PenFed Mobile vs First
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PenFed Mobile
Manage your finances on the go with this secure mobile banking application. Easily make deposits, pay bills, transfer funds, and view account statements. Enjoy a streamlined and personalized banking experience with real-time notifications.
- Mobile deposits and payments
- Bill payment services
- Account and statement management
- Money transfers
- Personalized notifications
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PenFed’s mobile app makes daily banking simple, seamless and secure. Access accounts, move money and more. The PenFed mobile app is more than just a banking tool; it's a gateway to financial empowerment. The intuitive structure, sleek new design and faster interface create a delightful mobile banking experience that makes it easy to: - Make deposits and payments - Pay your bills - Manage your accounts and statements - Transfer money your way We use analytics to tailor your experience better than ever. You can also stay connected with real-time, personalized notifications that keep you informed and engaged.
First
This app offers free tools to estimate mortgage payments, determine affordability, and calculate closing costs. A membership unlocks a comprehensive guide to home buying, including financial planning, loan comparisons, and post-purchase organization.
- Mortgage payment calculator
- Affordability assessment
- Closing cost estimation
- Financial readiness quiz
- Mortgage comparison tools
- Home touring photo storage
- Neighborhood information
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FREE, WITH NO ACCOUNT Install it and these work straight away. No email, no sign-up, nothing to cancel: - Mortgage payment: what the monthly payment really is, with taxes, insurance and HOA in it - How much house can I afford: a sensible price range worked out from your income and your debts - Closing costs: the cash you need on closing day, which almost nobody tells you in advance - All 30 worksheets from the book, free to print Tap "Continue to get your free calculators and worksheets" on the first screen. That is the whole sign-up. THE REST, WITH A MEMBERSHIP Instead of piecing together advice from a dozen websites, you get one clear path broken into simple stages. PREPARING TO BUY - Readiness quiz to see where you really stand - Financial health check FINANCING - Credit repair guidance - Mortgage comparison center to weigh loan options side by side SHOPPING & BUYING - House scorecard to compare homes fairly - Photograph the houses you tour, and the photos stay beside that home - See what is near a house you are considering: shops, a pharmacy, parks, with distances - Try a different style: picture a room with different furniture, or your own, so a seller's taste doesn't put you off a good house - Offer analyzer - Inspection assistant CLOSING - Closing countdown so nothing slips through the cracks AFTER THE KEYS - Move-in planner - First-year homeowner planner You also get: - The same 30 worksheets, filled in on your phone instead of printed, and kept - More calculators: debt-to-income, extra payment, rent vs buy, and when your PMI can come off - Everything saved to your account and waiting on your laptop too Written by Carline Riche Lopez, a licensed real estate agent in Central Florida, from what first-time buyers actually get stuck on. Questions or help: info@realtyprokit.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: First at 100% against PenFed Mobile's 36%. First also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). PenFed Mobile's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and ratings volume (63K vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
First holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PenFed Mobile has 63K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of PenFed Mobile's written reviews are positive against 100% of First's.
PenFed Mobile ships an update fortnightly, First every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PenFed Mobile | First |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (63K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 35.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 63K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 151 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pentagon Federal Credit Union | asanaSoft LLC |
Customer experience
PenFed Mobile
First
Bugs and requests
PenFed Mobile
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inability to view transactions
- Mobile deposit issues
- Login and authentication problems
- Inconsistent app performance
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Transaction history details
- Debit/credit card management
- Improved mobile check deposit
- In-app bill pay and transfers
First
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
PenFed Mobile
No in-app purchases
First
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PenFed Mobile free?
Is First free?
Which has better reviews, PenFed Mobile or First?
Do PenFed Mobile or First have ads?
Which is updated more often, PenFed Mobile or First?
Other comparisons
