Comparison

First News vs Atom Learning

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

Head to head
About

First News

This app provides children with a balanced and truthful view of world events, written by award-winning journalists. It offers interactive articles, daily curated news, puzzles, games, and a video platform with news explainers to foster curiosity and critical thinking.

Highlights
  • Weekly 28-page interactive newspaper edition
  • Searchable archive of past issues
  • Hundreds of news explainer videos
  • Weekly topical quiz with avatar and leaderboard
  • Interactive puzzles linked to current news
  • Daily news feed with age-appropriate articles
  • Weekly polls and competitions
Features
Read full description

For 20 years, First News has provided trusted & impartial age-appropriate news to kids around the world. Our award-winning weekly newspaper is jam-packed with headlines, sport, entertainment, world news and more. App features: READ: weekly 28-page edition of First News with interactive features, plus a searchable archive. WATCH: hundreds of videos, including news explainers presented by children for children. CHALLENGE: play interactive word and number puzzles. Subscribers can also play the weekly news quiz, based on the latest issue of the paper. STAY AHEAD: read or listen to 3 daily news articles from the UK and around the world. SHARE YOUR OPINION: weekly polls encouraging children to form their own opinions and get their voices heard. Terms of use: https://www.firstnews.co.uk/terms/

About

Atom Learning

This platform offers personalized learning for children aged 7-16, covering maths, English, and reasoning. It adapts to individual progress, prepares for exams, and provides revision tools. Learning syncs across devices for continuous study.

Highlights
  • Adaptive learning across subjects
  • 11+ and entrance exam preparation
  • GCSE revision with mock tests
  • Personalized learning journeys
  • Progress tracking and rewards
  • Cross-device progress syncing
Features
Read full description

Atom Learning is an award-winning online learning platform used by 350,000 families and 2,000+ schools across the UK. This app brings your Atom Learning account to iPhone and iPad, so learning travels with you - at home, on the move, or anywhere in between. Designed for children aged 7 to 16, Atom Learning grows with your child. From building early confidence in Key Stage 2, through 11+ and entrance exam preparation, all the way to GCSE revision. It's one platform that adapts to where your child is now and where they're heading next. This app is for families with an Atom Learning account. Sign in with your existing login and everything is there, ready to go: your child's progress, their personalised learning journey, and their exact place picked up where they left off. What your child can do in the app Learn across maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning Prepare for 11+ and independent school entrance exams with realistic mock tests Revise for GCSEs with targeted practice, predicted papers with instant marking. Progress through thousands of questions that adapt to their level, keeping them challenged but never overwhelmed Earn rewards and track milestones that keep motivation high Built around how children actually learn Atom Learning's adaptive technology meets your child at the right level and adjusts as they improve, so every session on Atom helps them progress. Instant feedback and clear explanations turn mistakes into growth, and bite-sized sessions fit around busy family life. Everything stays in sync Start on the tablet, continue on the phone, finish on the computer - progress syncs seamlessly across every device. Your child can keep learning on the go, whether or not there's a steady connection. Trusted by families and schools Atom Learning is used in homes and classrooms across the UK, supporting children from Year 3 right through their secondary school years. It's designed to take the guesswork out of learning at home, giving your child a clear path forward and giving you confidence in their progress. New to Atom Learning? Visit our Help Centre to discover how Atom works, what's included, and how it can support your child's learning journey.

Screenshots

First News4 screens
Atom Learning4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Atom Learning at none against First News's 7. Atom Learning also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months). First News's advantage is review sentiment (74% vs 63%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. First News sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month. Atom Learning asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

First News ships an update every 6 months, Atom Learning monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
First News versus Atom Learning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirst NewsAtom Learning
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (22 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews73.9% of reviews — better62.5% of reviews
Number of ratings22 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFirst NewsAtom Learning Ltd

Customer experience

First News

All ratings22 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive73.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative26.1%

Atom Learning

Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

First News

Subscriptions7
  • 1 Month Subscription$5.491 Month
  • 1-month subscription$9.991 Month
  • 3 Month Subscription$24.493 Months
Show 4 more
  • 3-month subscription$28.493 Months
  • 6 Month subscription$43.996 Months
  • 6-month subscription$53.996 Months
  • 1 Year Subscription$79.991 Year
None

Atom Learning

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is First News free?
First News is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Atom Learning free?
Atom Learning is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do First News or Atom Learning have ads?
Neither First News nor Atom Learning shows ads.
Which is updated more often, First News or Atom Learning?
First News ships an update every 6 months, and Atom Learning monthly. Most recently, First News was updated on September 15, 2026 and Atom Learning on September 14, 2026.

Other comparisons