Sixth Tone vs LightRead
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Daily news highlights
- In-depth features
- Commentaries and opinions
- Visual storytelling
- Interviews with key figures
- Collaborative projects
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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.
LightRead
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LightRead is a clean, friendly news app focused on what matters: • Glanceable headlines with a tidy layout • Hide sources you don’t want to see • Open articles in a distraction‑free reader • Smooth scrolling and fast loading • Works great in light & dark mode Why LightRead? Clutter slows you down. LightRead keeps things clear: short labels, simple controls, and useful defaults. You’re in control—tap a source to hide it, and your feed instantly feels personal.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: LightRead at every 8 days against Sixth Tone's every 2 months. Sixth Tone's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17). On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sixth Tone ships an update every 2 months, LightRead every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sixth Tone | LightRead |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (146 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 146 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 17 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | 上海东方报业有限公司 | Weichen Cheng |
In-app purchases
Sixth Tone
No in-app purchases
LightRead
No in-app purchases









