# Access CU vs Necessary

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Access CU | Necessary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-cu/id765990951/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| Positive reviews | 8.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 189 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Access Credit Union Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/849283388) | [Andrew Hildebrand](https://appshunter.io/developer/6825406976) |

## What reviewers say

### Access CU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-cu/id765990951)

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.

**Highlights:** Remote cheque deposit, Open new accounts, Download void cheques, Schedule transfers and bill payments, Canadian to US dollar transfers, Enhanced security features, Profile customization

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Basic banking functions work when app is functioning
- 🔒 Enhanced security features compared to predecessor apps
- 📱 Supports e-transfers and bill payments
- 💳 Mobile deposit capability available
- 🎯 Simple navigation when accessible

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔐 Persistent login failures and lockouts
- ⏱️ Extremely slow performance and loading
- 📵 App won't open or becomes unresponsive
- 🔄 Requires constant deletion and reinstallation

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Necessary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/necessary/id6810389778)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Access CU free?

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

### Is Necessary free?

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

### Do Access CU or Necessary have ads?

Neither Access CU nor Necessary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Access CU or Necessary?

Access CU ships an update every 2 months, and Necessary every 2 days. Most recently, Access CU was updated on November 6, 2026 and Necessary on October 31, 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.*