Comparison

First Things vs Benedictus

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

Head to head
About

First Things

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
Read full description

First Things is published by The Institute on Religion and Public Life, an interreligious, nonpartisan research and education institute whose purpose is to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society. First Things Pricing: • Subscription 1 Month - USD 2.99* • Subscription 1 Year - USD 24.99* * For non-US app stores, the equivalent currency charges will apply. Please note: App subscriptions do not include access to subscription-only content on our website. Additional Subscription Information: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Privacy Policy - https://firstthings.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use - https://www.backlight.co/legal/mazsystems-outputs-terms • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable.

About

Benedictus

This app offers a comprehensive digital companion for traditional Catholic prayer and study. It provides daily prayers, full Latin and English Mass readings, a spiritual library, and resources for families and learning about the Latin Mass.

Highlights
  • Daily prayers (short & long)
  • Latin & English Mass readings
  • Spiritual library (ebooks/audiobooks)
  • Family resources (coloring pages)
  • Latin Mass formation tools
  • Rosary Crusade participation
Features
Read full description

Benedictus brings the richness of the Latin Mass and traditional Catholic prayer life to your device so you can pray, study, and grow in faith wherever you are. With daily morning and evening prayers (in both short and long formats), full Latin and English Mass readings for every day, and a wide selection of traditional Catholic resources, Benedictus is your go-to app for living the Faith in rhythm with the Church’s ancient liturgy. Key Features include: -Daily Prayers: Morning and evening prayers from the traditional Divine Office, available in short and extended versions. -Latin & English Mass Readings: Toggle easily between Latin and English for the full daily Mass texts, based on the 1962 Missale Romanum. -Spiritual Library: Access a curated collection of classic Catholic ebooks and audiobooks, including works by saints and theologians. -Family Resources: Most days include downloadable coloring pages and child-friendly reflections to engage young hearts. -Latin Mass Formation: Includes new interactive resources to help users understand and appreciate the Traditional Latin Mass more deeply. -Rosary Crusade: Join Bishop Athanasius Schneider’s global prayer effort for holy and faithful popes. -On-the-Go Access: Take your Catholic devotions and readings anywhere with this beautifully designed and easy-to-use digital companion. Whether you're a longtime attendee of the Latin Mass or a newcomer looking to deepen your prayer life, Benedictus supports your spiritual journey with daily nourishment rooted in the timeless treasures of the Church.

Screenshots

First Things2 screens
Benedictus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: First Things at 4.6 against Benedictus's 2.5. First Things also leads on review sentiment (39% vs 0%) and ratings volume (362 vs 11). Benedictus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 33) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. First Things sells 33 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Benedictus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

First Things holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First Things has 362 ratings behind it against 11, 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 0% of Benedictus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

First Things ships an update every 4 months, Benedictus every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
First Things versus Benedictus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirst ThingsBenedictus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (362 ratings) — better2.5 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews39.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings362 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTHE INSTITUTE ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE INCSophia Institute

Customer experience

First Things

All ratings360 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral1.9%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive39.5%
Neutral7.9%
Negative52.6%

Benedictus

All ratings11 ratings
Positive27.3%
Neutral9.1%
Negative63.6%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral11.1%
Negative88.9%

Bugs and requests

First Things

Reported bugs

19 issues
  • 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
Show 14 more
  • Cannot log in with subscription
  • App is nonfunctional after update
  • Lost all saved items after update
  • App is unusable after update
  • Unreadable on iPhone, text size issues
  • Not optimized for small screens
  • App hides content
  • App crashes on startup
  • Zoom gets stuck, app freezes
  • App freezes when using zoom
  • New sash remains after reading
  • Swiping pages in landscape mode causes freezing
  • App crashes when opening in Newsstand
  • App freezes when using zoom

Requested features

19 requests
  • 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
Show 14 more
  • Allow saving and bookmarking articles
  • Improve app navigation
  • Allow interaction with text
  • Fix app to utilize full screen of newer iPhones
  • Make text readable size on iPhone
  • Optimize for small screens
  • Improve app interface
  • Fix zoom issues
  • Fix app freezing
  • Fix 'new' sash issue
  • Allow access to digital subscription on iPad
  • Make app professional with links in table of contents/menu
  • Allow offline reading of purchased editions
  • Fix app to display library of issues

Benedictus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

33 purchases

First Things

Subscriptions2
  • First Things$2.991 Month
  • First Things$24.991 Year
One-time31
  • June/July 2011$0.99
  • August/September 2011$0.99
  • May 2011$0.99
Show 28 more
  • November 2011$0.99
  • February 2012$0.99
  • March 2012$0.99
  • April 2012$0.99
  • August/September 2016$4.99
  • First Things Feed 48$4.99
  • First Things Feed 49$4.99
  • First Things Feed 50$4.99
  • First Things Feed 51$4.99
  • First Things Feed 52$4.99
  • First Things Feed 77$4.99
  • First Things Feed 76$4.99
  • First Things Feed 72$4.99
  • First Things Feed 69$4.99
  • First Things Feed 67$4.99
  • First Things Feed 66$4.99
  • First Things Feed 65$4.99
  • First Things Feed 54$4.99
  • First Things Feed 64$4.99
  • First Things Feed 63$4.99
  • First Things Feed 62$4.99
  • First Things Feed 61$4.99
  • First Things Feed 60$4.99
  • First Things Feed 59$4.99
  • First Things Feed 58$4.99
  • First Things Feed 57$4.99
  • First Things Feed 56$4.99
  • First Things Feed 55$4.99
None

Benedictus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is First Things free?
First Things is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Benedictus free?
Benedictus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, First Things or Benedictus?
First Things is rated higher. First Things averages 4.6 out of 5 from 362 ratings, while Benedictus averages 2.5 from 11 ratings.
Do First Things or Benedictus have ads?
First Things shows ads; Benedictus does not.
Which is updated more often, First Things or Benedictus?
First Things ships an update every 4 months, and Benedictus every 2 weeks. Most recently, First Things was updated on October 1, 2026 and Benedictus on September 21, 2026.

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