Comparison

Microsoft Authenticator vs Hearth

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

Head to head
About

Microsoft Authenticator

This app provides secure and easy sign-ins for online accounts using multi-factor authentication, passwordless options, and password autofill. It supports managing multiple accounts, including non-Microsoft services, and offers enhanced security for work or school accounts.

Highlights
  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
  • Passwordless sign-in
  • Password autofill
  • Supports non-Microsoft accounts
  • Account management for work/school
  • Two-step verification (2FA)
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

Hearth

Features
Read full description

Hearth is the shared brain for your home. One list instead of two memories: groceries, chores, meals, dates, notes and pets, kept in one place and on both your phones. WHAT'S IN IT • Groceries: add in a sentence, tick off in the aisle, and see what's already at home • Chores: who does what, how often, and a gentle nudge when it's due • Meals: plan the week, keep recipes, send the ingredients to the list • Dates and renewals: birthdays, the car insurance, the boiler service • Pets: the vet, the flea drops, the birthday • A morning digest: one notification with what's due today, and nothing on quiet days BUILT FOR TWO Start a household and invite the other phone with a link or a QR code. Everything either of you adds is already on the other's phone. Tap Continue with Apple on a new iPhone and the house is there. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Sign in with Apple — that's the only account, and there's no password to invent. No ads, no tracking. Your household's content is end-to-end encrypted with a key that never leaves your phones. Not even we can read your lists. FREE, WITH ONE PAID EXTRA Every list, screen and phone is free, and stays free. Reading a recipe from a photo or a link, stocking the pantry from a photo of your shopping, or adding by voice uses AI that costs us each time, so it's five a month free, or unlimited with the Household plan: £24.99 a year or £2.99 a month, one subscription for the whole house, shareable with Family Sharing. Prices shown in the app in your local currency. Terms: https://hearth.ncstudiodigital.com/terms Privacy: https://hearth.ncstudiodigital.com/privacy

Screenshots

Microsoft Authenticator4 screens
Hearth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Microsoft Authenticator at none against Hearth's 2. Microsoft Authenticator also leads on chart position (#6 vs unranked). Hearth's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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. Hearth sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Microsoft Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, Hearth weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Microsoft Authenticator versus Hearth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrosoft AuthenticatorHearth
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (725K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews11.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings725K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#6 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision ProiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size230 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationFernanda de Paiva Carvalho

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

Hearth

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Microsoft Authenticator

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Hearth

Subscriptions2
  • Household, monthly$2.991 Month
  • Household, yearly$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Microsoft Authenticator free?
Microsoft Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hearth free?
Hearth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Microsoft Authenticator or Hearth have ads?
Neither Microsoft Authenticator nor Hearth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Authenticator or Hearth?
Microsoft Authenticator ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hearth weekly. Most recently, Microsoft Authenticator was updated on November 12, 2026 and Hearth on November 6, 2026.

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