Microsoft Authenticator vs Authenticator App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Microsoft Authenticator
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.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Passwordless sign-in
- Password autofill
- Support for non-Microsoft accounts
- Account management for work/school
- Cert-based authentication
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Use Microsoft Authenticator for easy, secure sign-ins for all your online accounts using multi-factor authentication, passwordless, or password autofill. You also have additional account management options for your Microsoft personal, work or school accounts. Getting started with multi-factor authentication Multi factor authentication (MFA)provides a second layer of security. When enabled, during login after entering your password, you’ll be asked for an additional way to prove it’s really you. Either approve the notification sent to the Microsoft Authenticator, or enter the one-time password (OTP) generated by the app. The OTP codes have a 30 second timer counting down. This timer is so you never have to use the same time-based one-time password (TOTP) twice and you don’t have to remember the number. The OTP doesn’t require you to be connected to a network, and it won’t drain your battery. You can add multiple accounts to your app, including non-Microsoft accounts like Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Google, LinkedIn, GitHub, and more. Getting started with passwordless Use your phone, not your password, to log into your Microsoft account. Just enter your username, then approve the notification sent to your phone. Your fingerprint, face ID, or PIN will provide a second layer of security in this two-step verification process. After you’ve signed in with two factor authentication (2FA), you’ll have access to all your Microsoft products and services, such as Outlook, OneDrive, Office, and more. Getting started with autofill Microsoft Authenticator app can also autofill passwords for you. Sign-in on the Passwords tab inside the Authenticator app with your personal Microsoft account to start syncing passwords, including the passwords saved in Microsoft Edge. Make Microsoft Authenticator the default autofill provider and start autofilling passwords on apps and sites you visit on your mobile. Your passwords are protected with multi-factor authentication in the app. You will need to prove yourself with your fingerprint, face ID, or PIN to access and autofill passwords on your mobile. You can also import passwords from Google Chrome and other password managers. Microsoft personal, work or school accounts Sometimes your work or school might ask you to install the Microsoft Authenticator when accessing certain organization resources. You will need to register your device to your organization through the app and add your work or school account. Microsoft Authenticator supports cert-based authentication by issuing a certificate on your device. This will let your organization know that the sign-in request is coming from a trusted device and help you seamlessly and securely access additional Microsoft apps and services without needing to log into each. Microsoft Authenticator may request the following optional permissions, which require your consent. You can continue to use Microsoft Authenticator without granting these permissions. However, some features may be limited or unavailable. For more information, please see below: - Face ID: To enable app lock and help protect your accounts - Camera: To scan QR codes when adding accounts to Microsoft Authenticator.
Authenticator App
Secure your online accounts with two-factor authentication. This app offers passwordless sign-ins, seamless autofill, and encrypted backups. It supports a vast range of services and works across Apple devices, with advanced security features like Face ID and Touch ID.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Passwordless sign-ins
- Seamless password autofill
- Encrypted iCloud backup
- Offline OTP generation
- Face ID & Touch ID security
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Authenticator is the ultimate solution for secure, convenient two-factor authentication (2FA) across your digital life. Empower your digital life with secure sign-ins across all online accounts using the strength of multi-factor authentication, passwordless convenience, and seamless password autofill.Optimized for iPhone and Apple Watch, and compatible with iPad and Mac, it's designed to work effortlessly with a multitude of services including Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Blizzard, Thomson Reuters, Epic Games, Stripe, Federal Student Aid, AMFI, Warzone Mobile, Drake Tax, RealMe, Login.gov, RingCentra, Textbroker, Godaddy, Ring, Outlook, Xbox, eBay, PayPal, Snapchat, Dropbox, Spotify, Reddit, Pinterest, Shopify, Airbnb, Uber, Zoom, Slack, Coinbase, Roblox, GitHub, Twitch, Binance, Salesforce, Tesla, Nvidia, ProtonMail, Robinhood, Uphold, PlayStation, Threads, Fortnite, Crypto, Notion, Yahoo, Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, Venmo, Trello, Asana, Strava, Duolingo, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub, Discord, Bittrex, 1Password, Озон.Ключ and more. Comprehensive Features: - Extensive Compatibility: Authenticator integrates with a vast array of platforms, enhancing the security of your online presence across various services. - Encrypted iCloud Backup: Securely store your 2FA codes with encryption, ensuring you have access to your accounts even if your device is lost. The backup functionality is robust, supporting both manual backup and quick restoration. - Seamless Synchronization: Effortlessly sync your authentication tokens across iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. - Offline OTP Generation: Generate One-Time Passwords (OTPs) even in areas without internet connectivity, keeping your accounts secure at all times. - Advanced Security with Face ID & Touch ID: Utilize cutting-edge security features on your iPhone and Apple Watch for swift and secure access. - Efficient Setup & Management: Configure and manage all your accounts easily with QR code scanning and centralized account management. Subscription Details: Unlock the full potential of the app with advanced two-factor authentication (2FA) features by choosing from our yearly, monthly, or weekly plans, each offering an initial free trial to explore more. Additionally, we offer a one-time purchase option that provides full access to all our authenticator and two-factor (2FA) security features without the need for a subscription. Payments can be made through your Apple account, and subscriptions will auto-renew unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. Join our plans to find the best deal for enhanced security and authentication! Key Links: Privacy Policy: https://downloadauthenticator.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Service: https://downloadauthenticator.com/terms-of-use/ With Authenticator, you can confidently secure your online accounts on a wide range of popular platforms, ensuring a safe and streamlined digital experience.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Microsoft Authenticator at 4.7 against Authenticator App's 4.2. Microsoft Authenticator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ratings volume (694K vs 86). Authenticator App's advantage is review sentiment (20% vs 12%) and device support (5 vs 3). On price, update cadence and ads 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. Authenticator App sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Microsoft Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.
Microsoft Authenticator holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Authenticator has 694K ratings behind it against 86, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 12% of Microsoft Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 20% of Authenticator App's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 2 weeks, Authenticator App every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Microsoft Authenticator | Authenticator App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (694K ratings) — better | 4.2 (86 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 11.6% of reviews | 20.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 694K — better | 86 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #6 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 223 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Microsoft Corporation | Hearttell US Limited |
Customer experience
Microsoft Authenticator
Authenticator App
Bugs and requests
Microsoft Authenticator
Reported bugs
3 issues- Authenticator app getting locked and requiring Touch ID
- Notification failures and authentication issues
- Accounts not syncing properly between devices
Requested features
4 requests- Add search and sorting for accounts
- Improve Apple Watch integration
- Provide better backup and restore options
- Streamline login process
Authenticator App
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Microsoft Authenticator
No in-app purchases
Authenticator App
- Authenticator App 2FA Weekly$5.997 Days
- Authenticator_App_2FA_MFA_Week$6.997 Days
- Authenticator App Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
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- Authenticator App 2FA Monthly$9.991 Month
- Authenticator App 2FA Monthly$19.991 Month
- Authenticator_App_Yearly$29.991 Year
- Authenticator App 2FA Yearly$39.991 Year
- Authenticator App Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Authenticator_App_2FA_Yearly$49.991 Year
- Authenticator App One-time$49.99
- Authenticator_App_2FA_Onetime$99.99
Questions
Is Microsoft Authenticator free?
Is Authenticator App free?
Which has better reviews, Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator App?
Do Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator App have ads?
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator App?
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