Comparison

Microsoft Authenticator vs Authenticator App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
  • Passwordless sign-in
  • Password autofill
  • Support for non-Microsoft accounts
  • Account management for work/school
  • Cert-based authentication
Read full description

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.

About

Authenticator App

Secure your digital accounts with advanced two-factor authentication. This app offers cloud backup to prevent lockout, supports a wide range of services, and includes a password manager for all-in-one digital identity management. It provides enterprise-grade security and seamless integration for personal and professional use.

Highlights
  • iCloud Cloud Backup
  • 2FA support for 1000+ services
  • Apple Watch support
  • Integrated Password Manager
  • Offline code generation
  • Import from Photos
Features
Read full description

The ultimate upgrade for Google Authenticator! Worried about losing your phone? Secure iCloud Cloud Backup ensures you never get locked out. Optimized for US users: Seamless 2FA support for Discord, Fortnite, Microsoft, AWS, and all your digital accounts. 【Core Features】 - Never Lose Access: iCloud Backup Lost or broke your phone? Don't risk losing your accounts. Enable Cloud Backup to securely store your 2FA tokens in your personal iCloud. Restore everything instantly on a new iPhone with zero hassle. - For Gamers: Secure Your Loot The essential security tool for gamers. Perfect support for Discord, Roblox, Fortnite (Epic Games), PlayStation (PSN), Xbox, Twitch, and Battle.net. Generate codes instantly without lag, even while offline. - Apple Watch Support Unlock from your wrist! No need to pull out your phone. View your 2FA codes directly on your Apple Watch. Log in faster to your games or work VPNs. - Business & Work: Microsoft Compatible Enterprise-grade security. A powerful alternative to Microsoft Authenticator. Works seamlessly with Office 365, Outlook, Okta, Salesforce, Cisco Duo, AWS, and GitHub. Streamline your workflow with professional reliability. - Password & 2FA Manager: All-in-One More than just an authenticator. Built-in Password Manager allows you to store your passwords alongside your 2FA codes. Copy and paste with ease—manage your entire digital identity in one secure app. 【Why Choose Us?】 - Universal Compatibility: Supports standard 2FA for 1000+ services. Including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Instagram, Discord, Snapchat, Roblox, Coinbase, PayPal, LinkedIn, and more. - Easy Migration: Support batch import & export via iCloud or Text File. Easily transfer data from Google Authenticator to your new iPhone. - Privacy Lock: Set an app launch password to prevent others from viewing your verification codes and account information when using your phone, and protect your privacy and security. - Bank-Level Encryption: Your data is yours. We use advanced encryption and store data locally or in your iCloud. We never upload your keys to 3rd-party servers. - Scan from Photos: Can't scan a QR code on your screen? Use our Import from Photos feature. Just take a screenshot and load it—no need for a second device. - Offline Access: No internet? No problem. Generate valid TOTP codes even in Airplane Mode. 【Q&A】 Q: What is an Authenticator? A: It is a tool that generates Time-based One-Time Passwords (TOTP) to protect your accounts from hacking. It serves as a digital key for Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Q: Can it replace Google Authenticator? A: Yes! It is fully compatible with Google's protocols but adds premium features like iCloud Backup, Password Management, and Photo Import. It's safer and easier to use. 【Subscription Info】 Unlock Premium for unlimited accounts and secure cloud backup. - Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. - You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings after purchase. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Contact Us: servicetwofa@gmail.com Refunds for paid subscriptions follow Apple’s official rules. All payment transactions, refund reviews and processing are under the exclusive authority of Apple Inc. As the app developer, we cannot process refunds directly. Please submit your refund request at Apple’s official page: https://reportaproblem.apple.com. Log in with your Apple ID, find your order and apply. Apple will inform you of the review result within 48 hours. Terms of Service: https://authfile.pages.dev/terms_en-US.html Privacy Policy: https://authfile.pages.dev/privacy_en-US.html

Screenshots

Microsoft Authenticator4 screens
Authenticator App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Microsoft Authenticator at none against Authenticator App's 16. Microsoft Authenticator also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (694K vs 11). Authenticator App's advantage is review sentiment (21% vs 12%) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Authenticator App sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Microsoft Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Microsoft Authenticator against 4.6 for Authenticator App. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Authenticator has 694K ratings behind it against 11, 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 21% of Authenticator App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 2 weeks, Authenticator App every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Microsoft Authenticator versus Authenticator App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrosoft AuthenticatorAuthenticator App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (694K ratings) — better4.6 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews11.6% of reviews20.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings694K — better11
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#6 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision ProiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size223 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationBeijing Haohai Xincheng Technology Co., Ltd

Customer experience

Microsoft Authenticator

All ratings693,830 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral1.6%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews4,123 reviews
Positive11.6%
Neutral4.2%
Negative84.2%

Authenticator App

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive20.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative79.4%

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

None

Microsoft Authenticator

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

Authenticator App

Subscriptions10
  • Week3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly3 Days trial$5.591 Month
  • Week3 Days trial$5.997 Days
Show 7 more
  • Monthly1 Month trial$6.991 Month
  • Week3 Days trial2 variants$6.997 Days
  • Monthly3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$23.991 Year
  • Yearly$24.991 Year
  • Yearly2 variants$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • permanent2 variants$31.99
  • Lifetime$99.99
  • permanent$129.99

Questions

Is Microsoft Authenticator free?
Microsoft Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Authenticator App free?
Authenticator App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator App?
Microsoft Authenticator is rated higher. Microsoft Authenticator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 694K ratings, while Authenticator App averages 4.6 from 11 ratings.
Do Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator App have ads?
Authenticator App shows ads; Microsoft Authenticator does not.
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Authenticator or Authenticator App?
Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 2 weeks, and Authenticator App every 3 weeks. Most recently, Microsoft Authenticator was updated on September 24, 2026 and Authenticator App on September 22, 2026.

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