# Microsoft Authenticator vs Authenticator °

Microsoft Authenticator and Authenticator ° both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Authenticator °'s written reviews are positive against 12% of Microsoft Authenticator's. Authenticator ° also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Microsoft Authenticator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ratings volume (694K vs 594). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Authenticator ° sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Microsoft Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Microsoft Authenticator against 4.8 for Authenticator °. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Authenticator has 694K ratings behind it against 594, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 12% of Microsoft Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 77% of Authenticator °'s.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft Authenticator | Authenticator ° |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (694K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-authenticator/id983156458/reviews) | **[4.8 (594 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator/id6446651396/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **694K** | 594 |
| Positive reviews | 11.6% of reviews | **76.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | — |
| Size | 223 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Bence Kaposzta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1650069302) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft Authenticator

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

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Free · Productivity, #24 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


### Authenticator °

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator/id6446651396)

This app enhances your online security by generating time-sensitive passwords for two-factor and multi-factor authentication. It offers seamless data synchronization across devices, Apple Watch support, and robust encryption for your sensitive information.

**Highlights:** One-Time Passwords (OTP), Seamless Data Synchronization, Apple Watch Support, End-to-End Encryption, Import/Export Encrypted Backups, Auto-Lock & Biometric Authentication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| 3 Month | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year, 50% off | $19.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Discounted | $22.99 | per year |
| 1 Year, 30% off | $27.99 | per year |
| 1 Year with initial offer | $34.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Free Lifetime subscription | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime, intro offer | $0.29 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to install and use
- 🔒 Secure password management
- 🚀 Efficient and fast
- 👍 Great user interface
- 🔒 Robust security features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔒 Concerns about cloud storage security
- 🤔 Forced 5-star review before use
- 🤔 Unclear or confusing onboarding process

**Reported bugs**

- List of saved sites/accounts disappearing
- Trouble logging in or resetting password
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Allow renaming of accounts
- Add pop-up notifications like other authenticators
- Improve sync with desktop/laptop
- Provide more theme/customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft Authenticator free?

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

### Is Authenticator ° free?

Authenticator ° is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator °?

Authenticator ° is rated higher. Microsoft Authenticator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 694K ratings, while Authenticator ° averages 4.8 from 594 ratings.

### Do Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator ° have ads?

Neither Microsoft Authenticator nor Authenticator ° shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator °?

Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 2 weeks, and Authenticator ° every 2 weeks. Most recently, Microsoft Authenticator was updated on September 24, 2026 and Authenticator ° on August 10, 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.*