# First Things vs Benedictus

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Things | Benedictus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (362 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-things/id450439723/reviews)** | [2.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/benedictus/id6742585202/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **362** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | **39.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 60 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THE INSTITUTE ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1471355252) | [Sophia Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451458788) |

## 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


### Benedictus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/benedictus/id6742585202)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*