# Michigan First App vs First Independence

The clearest difference is update cadence: Michigan First App at every 6 weeks against First Independence's every 30 months. Michigan First App also leads on ratings volume (26K vs 101). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Michigan First App against 4.7 for First Independence. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Michigan First App has 26K ratings behind it against 101, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Michigan First App's written reviews are positive against 100% of First Independence's.

Michigan First App ships an update every 6 weeks, First Independence every 30 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Michigan First App | First Independence |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/michigan-first-app/id397680629/reviews)** | [4.7 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-independence/id1553128328/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **26K** | 101 |
| Positive reviews | 94.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 30 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 142 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.7** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michigan First Credit Union](https://appshunter.io/developer/397680632) | [First Independence Bank](https://appshunter.io/developer/999055481) |

## What reviewers say

### Michigan First App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/michigan-first-app/id397680629)

Manage your finances conveniently with a mobile banking experience designed for ease and security. Access all the features of a large bank with personalized local service. Simplify your banking tasks on the go.

**Highlights:** View account balances, Check transaction history, Transfer funds, Pay bills and loans, Deposit checks, Find branches and ATMs, Secure messaging, Cardless ATM access, Zelle integration

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient mobile banking
- 👍 User-friendly app
- 💳 Helpful for managing finances
- 🏦 Positive experience with credit union
- 💰 Seamless money transfers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 🔒 Security concerns
- 💳 Issues with debit/credit card management
- 💰 Overdraft fees and holds on funds
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to website

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and fails to load
- Inconsistent syncing of transactions
- Issues with auto-pay and recurring payments
- Problems with mobile deposit and fund holds

**Requested features**

- Improved mobile check deposit process
- Ability to manage multiple accounts easily
- Enhanced budgeting and money management tools
- Faster processing of transactions and payments
- Integration with digital wallets (e.g., Apple Pay)


### First Independence

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-independence/id1553128328)

Access your bank accounts securely from anywhere. Manage your money by paying bills, depositing checks, transferring funds, and viewing transactions. You can also control your debit card and find nearby branches or ATMs.

**Highlights:** Bill and friend payments, Debit card control, Check deposit, Account balance and transaction viewing, Fund transfers, Branch and ATM locator, New account opening

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Michigan First App free?

Michigan First App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Independence free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Michigan First App or First Independence?

Michigan First App is rated higher. Michigan First App averages 4.8 out of 5 from 26K ratings, while First Independence averages 4.7 from 101 ratings.

### Do Michigan First App or First Independence have ads?

Neither Michigan First App nor First Independence shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Michigan First App or First Independence?

Michigan First App ships an update every 6 weeks, and First Independence every 30 months. Most recently, Michigan First App was updated on October 21, 2026 and First Independence on September 30, 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.*