# first direct vs M&S Bank

The clearest difference is review sentiment: first direct at 77% against M&S Bank's 37%. first direct also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (2K vs 112). 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 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: first direct has 2K ratings behind it against 112, 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 37% of M&S Bank's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | first direct | M&S Bank |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-direct/id405905004/reviews)** | [4.6 (112 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/m-and-s-bank/id965170355/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 112 |
| Positive reviews | **76.5% of reviews** | 37.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 319 MB | 475 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) | [HSBC UK Bank plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/965169664) |

## 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- 💡 Outdated and basic design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


### M&S Bank

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/m-and-s-bank/id965170355)

Manage your M&S Credit Card, Savings Account, and Personal Loan securely. Features include secure sign-in, payment management, card freezing, credit limit changes, and in-app chat support.

**Highlights:** Secure sign-in with face/fingerprint, Make payments to accounts, Freeze/report card issues, Request credit limit changes, View card PIN, In-app chat support, Activate new credit card

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🚀 Straightforward banking
- 💳 Great credit card
- 🎁 Excellent rewards program

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Slow transaction updates
- 🔍 Lack of transaction visibility
- 🤔 Confusing navigation
- 🔒 Security issues
- 🙄 Outdated app design

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- Login issues after updates
- Unable to access account details

**Requested features**

- Show pending transactions
- Improve payment flow
- Add biometric login
- Integrate with digital wallets
- Provide more detailed statements


## Frequently asked questions

### Is first direct free?

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

### Is M&S Bank free?

M&S Bank is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, first direct or M&S Bank?

first direct is rated higher. first direct averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while M&S Bank averages 4.6 from 112 ratings.

### Do first direct or M&S Bank have ads?

Neither first direct nor M&S Bank shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, first direct or M&S Bank?

first direct ships an update monthly, and M&S Bank monthly. Most recently, first direct was updated on November 6, 2026 and M&S Bank 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.*