# First 5 vs Lifeway On Demand

The clearest difference is review sentiment: First 5 at 73% against Lifeway On Demand's 27%. First 5 also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). Lifeway On Demand's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

Lifeway On Demand holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 879 and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of First 5's written reviews are positive against 27% of Lifeway On Demand's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

First 5 ships an update every 3 months, Lifeway On Demand every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First 5 | Lifeway On Demand |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (879 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-5/id997457664/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeway-on-demand/id1557674186/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 879 | **1.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **72.7% of reviews** | 27.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 40 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Proverbs 31 Ministry, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1217584851) | [Lifeway Christian Resources](https://appshunter.io/developer/320421928) |

## What reviewers say

### First 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-5/id997457664)

This app provides daily biblical teachings to help users establish a consistent spiritual practice. It offers tools for highlighting, saving, and sharing scripture, along with a built-in Bible and community features.

**Highlights:** Daily biblical teachings, Highlight, save, and share scripture, Integrated Bible reader, Customizable reminders, Community groups, Exportable notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Solid biblical teaching
- 👍 Comprehensive and beautiful app
- 👍 Excellent resource for Bible study
- 👍 Helpful for spiritual growth
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes or freezes
- 🐛 Glitchy or buggy functionality
- 🐛 Restricted access requiring sign-up
- 👎 Text is too small, no font size options
- 👎 Lack of dark mode or night theme

**Reported bugs**

- App not loading or showing blank screen
- Inability to access past or current studies
- Login/sign-in issues and account problems
- Repeated log-outs and sign-in requirements

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode or night theme
- Improve font size and zoom options
- Allow offline access to past studies
- Implement text-to-speech feature
- Provide more customization options


### Lifeway On Demand

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeway-on-demand/id1557674186)

Access and engage with purchased Bible study resources and the Christian Standard Bible. Watch video sessions offline, read Scripture, and explore digital eBooks from Lifeway. Features include integrated playback, organized navigation, and customizable captioning.

**Highlights:** Watch and learn studies offline, Read the Christian Standard Bible, Access digital Bible study eBooks, Integrated mini player for browsing, Organized study navigation, Customizable ASL, Spanish, Open Captions

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great Bible studies
- 🚀 Convenient on-demand access
- 💡 Helpful video teachings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience
- 🔒 Lack of offline access for ebooks
- 🔒 Unable to cast videos to TV
- 👎 Navigation issues
- 👎 Accessibility challenges for visually impaired users

**Reported bugs**

- Videos continue playing after pausing or exiting
- Purchased content not showing up in app
- Redemption code entry not easily accessible

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode option
- Ability to keep track of ongoing studies
- Predictive text in search bar
- Seamless Chromecast/AirPlay integration
- Improved accessibility features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First 5 free?

First 5 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lifeway On Demand free?

Lifeway On Demand is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First 5 or Lifeway On Demand?

Lifeway On Demand is rated higher. First 5 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 879 ratings, while Lifeway On Demand averages 4.8 from 1.9K ratings.

### Do First 5 or Lifeway On Demand have ads?

First 5 shows ads; Lifeway On Demand does not.

### Which is updated more often, First 5 or Lifeway On Demand?

First 5 ships an update every 3 months, and Lifeway On Demand every 11 days. Most recently, First 5 was updated on September 18, 2026 and Lifeway On Demand on September 24, 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.*