# Merkurist vs Podelzig

Merkurist and Podelzig are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Merkurist ships an update every 7 months, Podelzig every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merkurist | Podelzig |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 20 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Merkurist MaWi GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788288170) | [apicodo GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1169099711) |

## What reviewers say

### Merkurist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merkurist/id1169099712)

Get local news from Mainz, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, and more. Contribute your own observations and story ideas, which professional journalists then develop into articles. Receive instant updates on your contributions and new local content.

**Highlights:** Local news from multiple cities, Submit story ideas and observations, Professional journalist-created articles, Push notifications for updates, Track your contributions, Engage with comments and opinions

**In-app purchases:** none


### Podelzig

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/podelzig/id6756113102)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merkurist free?

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

### Is Podelzig free?

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

### Do Merkurist or Podelzig have ads?

Neither Merkurist nor Podelzig shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Merkurist or Podelzig?

Merkurist ships an update every 7 months, and Podelzig every 8 months. Most recently, Merkurist was updated on November 2, 2026 and Podelzig on October 30, 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.*