# PROTOCOL vs The First Ascent

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The First Ascent at none against PROTOCOL's 10. The First Ascent also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). PROTOCOL's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PROTOCOL sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. The First Ascent asks for nothing beyond the download.

PROTOCOL ships an update every 3 days, The First Ascent every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PROTOCOL | The First Ascent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 5 months |
| Size | 259 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SungGwon Han](https://appshunter.io/developer/1117887913) | [Chi Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821646937) |

## What reviewers say

### PROTOCOL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protocol-zero-rift/id6740158945)

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beginner Package 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sale Package 3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sale Package 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Sale Package 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Beginner Package 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ad | $5.99 | one-time |
| Daily Special Mission Ticket | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mission Energy Booster (30 Days) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Stage Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| Beginner Package 3 | $14.99 | one-time |


### The First Ascent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-first-ascent/id6747490622)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PROTOCOL free?

PROTOCOL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The First Ascent free?

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

### Do PROTOCOL or The First Ascent have ads?

PROTOCOL shows ads; The First Ascent does not.

### Which is updated more often, PROTOCOL or The First Ascent?

PROTOCOL ships an update every 3 days, and The First Ascent every 5 months. Most recently, PROTOCOL was updated on October 30, 2026 and The First Ascent on October 25, 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.*