# McEwen Northside vs First Word

The clearest difference is update cadence: First Word at every 2 weeks against McEwen Northside's every 4 months. McEwen Northside's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

McEwen Northside ships an update every 4 months, First Word every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | McEwen Northside | First Word |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-word-scripture-alarm/id6790482586/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **10** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 193 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elevated Lifestyles Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1330920793) | [Timothy Coleman](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789395959) |

## What reviewers say

### McEwen Northside

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcewen-northside/id6475202980)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### First Word

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-word-scripture-alarm/id6790482586)

This app helps you start and end your day with scripture. It functions as a scripture alarm, offering daily readings and reminders. Enjoy a peaceful experience with no ads, accounts, or social pressure.

**Highlights:** Scripture alarm with iOS Stop control, Daily scripture wake screen, On-device speech recognition, Today's verse for revisiting and sharing, Optional quiet scripture reminders, Home and Lock Screen widgets, Siri integration for scripture passages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is McEwen Northside free?

McEwen Northside is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Word free?

First Word is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do McEwen Northside or First Word have ads?

Neither McEwen Northside nor First Word shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, McEwen Northside or First Word?

McEwen Northside ships an update every 4 months, and First Word every 2 weeks. Most recently, McEwen Northside was updated on October 24, 2026 and First Word on October 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.*