# First Things vs Theopolis

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Theopolis at 100% against First Things's 39%. Theopolis also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). First Things's advantage is ratings volume (362 vs 19). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. First Things sells 33 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Theopolis sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Theopolis holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First Things has 362 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of First Things's written reviews are positive against 100% of Theopolis's.

First Things ships an update every 4 months, Theopolis every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Things | Theopolis |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (362 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-things/id450439723/reviews) | **[4.9 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theopolis/id1630861998/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **362** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | 39.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Size | 60 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THE INSTITUTE ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1471355252) | [Theopolis Institute (U.S.)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630862001) |

## 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


### Theopolis

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theopolis/id1630861998)

Access exclusive educational content for cultural renewal. Stream audiobooks, lectures, conferences, and videos. Enjoy a premium, ad-free experience with full access to a vast catalog of historical and current materials.

**Highlights:** Unlimited streaming of audiobooks, lectures, and videos, Premium ad-free experience, Full access to entire content catalog, Access to historical conferences and lectures, Content for cultural renewal and church revitalization

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $69.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Things free?

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

### Is Theopolis free?

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

### Which has better reviews, First Things or Theopolis?

Theopolis is rated higher. First Things averages 4.6 out of 5 from 362 ratings, while Theopolis averages 4.9 from 19 ratings.

### Do First Things or Theopolis have ads?

First Things shows ads; Theopolis does not.

### Which is updated more often, First Things or Theopolis?

First Things ships an update every 4 months, and Theopolis every 2 months. Most recently, First Things was updated on September 22, 2026 and Theopolis on September 13, 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.*