# Microsoft Authenticator vs ID.me Authenticator

The clearest difference is rating: Microsoft Authenticator at 4.7 against ID.me Authenticator's 4.3. Microsoft Authenticator also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (703K vs 100K). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Microsoft Authenticator holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Authenticator has 703K ratings behind it against 100K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 12% of Microsoft Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 13% of ID.me Authenticator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, ID.me Authenticator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft Authenticator | ID.me Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (703K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-authenticator/id983156458/reviews)** | [4.3 (100K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idme-authenticator/id1446335066/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **703K** | 100K |
| Positive reviews | 11.6% of reviews | **12.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | #37 |
| Size | 226 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [ID.me](https://appshunter.io/developer/1189278595) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-authenticator/id983156458)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Productivity, #22 Top Free (US App Store)

Securely sign into online accounts with multi-factor authentication, passwordless login, or password autofill. Manage multiple accounts, including non-Microsoft services, and access Microsoft products and services seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Multi-factor authentication (MFA), Passwordless sign-in, Password autofill, Support for non-Microsoft accounts, Account management for work/school, Cert-based authentication

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless authentication
- 🔒 Secure login process
- 👍 Convenient passwordless sign-in
- 🚀 Smooth app performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Broken Apple Watch functionality
- 🐛 Backup and restore issues
- 🐛 Confusing login flow
- 🐛 Accounts disappearing after phone change

**Reported bugs**

- Authenticator app getting locked and requiring Touch ID
- Notification failures and authentication issues
- Accounts not syncing properly between devices

**Requested features**

- Add search and sorting for accounts
- Improve Apple Watch integration
- Provide better backup and restore options
- Streamline login process


### ID.me Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idme-authenticator/id1446335066)

**Currently charting:** #37 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

This app provides a free multi-factor authentication solution for your account, adding an extra security layer to prevent unauthorized access. It generates secure verification tokens, including time-based codes and push notifications, to confirm your identity during login.

**Highlights:** Multi-factor authentication (MFA), Time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), Push notification verification, Mobile security keys, Account protection from hackers

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Comprehensive identity verification
- 👍 Clean and straightforward interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent technical issues
- 🕰️ Slow and unresponsive support
- 🤯 Confusing and frustrating workflow
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
- 🙍‍♀️ Poor user experience for non-tech-savvy individuals

**Reported bugs**

- Repeated login failures
- Inability to upload documents successfully
- Inconsistent error messages
- Compatibility issues with certain phone models

**Requested features**

- Improved customer support with live agents
- Simplified identity verification process
- Compatibility with more device types
- Ability to reset passwords and accounts easily


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft Authenticator free?

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

### Is ID.me Authenticator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Microsoft Authenticator or ID.me Authenticator?

Microsoft Authenticator is rated higher. Microsoft Authenticator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 703K ratings, while ID.me Authenticator averages 4.3 from 100K ratings.

### Do Microsoft Authenticator or ID.me Authenticator have ads?

Neither Microsoft Authenticator nor ID.me Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Microsoft Authenticator or ID.me Authenticator?

Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, and ID.me Authenticator every 2 months. Most recently, Microsoft Authenticator was updated on October 13, 2026 and ID.me Authenticator on October 12, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Microsoft Authenticator or ID.me Authenticator?

Microsoft Authenticator currently peaks at #5 in the App Store charts, and ID.me Authenticator at #37. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*