# Thrive Credit Union vs First Merchants Mobile App

The clearest difference is review sentiment: First Merchants Mobile App at 79% against Thrive Credit Union's 33%. First Merchants Mobile App also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.6) and ratings volume (29K vs 20). Thrive Credit Union's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

First Merchants Mobile App holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First Merchants Mobile App has 29K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Thrive Credit Union's written reviews are positive against 79% of First Merchants Mobile App's.

Thrive Credit Union ships an update every 6 months, First Merchants Mobile App every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thrive Credit Union | First Merchants Mobile App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thrive-credit-union/id985687776/reviews) | **[4.7 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-merchants-mobile-app/id992147118/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **29K** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **79.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 70 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thrive Federal Credit Union](https://appshunter.io/developer/511316958) | [First Merchants Bank](https://appshunter.io/developer/451194737) |

## What reviewers say

### Thrive Credit Union

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thrive-credit-union/id985687776)

Manage your finances conveniently with this mobile banking app. Check balances, view transaction history, transfer funds, pay loans, and deposit checks directly from your device. It offers a streamlined way to handle everyday banking tasks on the go.

**Highlights:** Check account balances, View transaction history, Transfer funds between accounts, Pay loans, Deposit checks, Pay bills

**In-app purchases:** none


### First Merchants Mobile App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-merchants-mobile-app/id992147118)

Manage your finances conveniently from your mobile device. Check balances, transfer funds, pay bills, deposit checks, and send money to others. Locate nearby branches and ATMs easily.

**Highlights:** Check account balances and transactions, Transfer money between accounts, Pay bills and view history, Deposit checks remotely, Send and receive person-to-person payments, Find nearby branches and ATMs

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💳 Convenient mobile banking features
- 🔒 Secure authentication options
- 💰 Helpful with managing finances
- 🤝 Friendly and knowledgeable staff
- 📲 Easy to use mobile app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and login issues
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find features
- 🔒 Unreliable biometric authentication
- 💳 Issues with mobile check deposits
- 🔄 Confusing app updates and changes

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent Face ID/Touch ID support
- Repeated requests for login credentials
- Inability to view all linked accounts
- Delayed transaction posting and balance updates
- Glitches when depositing larger checks

**Requested features**

- Add running balance display in transactions
- Improve bill pay functionality and visibility
- Enable transfers between all account types
- Provide more customization options in the app
- Integrate account notifications and alerts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thrive Credit Union free?

Thrive Credit Union is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Merchants Mobile App free?

First Merchants Mobile App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Thrive Credit Union or First Merchants Mobile App?

First Merchants Mobile App is rated higher. Thrive Credit Union averages 2.6 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while First Merchants Mobile App averages 4.7 from 29K ratings.

### Do Thrive Credit Union or First Merchants Mobile App have ads?

First Merchants Mobile App shows ads; Thrive Credit Union does not.

### Which is updated more often, Thrive Credit Union or First Merchants Mobile App?

Thrive Credit Union ships an update every 6 months, and First Merchants Mobile App every 5 months. Most recently, Thrive Credit Union was updated on November 1, 2026 and First Merchants Mobile App on November 8, 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.*