# AW ATOM vs First Time In China

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AW ATOM at none against First Time In China's 1. AW ATOM also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). First Time In China's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. First Time In China sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AW ATOM asks for nothing beyond the download.

AW ATOM ships an update every 3 weeks, First Time In China every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AW ATOM | First Time In China |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-time-in-china/id6787289586/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Albert Wolszon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1553515684) | [志轶 沈](https://appshunter.io/developer/6776894923) |

## What reviewers say

### AW ATOM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aw-atom/id6443783137)

**In-app purchases:** none


### First Time In China

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-time-in-china/id6787289586)

Navigate China with confidence using step-by-step guides for essential apps like Alipay, WeChat Pay, and AMap. This practical handbook covers payment, transport, dining, and emergencies, working completely offline.

**Highlights:** Offline functionality, Payment guides (Alipay, WeChat Pay), Transport guides (AMap, DiDi, trains), Emergency information, Real-world screenshots, Lifetime content updates

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Full Guide | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AW ATOM free?

AW ATOM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Time In China free?

First Time In China is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do AW ATOM or First Time In China have ads?

Neither AW ATOM nor First Time In China shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AW ATOM or First Time In China?

AW ATOM ships an update every 3 weeks, and First Time In China every 3 days. Most recently, AW ATOM was updated on October 27, 2026 and First Time In China on October 31, 2026.

---

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