# HCConnect vs Heraldnet

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Heraldnet at 91% against HCConnect's 9%. Heraldnet also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.4) and ratings volume (269 vs 34). HCConnect's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Heraldnet holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Heraldnet has 269 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of HCConnect's written reviews are positive against 91% of Heraldnet's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HCConnect | Heraldnet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hcconnect/id1417929529/reviews) | **[4.7 (269 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heraldnet/id1545459454/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 34 | **269** |
| Positive reviews | 9.1% of reviews | **91.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Horry County Government](https://appshunter.io/developer/1417929528) | [Sound Publishing, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/886040836) |

## What reviewers say

### HCConnect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hcconnect/id1417929529)

Stay informed about local government news, track community issues, and discover points of interest. This app provides personalized feeds, allows direct reporting of concerns, and offers helpful information for residents and visitors.

**Highlights:** Personalized local news feeds, Track permits and crime, Emergency alerts, Report community issues (M311), Frequently asked questions (I Want To), Discover local points of interest

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Heraldnet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heraldnet/id1545459454)

Access local news from north King, Snohomish, and Island counties. Customize your feed, listen to articles, and receive breaking news alerts. View the digital print edition for comprehensive coverage.

**Highlights:** Customizable news feed, Read-aloud news articles, Push notifications for breaking news, Digital print edition view, Local coverage of sports, food, arts

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to navigate and user-friendly interface
- 📰 Dual format options (print edition and live news)
- 🚀 Fast app loading and performance
- 📱 Works well across multiple devices (phone, tablet, iPad)
- 🔤 Ability to enlarge font for accessibility

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and performance issues on iPhone
- 🔐 Frequent login/authentication problems
- 📲 Cannot read app while other apps are open
- ⚠️ Broken notification links (alerts don't load stories)
- 🎮 Puzzles feature doesn't work properly in app

**Reported bugs**

- App won't open puzzles section
- Notification alerts link to non-existent stories
- iPhone format display issues
- Website takes multiple clicks to load current edition
- Puzzles menu disappeared from live news menu

**Requested features**

- Ability to read app while using other applications simultaneously
- Full print edition with comics included in subscription
- Simpler subscription and cancellation process
- Better password management for elderly users
- More unbiased political coverage


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HCConnect free?

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

### Is Heraldnet free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HCConnect or Heraldnet?

Heraldnet is rated higher. HCConnect averages 3.4 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Heraldnet averages 4.7 from 269 ratings.

### Do HCConnect or Heraldnet have ads?

Heraldnet shows ads; HCConnect does not.

### Which is updated more often, HCConnect or Heraldnet?

HCConnect ships an update every 3 months, and Heraldnet every 3 months. Most recently, HCConnect was updated on September 7, 2026 and Heraldnet on September 2, 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.*