# The National vs iPhone User

The clearest difference is update cadence: The National at every 5 months against iPhone User's every 30 months. iPhone User's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). 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 iPhone 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, iPhone User every 30 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The National | iPhone User |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 30 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 138 MB | 43 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 |


### iPhone User

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iphone-user/id6462691745)

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iPhone User | $9.99 | per year |
| Spring 2026 (pp:1144118) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Summer 2026 (pp:1145430) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2025 (pp:1139418) | $3.99 | one-time |
| iPhoneTricks_T... (pp:1000160) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Summer 2024 (pp:1051157) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2024 (pp:1051151) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Spring 2024 (pp:1051160) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Autumn 2024 (pp:1051154) | $3.99 | one-time |
| The iOS 18 Manual (pp:1121642) | $5.99 | one-time |
| The iPhone 16 ... (pp:1121641) | $5.99 | one-time |
| The iOS 15 iPh... (pp:1000163) | $5.99 | one-time |
| The iPhone 15 ... (pp:1003334) | $5.99 | one-time |
| The iOS 17 Manual (pp:1003331) | $5.99 | one-time |
| iPhoneSeniors_... (pp:1000157) | $7.99 | one-time |
| CompAppleWatch... (pp:1000151) | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The National free?

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

### Is iPhone User free?

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

### Do The National or iPhone User have ads?

Neither The National nor iPhone User shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The National or iPhone User?

The National ships an update every 5 months, and iPhone User every 30 months. Most recently, The National was updated on October 26, 2026 and iPhone 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.*