# Squirrel News vs Brainerd Dispatch

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Squirrel News at 73% against Brainerd Dispatch's 0%. Squirrel News also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Squirrel News holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Squirrel News's written reviews are positive against 0% of Brainerd Dispatch's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Squirrel News | Brainerd Dispatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squirrel-news/id1516090777/reviews)** | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainerd-dispatch/id1523288607/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **72.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 11 MB | 137 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Constructive News e.V](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503476884) | [Forum Communications Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/476437936) |

## What reviewers say

### Squirrel News

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squirrel-news/id1516090777)

Discover positive and solutions-focused news curated by independent journalists. This app delivers daily editions highlighting innovative ideas and successful approaches to societal challenges, offering an alternative to conflict-driven reporting.

**Highlights:** Solutions-focused news curation, Daily news editions, International media coverage, Independent journalism, Push notifications for new issues, Non-profit project

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Brainerd Dispatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainerd-dispatch/id1523288607)

Access the full digital edition of your local newspaper on your mobile device. Read articles with adjustable text size, search for topics, and enjoy puzzles and comics.

**Highlights:** Read full newspaper editions, Adjustable text size, Searchable articles, Crossword puzzles and comics, Print and share articles

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Squirrel News free?

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

### Is Brainerd Dispatch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Squirrel News or Brainerd Dispatch?

Squirrel News is rated higher. Squirrel News averages 4.7 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Brainerd Dispatch averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do Squirrel News or Brainerd Dispatch have ads?

Neither Squirrel News nor Brainerd Dispatch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Squirrel News or Brainerd Dispatch?

Squirrel News ships an update every 2 months, and Brainerd Dispatch every 2 months. Most recently, Squirrel News was updated on September 21, 2026 and Brainerd Dispatch on October 1, 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.*