# first direct vs Newpay

The clearest difference is review sentiment: first direct at 77% against Newpay's 17%. first direct also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Newpay's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 ships an update monthly, Newpay every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | first direct | Newpay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-direct/id405905004/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **76.5% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 271 MB | 159 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [first direct](https://appshunter.io/developer/405905007) | [NewDay Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/903335384) |

## 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- 💡 Outdated and basic design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


### Newpay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newpay/id1562878268)

Manage your credit account on the go with this secure mobile app. View your balance, track transactions, make payments, and manage your direct debit. Access retailer information and update your contact details easily.

**Highlights:** View balance and credit limit, Browse retailers, Track transactions, Manage instalment plans, Make payments, Set up Direct Debit, Update contact details

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is first direct free?

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

### Is Newpay free?

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

### Do first direct or Newpay have ads?

Neither first direct nor Newpay shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, first direct or Newpay?

first direct ships an update monthly, and Newpay every 9 days. Most recently, first direct was updated on October 14, 2026 and Newpay on October 8, 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.*