Comparison

first direct vs Payday Loans UK

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

first direct

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
Read full description

Your everyday just got a whole lot easier. Even better banking has arrived. At the coffee shop, deciding if it’s a skinny soy latte or a cup of tea. In a taxi stuck in traffic, wondering how much you’ve saved for your trip to Machu Picchu. On a rollercoaster, planning the decorations for your dog’s third birthday party… Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, our new and improved mobile app makes banking even simpler. From checking your balances and viewing transactions to paying family and friends, mobile banking takes all the hassle out of everyday money stuff. You can now do more than ever from the comfort of your own phone - and if that’s not exciting enough, this is just the start of our mini digital revolution, with loads more improvements on the way. So go on. Get yourself up to date. Update now >> • Free to use, but providers may charge for download and usage • Use in accordance with local laws and check charges if using abroad • Use in accordance with our App terms and conditions • Use in accordance with Apple terms and conditions • This app may be withdrawn at any time, but we’ll always keep you in the loop.

About

Payday Loans UK

This app connects users with UK lenders for fast payday loans, even for those with bad credit. It offers a quick and easy application process with instant decisions and funds potentially available within hours.

Highlights
  • Quick and easy application
  • Instant decision
  • Funds in hours
  • Loans from £100 to £1000
  • Bad credit accepted
  • Access to over 60 lenders
  • Pin protected security
Features
Read full description

Do you need money and you need it fast! Have you been turned down for a uk payday loan elsewhere or are thinking of getting your first loan? Well you are at the right place. We work with lenders who do no credit check payday loans *. Our instant decision payday loans are quick and easy. Get approved whilst you are on the app and complete your money application there and then. You could have your money in the account instantly. We work with the best payday loan lenders in the UK and specialize in payday loans for bad credit. This app takes out the legwork of you applying with different individual payday lenders. We work with over 70 payday advance companies so they fight over having your business. If we can’t get you the loan then no one will. Payday Loans benefits: • Quick and Easy app • Get instantly accepted • Have the money in your account within hours • Get £100 to £1000 delivered straight into your bank account • Good and Bad credit accepted * • Review paper work before you sign • Easy three minute application • Pin protected security app for added safety • Over 60 major lenders used Check out the advantages of using this app now. £- We help people who need very bad credit payday loans £- Our online payday forms are in real time no waiting for hours for a decision £- Some of our lenders offer the cheapest payday loans in the uk £- Instant cash loans just when you need them £- Pay day loan for bad credit £- Do you need a payday loan no credit check advance £- Get your cash advance and use it to pay off expensive overdrafts, pay that bill to avoid late charges, stop that cheque from bouncing. The choice is yours and remember there is no obligation to take the quick payday loan. £- Get an instant payday loan no credit check so you don’t have to worry about bad credit. UK Payday loan calculator included. Calculate repayment instantly. Apply for a payday loan anywhere in the UK. Password protects your data to make future applications quickly and you can get the money in your account in hours! Make the most of the one stop shop for payday loans. Our network of top pay day lenders will give you access to the money you need. Get accepted instantly and have the money in your bank account within hours. No one knows when your wages or salary won’t get you to the end of the month so you can use a Rainbow Payday advance to tide you over. It may help you pay an unexpected bill like fixing your car or medical treatment for a loved animal! Payday cash is another way of making ends meet. Before you make a decision you can look over the loan agreement and if you are happy you can sign and if you are not then you leave it! You are under no obligation. The app is even pin protected for security or so you can always use again if needed. * only some of our lenders won’t credit check you, but some will.subject to lenders requirements and approval.

Screenshots

first direct4 screens
Payday Loans UK3 screens

Verdict

The call

first direct and Payday Loans UK both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of first direct's written reviews are positive against 43% of Payday Loans UK's. first direct also leads on ratings volume (2K vs 160) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Payday Loans UK's advantage is iOS requirement (9.1 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

first direct holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: first direct has 2K ratings behind it against 160, 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 43% of Payday Loans UK's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

first direct ships an update monthly, Payday Loans UK every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
first direct versus Payday Loans UK: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterfirst directPayday Loans UK
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (2K ratings) — better4.7 (160 ratings)
Positive reviews76.5% of reviews — better42.9% of reviews
Number of ratings2K — better160
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size271 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerfirst directRainbow UK Ltd

Customer experience

first direct

All ratings1,964 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews996 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral5.0%
Negative18.5%

Payday Loans UK

All ratings151 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral3.3%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%

Bugs and requests

first direct

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Payday Loans UK

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

first direct

No in-app purchases

None

Payday Loans UK

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is first direct free?
first direct is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Payday Loans UK free?
Payday Loans UK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, first direct or Payday Loans UK?
first direct is rated higher. first direct averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while Payday Loans UK averages 4.7 from 160 ratings.
Do first direct or Payday Loans UK have ads?
Neither first direct nor Payday Loans UK shows ads.
Which is updated more often, first direct or Payday Loans UK?
first direct ships an update monthly, and Payday Loans UK every 2 months. Most recently, first direct was updated on October 26, 2026 and Payday Loans UK on October 22, 2026.

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