Comparison

Sunset Magazine vs Orange Observer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sunset Magazine

Explore the modern American West with curated content on destinations, home, gardening, and recipes. Access the latest articles, download issues for offline reading, and save favorites. Discover inspiration for living in the West.

Highlights
  • Latest headlines and articles
  • Offline magazine reading
  • Recipe database search
  • Share articles easily
  • Save favorite articles
  • New issue alerts
Features
Read full description

SUNSET is the definitive guide to living an inspired life in the modern American West — stretching from Alaska to Mexico, and California to Texas. Each issue is filled with epic destinations and adventures, home and gardening tips from celebrated writers, and fresh recipes shared by some of the West’s most creative chefs. From boutique hotels to camping and road trips, Baja fish tacos to backyard edible gardens, we translate the iconic elements of the West directly to your everyday life. With the new-and-improved Sunset app, you get: • LATEST HEADLINES: Easily find and glance through the most recent articles published to our website, at the click of a button. • OFFLINE READING: Download and flip through entire Sunset magazines to your device to read them whenever and wherever you want, even without an internet connection. • RECIPE SEARCH: A new app section takes you to Sunset's growing database of recipes, where you can easily search through our thousands of entries, from dinners to desserts and so much more. • SHARE ARTICLES: Easily share articles with friends, colleagues or on social media with the tap of a button. • SELECT AND SAVE: “Favorite” interesting articles to your own special section — curated by you — so you can revisit them later. • NEW ISSUE ALERTS: Be the first to read the latest issues of your favorite magazines with new issue reminders. Sunset's print magazine is published 6 times a year. Subscribers get free, unlimited access to the Sunset app and website, plus a free digital edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book (a $34.95 value), first look at the Best of Sunset and Sunset Wine Awards series, exclusive Idea House event access and more. IN APP SUBSCRIPTIONS: • Single-issue: $4.99 • 1-month subscription: $1.99, automatically renewed until canceled • 1-year subscription: $19.99, automatically renewed until canceled AUTOMATIC-RENEWAL FEATURE: Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal, as stated above, within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Current subscriptions may not be canceled during the active subscription period, but you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. GIVE THE GIFT OF SUNSET: https://www.sunset.com/subscribe CONTACT US: Have a thought, comment or suggestion about Sunset? Here’s how to reach out. • Magazine customer service: https://www.sunset.com/customerservice • Reader letters: Email readerletters@sunset.com • Advertising: https://www.sunset.com/advertising PRIVACY POLICY: https://www.sunset.com/marketplace/sunset-publishing-corporation-privacy-policy TERMS OF SERVICE: https://www.sunset.com/marketplace/sunset-publishing-corporation-terms-of-use CHECK OUT OUR NEWSLETTERS: https://www.sunset.com/newsletters

About

Orange Observer

Access a digital replica of your favorite Observer newspaper publications, including local news and special guides. Read issues as they appear in print on any device, offering a convenient e-Newspaper experience.

Highlights
  • Digital replica of printed issues
  • Includes West Orange Times & Observer
  • Includes Southwest Orange Observer
  • Features Season Magazine
  • Includes Local Motion guide
  • e-Newspaper format
  • Hyperlocal news coverage
Features
Read full description

Enjoy a digital replica identical to the printed version of your favorite Observer newspaper each week. Issues included are the West Orange Times & Observer and the Southwest Orange Observer, as well as Season Magazine and the annual Local Motion insider’s guide. Read the Observer’s publications as laid out in print on any of your devices and take us with you wherever you may go in our convenient e-Newspaper format. As a hyperlocal, independent news organization, we cover all the local news that impacts the communities in our coverage areas.

Screenshots

Sunset Magazine4 screens
Orange Observer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Orange Observer at none against Sunset Magazine's 10. Orange Observer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Sunset Magazine's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (2.2K vs 1). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sunset Magazine sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Orange Observer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Orange Observer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sunset Magazine has 2.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sunset Magazine ships an update every 2 months, Orange Observer every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sunset Magazine versus Orange Observer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSunset MagazineOrange Observer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.2K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews29.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.2K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB48 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperSunset Publishing CorporationObserver Media Group, Inc.

Customer experience

Sunset Magazine

All ratings2,211 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral2.8%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive29.2%
Neutral1.5%
Negative69.2%

Orange Observer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Sunset Magazine

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • selling Special Magazines...but not honoring Subscribes
  • Sunset didn't bother to tell subscribers they were no longer doing print.
  • Not receiving my magazines
  • Every time the app updates I lose access to older issues.
  • This is not the Sunset We Knew & Loved
Show 3 more
  • I miss the paper copy of Sunset.
  • Why didn't they inform us about the new app?
  • The app just hangs——nothing happens.

Requested features

6 requests
  • Want the print edition back
  • Print magazine ?
  • I miss the actual magazine.
  • Why?
  • Is the print edition done?
Show 1 more
  • I want my magazine back!!!!

Orange Observer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Sunset Magazine

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$19.991 Year
One-time8
  • August 2018$4.99
  • September 2018$4.99
  • October 2018$4.99
Show 5 more
  • November 2018$4.99
  • Mar-19$4.99
  • May-19$4.99
  • Aug-19$4.99
  • Sep-19$4.99
None

Orange Observer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sunset Magazine free?
Sunset Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Orange Observer free?
Orange Observer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sunset Magazine or Orange Observer?
Orange Observer is rated higher. Sunset Magazine averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Orange Observer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Sunset Magazine or Orange Observer have ads?
Orange Observer shows ads; Sunset Magazine does not.
Which is updated more often, Sunset Magazine or Orange Observer?
Sunset Magazine ships an update every 2 months, and Orange Observer every 9 months. Most recently, Sunset Magazine was updated on October 16, 2026 and Orange Observer on October 12, 2026.

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