# first direct vs Smart Pension

first direct and Smart Pension both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of first direct's written reviews are positive against 29% of Smart Pension's. first direct also leads on ratings volume (2K vs 6) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence 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 — 4.9 for first direct against 5.0 for Smart Pension. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: first direct has 2K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of first direct's written reviews are positive against 29% of Smart Pension's.

first direct ships an update monthly, Smart Pension every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | first direct | Smart Pension |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-direct/id405905004/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pension/id1293678839/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **76.5% of reviews** | 28.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 271 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [first direct](https://appshunter.io/developer/405905007) | [Smart Pension Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1293678838) |

## 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


### Smart Pension

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pension/id1293678839)

Manage your workplace pension savings with ease. Track your fund's performance in real-time, adjust contributions, and explore investment options. Access exclusive discounts and customer support directly from your phone.

**Highlights:** Real-time pension balance tracking, Investment fund selection, Contribution level adjustments, Enhanced security features (Face ID, Touch ID), Access to exclusive discounts, Live chat customer support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Pension calculator helpful
- 📈 Up-to-date values
- 📱 Convenient mobile access
- 💻 Can do same as computer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App not loading
- 🐛 Login issues
- 🐛 App freezes
- 🐛 Basic functionalities not working

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes shortly after launch
- App never lets you update details
- Cannot log into the app after recent update
- App or website will not load
- Stuck on loading screen

**Requested features**

- Show profit or loss on investment
- Receive notification for new contribution
- Improve app design and UI
- Implement in-app form for pension transfers
- Add dark mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is first direct free?

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

### Is Smart Pension free?

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

### Which has better reviews, first direct or Smart Pension?

Smart Pension is rated higher. first direct averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while Smart Pension averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do first direct or Smart Pension have ads?

Neither first direct nor Smart Pension shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, first direct or Smart Pension?

first direct ships an update monthly, and Smart Pension every 5 weeks. Most recently, first direct was updated on October 17, 2026 and Smart Pension on October 18, 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.*