are positive against 44% of Yubico Authenticator's.

Proton Mail ships an update every 10 days, Yubico Authenticator monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Proton Mail | Yubico Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (48K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-mail-encrypted-email/id979659905/reviews)** | [3.7 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **48K** | 268 |
| Positive reviews | **46.6% of reviews** | 43.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#65** | — |
| Size | 272 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) | [Yubico](https://appshunter.io/developer/586890748) |

## What reviewers say

### Proton Mail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-mail-encrypted-email/id979659905)

**Currently charting:** #65 Top Free · Productivity, #86 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This encrypted email service from Switzerland prioritizes user privacy with end-to-end encryption. It offers robust security features to protect your communications from phishing, spam, and tracking, allowing you to manage your inbox with ease.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Password-protected emails, Multiple account support, Inbox organization (folders, labels), Dark mode, Phishing and spam protection

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mail Plus 1 month | $5.99 | per month |
| Unlimited 1 month | $14.99 | per month |
| Mail Plus 12 months | $47.90 | per year |
| Unlimited 1 year | $119.00 | per year |
| Mail Plus (1 year) | $59.99 | one-time |
| Proton Unlimited | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 🔒 Excellent security and privacy
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 💡 Expanding ecosystem of Proton services

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow email loading times
- 📝 Lacking advanced email management features
- 💰 Expensive paid plans

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and lost email data
- Unreliable push notifications
- Inconsistent user experience between app and web

**Requested features**

- Conversation threading and email previews
- Customizable notification sounds
- Offline email access
- Improved syncing across devices


### Yubico Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yubico-authenticator/id1476679808)

Secure your online accounts with hardware-backed two-factor authentication. Store unique credentials on a physical security key, eliminating the need to store sensitive data on your mobile device. Generate verification codes without an internet connection for enhanced account protection.

**Highlights:** Hardware-backed security key storage, Touch or NFC authentication, USB-C support, Biometric unlock (FaceID/TouchID), QR code setup, User presence verification, Smart Card support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well with Yubikey
- 🔒 Secure storage of OATH secrets
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 NFC support added

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 NFC not working on some devices
- 🐛 Clunky UI for password-protected keys
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes reported
- 🐛 Incompatible with some devices (iPad, older iPhones)

**Reported bugs**

- NFC not working reliably
- Accounts disappearing after updates
- Calculation of codes not working
- Keyboard issues when using keys

**Requested features**

- Allow editing and rearranging of entries
- Add support for multiple keys per account
- Improve iPad/tablet support
- Add dark mode option
- Improve QR code scanning


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Proton Mail free?

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

### Is Yubico Authenticator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Proton Mail or Yubico Authenticator?

Proton Mail is rated higher. Proton Mail averages 4.8 out of 5 from 48K ratings, while Yubico Authenticator averages 3.7 from 268 ratings.

### Do Proton Mail or Yubico Authenticator have ads?

Neither Proton Mail nor Yubico Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Proton Mail or Yubico Authenticator?

Proton Mail ships an update every 10 days, and Yubico Authenticator monthly. Most recently, Proton Mail was updated on October 18, 2026 and Yubico Authenticator on October 16, 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.*