# The Hamilton Spectator — Up-to-date Hamilton area news > Hamilton area news, breaking stories, and community coverage. (iPhone/iPad app by thestar.com.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-hamilton-spectator/id444566581 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [thestar.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/379481071) - Category: News, Lifestyle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.50/5 from 20 App Store ratings · 62 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 17+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 108 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2011-06-23 - Data updated: 2026-09-04 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-hamilton-spectator/id444566581/reviews.md ## What is The Hamilton Spectator? Your city. Your Stories. From community and local coverage to global issues and breaking news, The Hamilton Spectator reports on topics that matter and affect the day-to-day lives of our readers. Download The Hamilton Spectator app now to receive the best features of The Spectator’s website, all within the palm of your hand. • Made for You: A custom newsfeed that evolves with your interests. • Stay Informed: Real-time breaking news alerts so you’re always the first to know. • Resume Reading: Pick up exactly where you left off, instantly. • Trending Now: Stay ahead of the curve with the stories Hamilton is talking about. • Instant Access: Your saved stories are now organized in one streamlined hub. • Newsletter Management: You can now browse, subscribe, and manage your newsletter preferences directly within the app. Stay informed with curated stories delivered straight to your inbox. Questions or feedback? Contact us at specmobilefeedback@torstar.ca SEE BELOW FOR IMPORTANT NOTICES By installing and using the App, you agree to our Privacy and Anti-Spam Notice (available at https://www.thespec.com/about/mobile-app-privacy-anti-spam-notice.html), our Privacy Policy (available at https://metroland.com/privacy-policy/) and our Terms of Use (available at http://notices.torstar.com/main_terms_of_use_daily_and_community_brands_EN/), each of which is accessible with the App's settings menu. This App (including any updates or upgrades) may (i) automatically communicate with The Hamilton Spectator's or its third party service providers' servers and record usage and browsing pattern metrics, (ii) manage App-related preferences or data stored on your device, and (iii) collect personal information, all as more particularly set out in our Privacy and Anti-Spam Notice and our Privacy Policy. You may withdraw your consent to the above at any time by removing or disabling the App. The Spec mobile application, an application offered by Metroland Media Group Ltd., 8 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8 For assistance, please contact us at circ@thespec.com. ## Key features - Breaking news and in-depth reporting - Community-specific local news - Personalized community selection - Commenting and discussion features - Opinions and commentary from columnists - Credible, source-based reporting ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Flexible Digital Access | $14.99 | per month | | Annual Digital Access | $49.99 | per year | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 62) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-hamilton-spectator/id444566581/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Left leaning! *2025-10-31* The Spec would be a great local paper if it wasn’t run like a “Left Wing” rag. Articles and comments all the time knocking the Tories. If there was an alternative I would cancel my Spec subscription tomorrow. ### 2/5 — Spec *2025-10-02* Everything is repeated multiple times. Old news stays on for days. It should be setup more in a newspaper format. Not enjoyable at all. ### 4/5 — Not as good as Toronto Star app *2025-06-21* Same company, different app layout. I’d like to be able to look up pages as I can with the Star. Alternatively, I must take a photo of the item, crop it to share. Please update the app so I can read it like I do the paper version. ### 1/5 — Too difficult to access all parts of the news *2025-05-02* I’d like to be able to access all parts of the paper, but it’s difficult. And then some stories are listed for weeks on end and others show up multiple times. I feel like if I had the physical paper I’d be seeing a lot more news. ### 5/5 — Spec: 5 stars *2025-05-01* wonderful local news coverage. hard-working reporters and editors. a valuable asset in difficult times, when journalism matters massively. thank you to all for … again … your hard work and diligence. 🙏 one quibble: while i respect and admire susan clairmont’s work *very* much, i do not think editors should permit her to use last names for the Bad Guys while using first names for the Good Guys. the value-laden inconsistency is at odds with straight-up news (and crime) reporting. i know SC is not doing straight-up reporting in the way, say, fallon hewitt is, but still, it’s too heart-on-sleeve for me and i suspect for some other readers too. ### 1/5 — Poor replacement for browser version *2024-03-07* Not even close to the access provided by the browser version. Misses direct access to Home and Obituaries for example. Some needs to update this code. ### 1/5 — Not free as described *2024-01-05* Can’t read the articles, the app indicates free to read, but it isn’t. ### 2/5 — Need more options for notifications *2023-10-09* I have both the CBC and The Spec app and I almost never open The Spec app cause I don’t get any notifications about new stories. ### 2/5 — Tired of signing in *2023-08-02* The app is fine, although it keeps asking me to sign in every time I open the app??? ### 1/5 — Poor app *2023-01-22* The SpecEreader is a better format with easy access to all sections ## Frequently asked questions about The Hamilton Spectator ### What kind of news does The Hamilton Spectator app provide? The app offers a wide range of news, including breaking news, in-depth reporting on local and global issues, and coverage specific to up to seven selected communities. It also features opinions and commentary from columnists. ### Is The Hamilton Spectator app free to download? Yes, the app is free to download. Subscribers to The Hamilton Spectator enjoy unlimited access to all content within the app. ### How can I get news from my specific community? The app features a 'MyLocal' tab where you can select up to seven communities. This allows you to receive news coverage, issues, and events that are specific to your chosen local areas. ### What are the privacy and terms of use for this app? By installing and using the app, you agree to The Hamilton Spectator's Privacy and Anti-Spam Notice, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Use. These documents detail data collection and usage, and can be accessed within the app's settings menu. ### What are the benefits of subscribing to The Hamilton Spectator? Subscribing to The Hamilton Spectator grants you unlimited access to all the content within the app. This includes in-depth reporting, community-specific news, opinions, and the ability to engage in discussions. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 9.75.0 — 2026-08-10 Struggling to read small text? Head to App Settings → Manage → Text Size to adjust the font to your comfort or simply let the app follow your device's font settings automatically. Everything scales beautifully, no broken layouts. ### 9.74.0 — 2026-07-14 General improvements ### 9.73.0 — 2026-06-25 General improvements ### 9.72.0 — 2026-06-10 General improvements ### 9.71.0 — 2026-06-01 General improvements ## Apps similar to The Hamilton Spectator | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [MiDiocesis](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiocesis/id1123054040) | 5.0 (3) | Free | News | | [Comunidad Xbox Forum](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comunidad-xbox-forum/id1129095460) | 1.0 (1) | Free | News | | [Espreso.rs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espresors/id1148226620) | 2.3 (3) | Free | News | | [Politics - Breaking Political News & Opinion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/politics-breaking-political-news-and-opinion/id1153454320) | 4.3 (6) | Free | News | | [Sedgwick County Government](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sedgwick-county-government/id1129482040) | 2.4 (7) | Free | News | | [知宝坻](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1148847300) | — | Free | News | ## More apps by thestar.com - [Toronto Star](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/toronto-star/id379481068) - [Waterloo Region Record](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waterloo-region-record/id444565004) - [Toronto Star ePaper Edition](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/toronto-star-epaper-edition/id855679424) - [The Peterborough Examiner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-peterborough-examiner/id6670499479) All apps by thestar.com: https://appshunter.io/developer/379481071 ## Related topics [the spectator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-spectator) · [spectari](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/spectari) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*