# First Things vs Mars Hill Audio

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mars Hill Audio at none against First Things's 33. Mars Hill Audio also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (69% vs 39%). First Things's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (362 vs 35). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. First Things sells 33 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Mars Hill Audio asks for nothing beyond the download.

First Things holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First Things has 362 ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 39% of First Things's written reviews are positive against 69% of Mars Hill Audio's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

First Things ships an update every 4 months, Mars Hill Audio monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Things | Mars Hill Audio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (362 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-things/id450439723/reviews)** | [4.4 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-hill-audio/id1355384400/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **362** | 35 |
| Positive reviews | 39.5% of reviews | **69.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 60 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THE INSTITUTE ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1471355252) | [Mars Hill Audio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1355384399) |

## What reviewers say

### First Things

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-things/id450439723)

Access insightful articles and essays on religion, public life, and philosophy. Explore diverse perspectives on contemporary issues from a leading research institute. Stay informed with curated content designed to foster informed public discourse.

**Highlights:** Articles on religion and public life, Essays on philosophy and society, Diverse perspectives, Informed public discourse, Interreligious and nonpartisan content

**In-app purchases (33)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First Things | $2.99 | per month |
| First Things | $24.99 | per year |
| June/July 2011 | $0.99 | one-time |
| August/September 2011 | $0.99 | one-time |
| May 2011 | $0.99 | one-time |
| November 2011 | $0.99 | one-time |
| February 2012 | $0.99 | one-time |
| March 2012 | $0.99 | one-time |
| April 2012 | $0.99 | one-time |
| August/September 2016 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 48 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 49 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 50 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 51 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 52 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 77 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 76 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 72 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 69 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 67 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 66 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 65 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 54 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 64 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 63 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 62 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 61 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 60 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 59 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 58 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 57 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 56 | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Things Feed 55 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent content and writing
- 👍 Superb publication
- 👍 Thought-provoking articles
- 👍 Coherently intellectual analysis
- 👍 Premiere journal of religion and public life

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Requires separate subscription for app
- 🐛 Login methods not working
- 🐛 App not updating editions
- 🐛 App is like a PDF reader, no interaction
- 🐛 App difficult to navigate

**Reported bugs**

- Login methods not working
- App not updating editions
- Preview pane interferes with reading
- Cuts off bottom of page, black bar on top
- Cannot minimize horizontal scrolling

**Requested features**

- Allow login with digital subscription username/password
- Fix login methods
- Make table of contents hyperlinked
- Include a Contents menu to see articles before buying
- Fix preview pane issue


### Mars Hill Audio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-hill-audio/id1355384400)

Access a vast library of thoughtful audio content, including interviews with prominent thinkers and in-depth discussions on culture and faith. Stream or download audiobooks, documentaries, and an ongoing audio magazine. Search your library for specific guests and topics.

**Highlights:** Audio magazine subscription, Interviews with authors and thinkers, Audiobooks and documentaries, Searchable audio library, Streaming and offline listening, Free content archive access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Things free?

First Things is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mars Hill Audio free?

Mars Hill Audio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Things or Mars Hill Audio?

First Things is rated higher. First Things averages 4.6 out of 5 from 362 ratings, while Mars Hill Audio averages 4.4 from 35 ratings.

### Do First Things or Mars Hill Audio have ads?

First Things shows ads; Mars Hill Audio does not.

### Which is updated more often, First Things or Mars Hill Audio?

First Things ships an update every 4 months, and Mars Hill Audio monthly. Most recently, First Things was updated on September 22, 2026 and Mars Hill Audio on August 10, 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.*