# The National vs Mac + MacBook User

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mac + MacBook User at 100% against The National's 21%. Mac + MacBook User also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). The National's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 25 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The National sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per 7 days and Mac + MacBook User sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The National ships an update every 5 months, Mac + MacBook User every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The National | Mac + MacBook User |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mac-plus-macbook-user/id1333566817/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **5** |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 25 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 138 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +17 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Newsquest](https://appshunter.io/developer/504547133) | [Papercut](https://appshunter.io/developer/1120017500) |

## What reviewers say

### The National

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-national/id1133606986)

Access comprehensive coverage of Scottish news, politics, business, and culture. Enjoy insightful analysis, opinion pieces, and in-depth reporting. Stay updated with live news, read the digital paper, and enjoy interactive puzzles and audio articles.

**Highlights:** Live news updates, Ad-free reading experience, Daily digital newspapers, Interactive puzzles, Article audio player

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.49 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $14.49 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $16.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Subscription | $40.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly Subscription | $46.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Month Subscription | $76.99 | per 6 months |
| 6 Month Subscription | $89.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual Subscription | $129.99 | per year |


### Mac + MacBook User

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mac-plus-macbook-user/id1333566817)

Access expert guides and step-by-step tutorials for your Mac and macOS. Master your device or solve common issues with illustrated content from leading tech publishers. Carry your tech support in your pocket.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step guides and tutorials, In-depth articles on MacOS, Illustrated content, Pocket-sized tech support, Master MacBook Air and iMac Pro, Cross-platform purchase browsing

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mac + MacBook User | $9.99 | per year |
| Jun/Jul 2019 (id:471378) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2023 (pp:994943) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2022 (id:704066) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Advanced Mac Guide (id:806477) | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mac Beginners G... (id:806478) | $7.99 | one-time |
| MacBook GuideBook (id:806479) | $7.99 | one-time |
| macOS Mojave Ma... (id:806298) | $7.99 | one-time |
| macOS Catalina ... (id:806125) | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mac Complete Guide (id:805981) | $7.99 | one-time |
| macOS Big Sur M... (id:805898) | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mac Beginners G... (id:805761) | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mac & macOS So... (pp:1028634) | $7.99 | one-time |
| MacBook Manual... (pp:1001003) | $7.99 | one-time |
| Complete Mac Ma... (id:809290) | $9.99 | one-time |
| MacOS Sierra (id:809258) | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The National free?

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

### Is Mac + MacBook User free?

Mac + MacBook User is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do The National or Mac + MacBook User have ads?

Neither The National nor Mac + MacBook User shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The National or Mac + MacBook User?

The National ships an update every 5 months, and Mac + MacBook User every 25 months. Most recently, The National was updated on October 29, 2026 and Mac + MacBook User on October 25, 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.*