# theSkimm vs Skim Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Skim Reader at none against theSkimm's 2. Skim Reader also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). theSkimm's advantage is chart position (#188 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. theSkimm sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Skim Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

theSkimm ships an update every 2 months, Skim Reader monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | theSkimm | Skim Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theskimm/id1034995058/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#188** | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [theSkimm](https://appshunter.io/developer/1034995057) | [Lucas Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/303586609) |

## What reviewers say

### theSkimm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theskimm/id1034995058)

**Currently charting:** #188 Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

Stay informed with daily news summaries, in-depth articles on career, health, and finance, and engaging podcasts. Discover personalized recommendations and integrate events into your calendar to live smarter.

**Highlights:** Daily news summaries, In-depth articles, Podcasts, Personalized calendar integration, Curated recommendations, Career, health, and finance topics

**Features:** Siri integration, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| theSkimm Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| theSkimm Yearly | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 📰 Concise and informative news
- 🗓️ Helpful calendar integration
- 🎧 Useful audio content
- 👍 Easy to stay informed
- 🤗 Entertaining and engaging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤑 Paid subscription required
- 🗣️ Perceived political bias
- 🔗 Accidental link clicks while scrolling
- 🚫 Limited content for non-US users

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Issues with 'Do Not Sell My Information' feature

**Requested features**

- Offline content access
- More international news coverage
- Customizable news preferences
- Ability to remove ads for paid subscribers


### Skim Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skim-reader/id6758281041)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is theSkimm free?

theSkimm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Skim Reader free?

Skim Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do theSkimm or Skim Reader have ads?

Neither theSkimm nor Skim Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, theSkimm or Skim Reader?

theSkimm ships an update every 2 months, and Skim Reader monthly. Most recently, theSkimm was updated on October 23, 2026 and Skim Reader on October 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.*