Comparison

Sixth Tone vs South APP

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

Head to head
About

Sixth Tone

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
Read full description

The Sixth Tone app brings you people-focused news, features, commentaries, and visual storytelling about contemporary China. Main features of the app: Daily Tones are daily news and highlights from across China. News are timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing from a vast range of sources, these articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context. Features are articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants. Voices & Opinion are contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are rarely heard. Multimedia are visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization. Sixth Tone × features translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. Special Projects showcase the collaborative efforts of Sixth Tone’s newsroom on diverse topics. Q & A features in-depth interviews with the minds and makers shaping today’s China. Your questions, answered. Announcements are the latest news about Sixth Tone as well as its events, projects, and other initiatives.

About

South APP

This app provides authoritative news and stories about China, with a focus on Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area. It serves as an international media gateway for global audiences to access information from South China's News Network.

Highlights
  • Authoritative news on China
  • Focus on Guangdong Province
  • Greater Bay Area coverage
  • International media gateway
  • Mobile news platform
Features
Read full description

The South APP, Guangdong's Flagship International Media Gateway operated by Nanfang Media Group (Nanfang Daily), serves as the mobile news platform and media outlet to South China's News Network (www.newsgd.com). Positioned as Guangdong's leading international communication platform, it acts as the primary global window for audiences worldwide to access authoritative news and stories about China, with a special focus on Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area (Hong Kong, Macao, and surrounding regions).

Screenshots

Sixth Tone4 screens
South APP4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: South APP at none against Sixth Tone's shown. South APP also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 82%) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Sixth Tone's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sixth Tone ships an update every 2 months, South APP monthly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sixth Tone versus South APP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSixth ToneSouth APP
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (147 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews81.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings147 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS9.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB76 MB
Age rating17+4+
Developer上海东方报业有限公司广东南方网络信息科技有限公司

Customer experience

Sixth Tone

All ratings146 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.7%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%

South APP

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sixth Tone

No in-app purchases

None

South APP

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sixth Tone free?
Sixth Tone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is South APP free?
South APP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sixth Tone or South APP have ads?
Sixth Tone shows ads; South APP does not.
Which is updated more often, Sixth Tone or South APP?
Sixth Tone ships an update every 2 months, and South APP monthly. Most recently, Sixth Tone was updated on November 3, 2026 and South APP on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons