# The First Ascent vs Subterranean

The clearest difference is update cadence: Subterranean at every 2 days against The First Ascent's every 5 months. 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.

The First Ascent ships an update every 5 months, Subterranean every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The First Ascent | Subterranean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Size | 134 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chi Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821646937) | [Tayin Wallace](https://appshunter.io/developer/1658923996) |

## What reviewers say

### The First Ascent

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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Subterranean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subterranean/id6754824884)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The First Ascent free?

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

### Is Subterranean free?

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

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

Neither The First Ascent nor Subterranean shows ads.

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

The First Ascent ships an update every 5 months, and Subterranean every 2 days. Most recently, The First Ascent was updated on October 25, 2026 and Subterranean 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.*