# first direct vs TSB Mobile Banking

The clearest difference is ads: first direct at none against TSB Mobile Banking's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 — 4.9 for first direct against 4.8 for TSB Mobile Banking. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2K and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of first direct's written reviews are positive against 73% of TSB Mobile Banking's.

first direct ships an update monthly, TSB Mobile Banking every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | first direct | TSB Mobile Banking |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-direct/id405905004/reviews)** | [4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tsb-mobile-banking/id1160720878/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | **76.6% of reviews** | 73.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 254 MB | 276 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [first direct](https://appshunter.io/developer/405905007) | [TSB Bank plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/698102191) |

## What reviewers say

### first direct

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-direct/id405905004)

Manage your finances on the go with this intuitive mobile banking application. Easily check balances, view transactions, and transfer funds to friends and family. This app simplifies everyday money management, with more enhancements planned for the future.

**Highlights:** Check account balances, View transaction history, Pay family and friends, Simplified money management, Mobile banking convenience

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and accurate
- 🔒 Excellent security
- 💡 Helpful customer service
- 👍 Consistent and reliable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes
- 🔒 Overly complex security measures
- 💡 Outdated and basic design
- 🔒 Frustrating authentication process
- 🐛 Buggy cheque deposit feature

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing and crashing
- Issues with cheque deposit functionality
- Problems with multi-device authentication
- Inconsistent behavior when updating payee details

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved transaction history and insights
- Ability to edit scheduled payments and payees
- Streamlined payment flow
- Better categorization and budgeting tools


### TSB Mobile Banking

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tsb-mobile-banking/id1160720878)

Manage your finances conveniently from your mobile device. View all your accounts, check balances, pay bills, and transfer funds. Secure login options like fingerprint and face ID are available.

**Highlights:** View all accounts, Check balances, Pay bills, Send and move money, Secure login (fingerprint/face ID), Open current accounts

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient and fast
- 🔒 Secure banking
- 💡 Helpful staff
- 👍 Reliable and trustworthy

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficult to find features
- ⏱️ Slow updates and maintenance
- 🔒 Strict security measures
- 🤖 Poor chatbot and support

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues after updates
- Inability to pay in cheques through the app
- Payments to approve feature not working
- Inconsistent performance on older devices
- Syncing issues between app and website

**Requested features**

- Notifications for payments and deposits
- Dark mode option
- Ability to view transaction history beyond 3 months
- Option to approve payments directly in the app
- Easier way to reset login details


## Frequently asked questions

### Is first direct free?

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

### Is TSB Mobile Banking free?

TSB Mobile Banking is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, first direct or TSB Mobile Banking?

first direct is rated higher. first direct averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while TSB Mobile Banking averages 4.8 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do first direct or TSB Mobile Banking have ads?

TSB Mobile Banking shows ads; first direct does not.

### Which is updated more often, first direct or TSB Mobile Banking?

first direct ships an update monthly, and TSB Mobile Banking every 3 weeks. Most recently, first direct was updated on September 24, 2026 and TSB Mobile Banking on September 25, 2026.

---

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