Access CU vs Necessary
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Access CU
Manage your finances securely and conveniently from your mobile device. Deposit cheques, open new accounts, schedule payments, and transfer funds between accounts. Offers enhanced security features and customization options for a personalized banking experience.
- Remote cheque deposit
- Open new accounts
- Download void cheques
- Schedule transfers and bill payments
- Canadian to US dollar transfers
- Enhanced security features
- Profile customization
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Manage your finances from anywhere with our secure, easy-to-use mobile app. Features include: - Deposit cheques and stop cheques remotely - Open new accounts and assign custom names - Download void cheques for direct deposits - Add, edit, delete and view favourite transactions - Canadian to US dollar account transfers - Schedule transfers and bill payments and transfer to other members - Enhanced security with password reset, multi-factor authentication, and alerts - Customize background and profile photos To use this app you must be a member of Access Credit Union and have digital banking enabled on your account. Standard service charges still apply to online account services. The use of this mobile app is subject to the privacy and legal terms and conditions that can be found on our website at www.accesscu.ca. Cellular data rates may apply depending on your provider and plan.
Necessary
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Necessary helps you understand everyday household spending without forcing every dollar into an envelope. Add the money available for each pay period, record your purchases, and quickly decide whether each transaction was necessary, not necessary, or should be excluded. Necessary keeps the amount you could have saved visible, helping your household reduce impulse spending while leaving planned purchases out of the way.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Necessary at every 2 days against Access CU's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Access CU ships an update every 2 months, Necessary every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Access CU | Necessary |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 8.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 189 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Access Credit Union Limited | Andrew Hildebrand |
Bugs and requests
Access CU
Reported bugs
18 issues- Login loop - username/password/error repeating indefinitely
- App won't open or launch properly
- Crashes immediately after update installation
- Face ID/biometric authentication fails or blocks access
- App hangs during login process
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- False 'jailbroken device' detection on legitimate devices
- Update notification persists despite being current version
- App won't update despite notification prompts
- Login page doesn't work in Safari (app uses Safari for login)
- Password validation errors after updates
- Accounts disappear during e-transfer process
- Mobile deposit camera freezes
- Homepage orientation stuck sideways with non-functional rotation icon
- App reports 'No Internet connection' on working networks
- Slow performance specifically on 5G networks
- Session timeout and random logouts
- NextStepUsername download error before app quit
- App freezes on loading screen indefinitely
Requested features
12 requests- Fix Face ID and biometric authentication reliability
- Implement proper multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Improve app stability and prevent crashes
- Streamline update process to avoid deletion/reinstall
- Enhance mobile deposit feature usability
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- Add ability to modify or cancel scheduled transfers
- Improve cellular data connectivity
- Redesign user interface for better usability
- Restore features from previous apps (Sunova, Casera)
- Add credit card information access
- Implement dark mode option
- Reduce unnecessary permission requests
Necessary
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Access CU
No in-app purchases
Necessary
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Access CU free?
Is Necessary free?
Do Access CU or Necessary have ads?
Which is updated more often, Access CU or Necessary?
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