# The Plain Dealer

> Digital newspaper app for local news, features, sports, and entertainment. (iPhone/iPad app by The Plain Dealer Publishing Company.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-plain-dealer/id457556777 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [The Plain Dealer Publishing Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/457556780)
- Category: News, Magazines & Newspapers
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.20/5 from 4,699 App Store ratings · 123 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 35 MB
- Languages: British English
- Released: 2011-11-11
- Data updated: 2026-08-31
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-plain-dealer/id457556777/reviews.md

## What is The Plain Dealer?

Welcome to the Plain Dealer's new Online Newspaper app! Dive into the newspaper anytime, anywhere. Keep up with award-winning local news, daily features, sports updates, entertainment highlights, special sections, and more—all at your fingertips!

Enjoy online-only perks with an enhanced reading experience, including bonus magazines, supplements, interactive puzzles and games, and easy article sharing with friends and family. 


Plain Dealer subscribers receive full access to each edition without any extra cost. Just log in with your existing email and password to explore everything we offer!


Terms of Use: https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/user-agreement.html

Privacy Policy: https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/privacy-policy.html


====== SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======

If you are not a current Plain Dealer subscriber, we offer the following App-only subscription option:

1 Month Auto-renewing Subscription: $24.99

Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period.

Your subscriptions may be managed (and auto-renewal can be turned off) by going to your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period.

## Key features

- Award-winning local news
- Daily features and sports updates
- Entertainment highlights
- Online-only perks
- Interactive puzzles and games
- Easy article sharing

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Plain Dealer Subscription | $24.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Racing Is Indy | $2.99 | one-time |
| Baseball Magazine: 2018 | $2.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #155 in Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

## What do users think of The Plain Dealer?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Fast and smooth app experience
- 👍 Replicates print edition well
- 📱 Convenient digital access
- 🗞️ Comprehensive local news coverage

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Navigation and layout issues
- 📱 Suboptimal mobile experience
- 🔒 Login and access problems

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Inconsistent page loading and scrolling
- Inability to properly display full pages
- Unreliable login and authentication

**Most requested features**

- Ability to jump between sections easily
- Option to enlarge text and images
- Offline reading mode
- Improved crossword and puzzle integration

## Recent user reviews (10 of 123)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-plain-dealer/id457556777/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Terrible coverage

*2026-04-27, version 8.0.0*

Terrible coverage of the White House Press event attempted assassination
What a useless paper

### 3/5 — Much improved on the iPad

*2026-02-21*

The new version is a major improvement over the old. It seems the slow refresh, blurry images and text of the past has finally been solved. The navigation seems to work well also once you understand the new interface. One problem that occurs however is the startup in landscape mode. Even though I set the preference to view one page wide, when I pick the paper to read, it initially displays one page but it is very small with lots of space on the sides. A workaround for this is to turn the device momentarily to portrait mode and then back to landscape after which the page displays full width. This should be an easily solvable problem.
Update Feb 2026:
A couple pain points with this app that I would have hoped to be solved by now but still remain:
1. Why does the app nearly always exit if you momentarily switch to another app or switch off the display and then come back? No other iPad app has this behavior.
2. When you do relaunch it, you have to endure watching the dumb PD logo splash screen again before you “sort of” return to where you were.
3. It eventually does restore you to the page you were on, but only at the top of the page without any zoom you might have had on. It won’t position you vertically on that page where you were. Also, if you try to zoom again within the first 10 seconds or so, the app overrides you and resets the screen to full width! Very annoying!
These are easy problems to solve. Please fix them! Took off another star due to these problems.

### 3/5 — Online blocked

*2026-02-11, version 8.0.0*

My PD online stopped working. I can log in, but when I try to view the paper it says I don’t have a subscription. I need to subscribe to the PD. My $90 a month payment suggests otherwise. PD chat says there is a glitch somewhere and has been escalated to another department. Can I get a refund for the days I don’t get a physical paper (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)???

