Comparison

FNB Banking App vs Absa Banking

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

Head to head
About

FNB Banking App

Experience award-winning, secure, and personalized digital banking. This app offers intelligent search, customizable features, and innovative payment options for effortless financial management. Access verified statements and make secure transactions on the go.

Highlights
  • Intelligent search for quick access
  • Customizable home screen
  • Secure PIN and biometric login
  • Multiple profile switching
  • Innovative payment options (ChatPay, PayShap)
  • Digital wallet integration
  • Secure in-app messaging
  • Prepaid top-ups
  • Verified statement downloads
Features
Read full description

Award-winning banking made simple, secure, and built around you. Welcome to the future of banking. Discover smarter, safer banking with the FNB App, recognised globally and named Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in South Africa four years in a row. How the FNB App helps you Intelligent Search Find what you need, faster. Discover smarter banking with intelligent search; from shortcuts and saved recipients to offers, FAQs, and instant help. Customise your app Make your Home screen yours by adding your most-used features for quick, effortless banking. App PIN & biometrics Sign in securely with a 5-digit PIN or biometric authentication. Multiple profiles Switch seamlessly between different users via My profile. Innovative payments Pay your way with ChatPay, PayShap, Geo Payments, Pay2Cell, Instant Payment, and more. Digital wallets Make secure contactless payments with Apple Pay and other wallets. Secure messaging Chat safely with FNB customers — share locations, send voice notes, or pay directly in chat. Prepaid purchases Top up airtime, data, electricity, vouchers, and more in seconds. Verified statements Easily download verified, bank-stamped statements straight from your app. We continuously update the app to deliver world-class security, performance, and innovation, giving you the best possible digital banking experience

About

Absa Banking

Manage your bank accounts, approve transactions, and enhance security with advanced biometrics. Simplify payments, get instant statements, and withdraw cash without a card. Enjoy convenient banking features like a virtual assistant and prepaid purchases.

Highlights
  • Approve/reject transactions
  • Facial biometrics security
  • Virtual assistant (Abby)
  • Instant payments (PayShap)
  • Card management (lock/replace)
  • Cardless ATM withdrawals
  • Prepaid airtime/data/electricity
Features
Read full description

Discover why millions choose the award-winning Absa Banking App for secure, simple and convenient banking 24/7. Whether you’re paying, saving, borrowing or managing your money, the Absa Banking App gives you the tools to bank with confidence, wherever life takes you. Get started in minutes - Open an account without visiting a branch. - Apply for products like credit cards, loans, insurance and more. - Access more banking solutions as your needs grow. Manage your money with confidence - View and manage all your accounts in one place. - Increase your credit card limit or apply for an overdraft. - Adjust your banking and card limits whenever you need to. - Monitor your credit score for free with Credit Coach. - Grow your savings with Savings Coach. Payments at your fingertips - Fast payments with PayShap. - Send money with CashSend. - Make international payments with Global Pay and more. - Use Pay@ or EasyPay to pay your bills on time. - Buy digital vouchers in seconds. Bank securely - Lock, unlock or replace your card in just a few taps. - Approve or reject transactions instantly. - Pay securely with your Virtual Card or your phone. - Protect your account with facial biometrics. -Enjoy added peace of mind with Digital Fraud Warranty. More reasons to love the App - Book flights and accommodation with exclusive discounts. - Earn real cash back with Absa Rewards. - Chat to Abby, your virtual banking assistant. - Reverse unauthorised debit orders. - Play Lotto & Powerball

Screenshots

FNB Banking App4 screens
Absa Banking4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Absa Banking at every 9 days against FNB Banking App's monthly. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for FNB Banking App against 4.7 for Absa Banking. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.1K and 5.2K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 44% and 44% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FNB Banking App ships an update monthly, Absa Banking every 9 days. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
FNB Banking App versus Absa Banking: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFNB Banking AppAbsa Banking
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (9.1K ratings) — better4.7 (5.2K ratings)
Positive reviews43.9% of reviews — better43.8% of reviews
Number of ratings9.1K — better5.2K
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size106 MB408 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperFirstRand Bank LimitedAbsa Bank Limited

Customer experience

FNB Banking App

All ratings9,123 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews189 reviews
Positive43.9%
Neutral9.5%
Negative46.6%

Absa Banking

All ratings5,166 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews178 reviews
Positive43.8%
Neutral5.1%
Negative51.1%

User reviews

FNB Banking App

From 9.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Convenient and easy to use
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🚀 Excellent banking experience
  • 🚀 Seamless and efficient
  • 🚀 Highly functional and feature-rich

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
  • 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive UI
  • 🤔 Overcomplicated navigation
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🤔 Poor customer support

Absa Banking

From 5.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless app experience
  • 🔒 Secure banking
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 💡 Convenient features (e.g. airtime, data purchases)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes
  • 🔍 Difficult to access account details
  • 🤔 Confusing verification process
  • 🚫 Lack of support for older devices

Bugs and requests

FNB Banking App

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Login issues and inability to reset credentials
  • Notifications not clearing correctly
  • Inconsistent performance across devices
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Errors when trying to complete transactions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Implement Apple Pay support
  • Add iPad-specific optimization
  • Improve transaction history and statements
  • Introduce budgeting and financial management tools
  • Allow pasting of passwords for security apps

Absa Banking

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues after device migration
  • Incorrect payment references and confirmations
  • Inability to access certain account types
  • Timezone-related date/time issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to edit recurring payments
  • Option to view credit card balance
  • Improved transaction history and reporting
  • Geo-payment feature like other banks

In-app purchases

None

FNB Banking App

No in-app purchases

None

Absa Banking

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FNB Banking App free?
FNB Banking App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Absa Banking free?
Absa Banking is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FNB Banking App or Absa Banking?
FNB Banking App is rated higher. FNB Banking App averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9.1K ratings, while Absa Banking averages 4.7 from 5.2K ratings.
Do FNB Banking App or Absa Banking have ads?
Neither FNB Banking App nor Absa Banking shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FNB Banking App or Absa Banking?
FNB Banking App ships an update monthly, and Absa Banking every 9 days. Most recently, FNB Banking App was updated on September 22, 2026 and Absa Banking on September 22, 2026.

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