# Caixin Global vs Sixth Tone

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sixth Tone at none against Caixin Global's 3. Sixth Tone also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 56%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Caixin Global sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $25.99 per month. Sixth Tone asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sixth Tone holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 228 and 147 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Caixin Global's written reviews are positive against 82% of Sixth Tone's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Caixin Global | Sixth Tone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (228 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caixin-global/id1177372413/reviews) | **[4.9 (147 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sixth-tone/id1462612037/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **228** | 147 |
| Positive reviews | 55.7% of reviews | **81.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 30 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Caixin Global Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1177372412) | [上海东方报业有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/878962721) |

## What reviewers say

### Caixin Global

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caixin-global/id1177372413)

Access award-winning journalism covering China's economy, finance, and business. Features include in-depth explanations, AI-powered summaries, podcasts, and exclusive subscriber events. Offers a mix of free and premium content for a comprehensive understanding of the Chinese market.

**Highlights:** Exclusive finance & business content, AI-powered article summaries, Economic and business podcasts, Subscriber-only events, Commentary and analysis, Video replays of discussions

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Package | $25.99 | per month |
| Student Package | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual Package | $249.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great content and insights
- 👍 Unbiased and objective reporting
- 👍 Informative on China and SEA
- 👍 High quality articles
- 👍 Reliable source for finance news

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Payment problems
- 🐛 Subscription not activated
- 🐛 Constant ads
- 🐛 Horrible to use
- 🐛 Difficult password reset

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription not activated after payment
- App insists subscription doesn't exist
- Constantly logged out
- Subscription sync issues
- Doesn't load entire story

**Requested features**

- iPad version supporting
- Simple "continue" subscription button with WeChat payment
- More articles on Chinese government policies and investments
- More in-depth articles about Chinese companies' culture
- Filter more, be more selective


### Sixth Tone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sixth-tone/id1462612037)

Access in-depth news, features, and visual storytelling about contemporary China. Explore diverse perspectives, expert opinions, and multimedia content. Stay informed with daily highlights and special projects.

**Highlights:** Daily news highlights, In-depth features, Commentaries and opinions, Visual storytelling, Interviews with key figures, Collaborative projects

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Caixin Global free?

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

### Is Sixth Tone free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Caixin Global or Sixth Tone?

Sixth Tone is rated higher. Caixin Global averages 4.6 out of 5 from 228 ratings, while Sixth Tone averages 4.9 from 147 ratings.

### Do Caixin Global or Sixth Tone have ads?

Both Caixin Global and Sixth Tone show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Caixin Global or Sixth Tone?

Caixin Global ships an update every 2 months, and Sixth Tone every 2 months. Most recently, Caixin Global was updated on November 2, 2026 and Sixth Tone 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.*