Comparison

Microsoft Authenticator vs Contact Card

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. 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

Contact Card

Read full description

Contact Card is the frictionless way to share your contact details. Simply enter your information, flip the card, and let anyone scan your QR code to save your contact instantly. No app required on their end — works with any modern smartphone camera. No more paper cards. No more typing numbers. Just one scan and your details are saved.Contact Card is also the perfect corporate tool. Its simple style configuration and custom font support make it easy to align your digital card with your company's brand identity. Consistent, professional, and effortless to set up across the whole team.

Screenshots

Microsoft Authenticator4 screens
Contact Card4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Microsoft Authenticator at Free against Contact Card's $5.99. Microsoft Authenticator also leads on chart position (#12 vs unranked). Contact Card's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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

Microsoft Authenticator is free to download; Contact Card costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Microsoft Authenticator versus Contact Card: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrosoft AuthenticatorContact Card
PriceFree — better$5.99
Rating4.7 (717K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews11.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings717K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#12 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size226 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationMattia Marco Conconi

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

Contact Card

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Microsoft Authenticator

No in-app purchases

None

Contact Card

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Microsoft Authenticator free?
Microsoft Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Contact Card free?
Contact Card costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Microsoft Authenticator or Contact Card have ads?
Neither Microsoft Authenticator nor Contact Card shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Authenticator or Contact Card?
Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, and Contact Card every 3 weeks. Most recently, Microsoft Authenticator was updated on October 26, 2026 and Contact Card on September 30, 2026.

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