# First15 vs A Simple Pause

The clearest difference is review sentiment: A Simple Pause at 100% against First15's 79%. A Simple Pause also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). First15's advantage is ratings volume (459 vs 20). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

A Simple Pause holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First15 has 459 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of First15's written reviews are positive against 100% of A Simple Pause's.

First15 ships an update every 6 weeks, A Simple Pause monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First15 | A Simple Pause |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (459 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first15/id1168163647/reviews) | **[5.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-simple-pause/id1554173624/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **459** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 78.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 65 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Denison Ministries (Apps)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1606974503) | [Spiritual Formation Society of Arizona](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829769917) |

## What reviewers say

### First15

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first15/id1168163647)

This daily devotional app offers a 15-minute spiritual practice to help users connect with God. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of God's love and presence, influencing daily emotions, thoughts, and actions.

**Highlights:** Daily devotional content, Spiritual connection with God, Focus on God's love and presence, Personal growth and empowerment, Foundation for daily thoughts and actions

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Meaningful daily devotional
- 🙏 Helps grow relationship with God
- 🎶 Worship music integration
- ⏱️ Consistent daily experience
- 📚 Thought-provoking content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Audio issues (volume, playback problems)
- 🔀 Abrupt transitions between sections
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate/find content
- 🔄 Repetitive/redundant content
- 🔊 Dislike of narrator's voice/tone

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes/won't open
- Bookmark/save functionality issues
- Compatibility problems (e.g., iPad)

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to share devotions
- Community features (comments, groups)
- Customizable text size
- Offline access


### A Simple Pause

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-simple-pause/id1554173624)

Engage in short, guided spiritual practices for about five minutes to connect with God. Explore scripture, imagery, and silence to deepen your faith and relationship with the divine.

**Highlights:** Six guided spiritual practices, Lectio Divina scripture study, Imaginative prayer, Visio Divina image reflection, Audio Divina with sacred listening, Simple silence meditation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First15 free?

First15 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is A Simple Pause free?

A Simple Pause is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First15 or A Simple Pause?

A Simple Pause is rated higher. First15 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 459 ratings, while A Simple Pause averages 5.0 from 20 ratings.

### Do First15 or A Simple Pause have ads?

Neither First15 nor A Simple Pause shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First15 or A Simple Pause?

First15 ships an update every 6 weeks, and A Simple Pause monthly. Most recently, First15 was updated on August 29, 2026 and A Simple Pause on July 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*