# IFSTA Essentials 8 vs First In Navigation

IFSTA Essentials 8 and First In Navigation both sit at 2.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 36% of First In Navigation's written reviews are positive against 10% of IFSTA Essentials 8's. First In Navigation also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). IFSTA Essentials 8's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IFSTA Essentials 8 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and First In Navigation sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.7 for IFSTA Essentials 8 against 2.8 for First In Navigation. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 27 and 18 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 10% of IFSTA Essentials 8's written reviews are positive against 36% of First In Navigation's.

IFSTA Essentials 8 ships an update every 6 weeks, First In Navigation weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IFSTA Essentials 8 | First In Navigation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifsta-essentials-8/id6654913928/reviews) | **[2.8 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-in-navigation/id6751251373/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **27** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 10.0% of reviews | **36.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 224 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IFSTA](https://appshunter.io/developer/495289396) | [Joseph Graff](https://appshunter.io/developer/1834264237) |

## What reviewers say

### IFSTA Essentials 8

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifsta-essentials-8/id6654913928)

This educational app provides comprehensive study materials for aspiring firefighters based on the Essentials of Fire Fighting, 8th Edition manual. It offers exam preparation, interactive modules, flashcards, and skill videos to enhance learning and test knowledge.

**Highlights:** Exam Prep with 1,271 validated questions, Audiobook with offline access, Interactive learning modules, Flashcards for key terms, Tool and equipment identification, Skill videos for hands-on preparation

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all Exam Prep Chapters | $19.99 | one-time |
| Unlock all Interactive | $25.00 | one-time |
| Unlock all Audiobook Chapters | $34.99 | one-time |


### First In Navigation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-in-navigation/id6751251373)

This app helps first responders learn their response areas with interactive quizzes. It generates random calls within custom-drawn zones and provides optimal routes from stations or hospitals. Users can save and share maps, and access a database of community-created routes.

**Highlights:** Custom response area mapping, Randomized call generation, Route quizzing from stations/hospitals, Save and share custom maps, Community map database, Cross-platform account access

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $1.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IFSTA Essentials 8 free?

IFSTA Essentials 8 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is First In Navigation free?

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

### Which has better reviews, IFSTA Essentials 8 or First In Navigation?

First In Navigation is rated higher. IFSTA Essentials 8 averages 2.7 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while First In Navigation averages 2.8 from 18 ratings.

### Do IFSTA Essentials 8 or First In Navigation have ads?

Neither IFSTA Essentials 8 nor First In Navigation shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IFSTA Essentials 8 or First In Navigation?

IFSTA Essentials 8 ships an update every 6 weeks, and First In Navigation weekly. Most recently, IFSTA Essentials 8 was updated on October 15, 2026 and First In Navigation on October 9, 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.*