# first direct vs TSB Business Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: first direct at 4.9 against TSB Business Mobile's 4.1. first direct also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (2K vs 29). 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.

first direct holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: first direct has 2K ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of first direct's written reviews are positive against 63% of TSB Business Mobile's.

first direct ships an update monthly, TSB Business Mobile every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | first direct | TSB Business Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-direct/id405905004/reviews)** | [4.1 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tsb-business-mobile/id1282462499/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 29 |
| Positive reviews | **76.5% of reviews** | 63.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 319 MB | 235 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 banking app. Check balances, view transactions, and send money to friends and family with ease. This app simplifies everyday money management with a host of features designed for convenience.

**Highlights:** Check account balances, View transaction history, Pay friends and family, Simplified money management, Intuitive user interface

**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 Business Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tsb-business-mobile/id1282462499)

Manage your TSB Business Banking accounts on the go. View balances and transactions, set up new payees for UK and international payments, and manage standing orders. Securely log in using fingerprint or Face ID.

**Highlights:** View account balances, Check transactions, Set up new recipients for UK payments, Set up new standing orders, Set up new recipients for international payments, Fingerprint and Face ID login

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Fast and quick transactions
- 🔒 Secure banking platform
- 📱 Works well on mobile devices
- 💼 Good for business banking

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Outdated compared to competitors like Monzo
- 🐛 App freezes and runs slowly after login
- 📄 Cannot download bank statements as PDF
- 🔔 Missing transaction notifications/alerts
- 💳 Cannot manage direct debits or freeze cards

**Reported bugs**

- Long freeze/pause after login
- Cheque scanning consistently fails or errors
- Browser login hangs when entering authentication code
- App logs out unexpectedly during transactions
- Cookie preference prompts prevent account access

**Requested features**

- Push notifications for incoming/outgoing transactions
- PDF bank statement downloads
- Ability to manage multiple business accounts in one app
- Direct debit cancellation from app
- Cheque mobile deposit with photo capture


## Frequently asked questions

### Is first direct free?

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

### Is TSB Business Mobile free?

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

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

first direct is rated higher. first direct averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while TSB Business Mobile averages 4.1 from 29 ratings.

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

Neither first direct nor TSB Business Mobile shows ads.

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

first direct ships an update monthly, and TSB Business Mobile every 3 weeks. Most recently, first direct was updated on November 6, 2026 and TSB Business Mobile on November 6, 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.*