# The National vs Bylines

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bylines at 87% against The National's 21%. Bylines also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Bylines asks for nothing beyond the download.

The National ships an update every 5 months, Bylines every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The National | Bylines |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bylines/id1613752209/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews | **86.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 138 MB | 5 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) | [Cliff Mitchell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1208940805) |

## 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 |


### Bylines

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bylines/id1613752209)

Access all content from the Byline Network, including regional publications, TV videos, and articles. This app serves as a central hub for citizen journalism, allowing users to read, share, and stay updated on the latest news.

**Highlights:** Access Byline Network content, Read regional publications, Watch Byline TV videos, Browse Byline Times articles, Share articles, Refresh for new content

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The National free?

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

### Is Bylines free?

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

### Do The National or Bylines have ads?

Neither The National nor Bylines shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The National or Bylines?

The National ships an update every 5 months, and Bylines every 3 months. Most recently, The National was updated on November 9, 2026 and Bylines on November 3, 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.*