# First View vs Riverside Connect

The clearest difference is update cadence: First View at monthly against Riverside Connect's every 3 months. First View also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). 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.

First View ships an update monthly, Riverside Connect every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First View | Riverside Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-view/id6477656451/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 38.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Firstgroup America Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/868213520) | [Ecolane USA, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275719559) |

## What reviewers say

### First View

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-view/id6477656451)

This app helps K-12 parents and caregivers monitor their student's school commute. It provides real-time vehicle tracking, trip updates, and instant notifications for a stress-free transportation experience.

**Highlights:** Real-time vehicle location tracking, Monitor multiple students and transportation types, Access trip details and updates, Receive instant notifications and service alerts, Set up custom alerts for family members, Dedicated customer support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nice clean app
- 👍 Smooth bus tracking
- 🙏 Helpful for parents of nonverbal autistic kids

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent route and notification issues
- 🤔 Confusing with multiple app versions
- 🤦‍♀️ Worse than previous app in many ways
- 🤔 Unclear how to set up and use properly
- 🔒 Password reset issues

**Reported bugs**

- Routes disappearing from app
- Login and password reset problems
- Glitchy user interface

**Requested features**

- Estimated time of arrival for bus
- Simpler setup and configuration
- Consistent performance across all users


### Riverside Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riverside-connect/id6737283321)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First View free?

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

### Is Riverside Connect free?

Riverside Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do First View or Riverside Connect have ads?

Neither First View nor Riverside Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First View or Riverside Connect?

First View ships an update monthly, and Riverside Connect every 3 months. Most recently, First View was updated on September 24, 2026 and Riverside Connect on September 14, 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.*