# Essential CU vs S1 FinFit

The clearest difference is monetization model: S1 FinFit at free against Essential CU's free with in-app purchases. S1 FinFit also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Essential CU's advantage is ratings volume (4.6K vs 16) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). 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.

Essential CU holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Essential CU has 4.6K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Essential CU's written reviews are positive against 71% of S1 FinFit's.

Essential CU ships an update every 3 months, S1 FinFit every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Essential CU | S1 FinFit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-cu/id953483907/reviews)** | [4.5 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s1-finfit/id1586324772/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.6K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **80.3% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 114 MB | 115 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Essential Credit Union](https://appshunter.io/developer/875874546) | [Synergy One Lending Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1271220804) |

## What reviewers say

### Essential CU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-cu/id953483907)

Manage your credit union accounts conveniently from your mobile device. Access account information, transfer funds, pay bills, and deposit checks on the go. Easily locate ATMs and branches with this secure and user-friendly application.

**Highlights:** Check account balances, View transaction history, Transfer funds, Pay bills, Send money to contacts, Deposit checks, Find ATMs and branches

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy to use
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Useful features like check deposit
- 🔒 Secure with Touch ID login

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and technical issues
- ⚠️ Unreliable account access and information
- 💤 Outdated and frustrating interface
- 🤯 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Account information not displaying correctly
- Deposit issues and delays
- Compatibility problems with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to lock debit card
- Faster credit card payment updates
- More account management features
- Apple Pay integration


### S1 FinFit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s1-finfit/id1586324772)

This financial assistant helps you organize your finances, track spending, monitor your credit score, and prepare for homeownership. It provides insights into your financial wellness and offers resources for personal finance management.

**Highlights:** Financial dashboard summary, Spending tracking by category, Free credit score and report monitoring, Homeownership preparation tools, Debt-to-income ratio management, Encrypted data sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Essential CU free?

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

### Is S1 FinFit free?

S1 FinFit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Essential CU or S1 FinFit?

Essential CU is rated higher. Essential CU averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.6K ratings, while S1 FinFit averages 4.5 from 16 ratings.

### Do Essential CU or S1 FinFit have ads?

Neither Essential CU nor S1 FinFit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Essential CU or S1 FinFit?

Essential CU ships an update every 3 months, and S1 FinFit every 5 weeks. Most recently, Essential CU was updated on November 6, 2026 and S1 FinFit on November 3, 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.*