myID Review: Essential Access, Frustrating App

30-Second Take

myID is free, government-backed and genuinely useful when an Australian service requires digital identity verification. It replaces repeated document checks with one app, supports biometric protection and can connect to federal, state and territory services. The problem is hard to ignore: 1.9 stars from about 19,600 Google Play reviews. That score suggests the idea is better than the day-to-day app experience.

The app is available on Android, requires Android 11 or later, and has more than 5 million downloads. It asks for camera access and other permissions, which makes sense for identity verification but still deserves scrutiny.

Features and Cost

There is no subscription, in-app purchase or advertised fee. According to the official myID website, the app lets you prove your identity for participating government online services without repeatedly sharing physical identity documents.

• Platform: Android
• Minimum requirement: Android 11
• Price: Free to download
• In-app purchases: None listed
• Developer: Australian Taxation Office
• Permissions: Camera and other permissions
• Latest listed version: 3.19.0.0

After setup, users can enable fingerprint or face authentication through the device’s biometric security features. That is more convenient than remembering another password, though it does not remove the need to complete the initial identity checks.

The useful distinction is that myID is not a general-purpose password manager. It is a government digital identity credential, and it only helps where a participating service accepts it. The app’s description says it works across a wide range of federal, state and territory services, but acceptance still depends on the service you are trying to access.

Where It Wins

The strongest feature is the reduction in repeated paperwork. Once your identity is verified, myID can act as a reusable way to prove who you are instead of making you photograph the same documents for every online government service.

• ✅ Free, with no listed subscription or in-app purchase
• ✅ Backed by the Australian Taxation Office and accredited by the Australian Government Digital ID System
• ✅ Biometric login can add protection against someone else opening the app on your device
• ✅ More than 5 million downloads indicate broad awareness and adoption
• ✅ Camera access supports the identity-verification process rather than being an unrelated feature

Privacy is another potential advantage. The app says personal information is not shared without permission and that users remain in control. That is preferable to uploading identity documents to multiple private services, although the exact information shared will depend on the government service being accessed.

Compared with using separate usernames and passwords for every service, myID is conceptually cleaner. Compared with a private identity app, its government accreditation may also give users more confidence about who controls the system.

Where It Falls Short

The rating is the elephant in the room. A 1.9-star score across roughly 19,600 reviews is not a minor complaint signal; it suggests a meaningful number of users have struggled with setup, verification, access or reliability. The store data does not provide enough detail to identify one single cause, so the app’s own feature list should not be mistaken for proof of a smooth experience.

• ❌ Very low Google Play rating despite 5M+ downloads
• ❌ Android-only data is available here, so iPhone performance is not covered by this review
• ❌ Identity verification can be stressful if the camera, documents or personal details are not accepted
• ❌ Access depends on each government service supporting myID
• ❌ The app requests camera and other permissions because it handles sensitive identity checks

The biggest practical risk is timing. If you need to access a government service immediately, discovering that verification fails can leave you stuck with no quick alternative. Install and verify myID before a deadline, not five minutes before lodging a form.

There is also a privacy trade-off. Keeping physical documents out of repeated online checks is helpful, but a central digital identity still concentrates sensitive information around one credential. Use a screen lock, keep Android updated and never share the myID credential with another person.

myID Compared With Other Login Methods

myID is more specialised than myGov. myGov is the broader account hub for accessing services such as Medicare and the Australian Taxation Office, while myID focuses on proving identity and can be used as an identity layer for participating services. They are related, but they are not interchangeable.

It also differs from private identity products such as Australia Post Digital iD. The deciding factor is service acceptance: the government service must support the identity provider you choose. myID’s government accreditation is reassuring, but it does not guarantee that every service will accept it or that the verification process will work first time.

That is the less obvious catch: downloading myID does not automatically give access to every government portal. Check the sign-in options on the specific service before relying on it.

Best Fit

Best for Android users in Australia who regularly access government services online, want to avoid repeated document uploads and are comfortable granting camera access for identity checks. It is particularly useful for people managing tax, licensing or other services that explicitly support myID.

Skip this if you need guaranteed same-day access, dislike biometric authentication or use an Android phone below version 11. Users with strict privacy concerns should read the permissions and sharing information first, then decide if the convenience outweighs keeping identity verification entirely separate.

Install it ahead of time if a participating service requires it. That gives you room to resolve verification problems before a tax, licence or benefits deadline.

Would I Recommend It?

Choose this if you are an Australian Android user on Android 11 or newer who needs recurring access to participating government services and values fewer document checks. The free price and official backing make it worth trying, but the 1.9-star rating means it should not be your only plan when access is urgent.

myID solves a real administrative nuisance. It just has to earn more trust through a smoother, more dependable app experience.