### 1/5 — Will most likely cancel soon

*2026-02-04*

To sum up the paper articles in one word——-NEGATIVE. Your reporters are socialist who have nothing good to say about our nation. But I can understand that because Cleveland schools are failing, 3 Cleveland professional sports teams are failures, business development is poor ,the airport is really bad  compared to others around the country, anybody 60 years old or younger has never experienced a winning culture in Cleveland. But then what do you expect with one party rule of incompetence for so many years. And you wonder why people leave the city??

### 1/5 — Plain Dealer is completely liberal

*2026-01-23, version 8.0.0*

I have been reading the PD for 50 years. It has become a leftist propaganda paper. Completely devoid of conservative values. The paper has become unreadable. The only conservative article is written by GEORGE WILL. Every single day the PD has a negative article about president TRUMP. HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED more in one year than any president in my lifetime. Start having articles that talk about his success. Otherwise, this paper will continue to lose subscribers and remain irrelevant. Just be fair and unbiased.

### 5/5 — 35 Year Customer

*2026-01-20, version 8.0.0*

Thirty five years of home delivery. Will be a satisfied customer for years to come

### 5/5 — No Title

*2026-01-18, version 8.0.0*

Blessed to have the Plain Dealer in my house everyday either in my hand or on my phone. 
Please do keep up the excellent work. 
You are needed now more than ever. 
Later.

### 1/5 — Worst App and Site EVER

*2025-12-21, version 6.1.1*

O.nly a 1 star as you can't give a Zero. Anyone resposible for this abomination should be terminated and the PD should ask for its money back

### 1/5 — Democrat Rag

*2025-12-20, version 6.1.1*

If you favor the GOP, get used to getting beat up everyday. It’s all Associated Press, Washington Post, or the PD writers.  It gets old.  It’s also the only paper in Cleveland.

### 1/5 — Late !

*2025-11-09, version 6.1.1*

I’m very tired of the enews being posted late. I get an email saying the paper is ready and it’s NOT!

## Frequently asked questions about The Plain Dealer

### What is this app?

This app provides digital access to a newspaper's content, including local news, sports updates, entertainment highlights, and daily features. It offers an enhanced reading experience with online-only perks and interactive elements.

### What are the key features?

Key features include access to award-winning local news, daily features, sports updates, and entertainment highlights. Users can also enjoy online-only content like bonus magazines, supplements, interactive puzzles, and games, along with easy article sharing.

### How much does the app cost?

Current Plain Dealer subscribers receive full access to the app at no extra cost by logging in with their existing credentials. For non-subscribers, an app-only subscription is available for $24.99 per month, which auto-renews.

### Can I manage my subscription?

Yes, your subscription can be managed, and auto-renewal can be turned off, by going to your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Please note that cancellation of the current subscription is not permitted during the active subscription period.

### Who is this app for?

This app is designed for individuals who want to stay informed about local news, sports, and entertainment from a specific newspaper. It's ideal for both existing subscribers and new users looking for a convenient digital news source.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 8.0.0 — 2026-01-13

"For You" allows you to create your own personalized newsfeed by selecting the authors and topics that matter most to you.  Stay Informed like never before with the Plain Dealer Cleaner Faster Smarter.

### 6.1.1 — 2025-09-30

What’s New in the Plain Dealer App

We’ve made some exciting updates to make your experience even better:

Live News Integration
Stay informed in real time with our new Live News feature! Get instant updates on breaking stories, local developments, and major events as they happen—right from your home screen.

Smarter Navigation
We’ve streamlined the app’s layout to help you find what you need faster. Whether you're browsing top headlines, diving into local coverage, or exploring your favorite sections, everything is now just a tap away.

Performance Enhancements
We’ve squashed bugs and improved speed for a smoother, more reliable experience.

### 6.1.0 — 2025-06-05

Addition of welcome screens

### 6.0.0 — 2025-01-14

Whats New:
•	Search previous editions  
•	Bookmark and save stories for later
•	Integrated interactive puzzles 
•	Daily obituaries feed in the storefront
•	Improved sharing 
•	Dark mode

### 5.0.5 — 2024-04-23

Bug fixes

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*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 2026-08-31.*
