# Forth vs Noosphere

The clearest difference is rating: Noosphere at 4.8 against Forth's 4.0. Noosphere also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 50%) and ads (none vs shown). Forth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Noosphere sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Forth asks for nothing beyond the download.

Noosphere holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Noosphere has 41 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Forth's written reviews are positive against 88% of Noosphere's.

Forth ships an update every 3 weeks, Noosphere monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forth | Noosphere |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forth-news-from-the-source/id1530472585/reviews) | **[4.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noosphere-journalism-direct/id6499282282/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **41** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#105** |
| Size | 44 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Nillium, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1530472587) | [Noosphere, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743077561) |

## What reviewers say

### Forth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forth-news-from-the-source/id1530472585)

This app delivers news directly from primary sources, using AI to group and summarize updates. It provides unfiltered information, similar to what journalists receive, with the addition of select original reporting.

**Highlights:** AI-powered story grouping, Automated summarization, Direct primary source access, Urgency determination, Original reporting inclusion

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Noosphere

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noosphere-journalism-direct/id6499282282)

**Currently charting:** #105 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #170 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access trusted, human-generated news directly from award-winning reporters in the field. This platform bypasses corporate media control, offering exclusive articles, briefs, photos, and videos. Support journalists and stay informed with breaking news alerts.

**Highlights:** Direct-to-consumer news, Human-generated content, Exclusive articles and briefs, Photos and videos from reporters, Breaking news alerts, Journalist bios and transparency

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $14.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $149.99 | per year |
| Annual Plan | $149.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forth free?

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

### Is Noosphere free?

Noosphere is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Forth or Noosphere?

Noosphere is rated higher. Forth averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Noosphere averages 4.8 from 41 ratings.

### Do Forth or Noosphere have ads?

Forth shows ads; Noosphere does not.

### Which is updated more often, Forth or Noosphere?

Forth ships an update every 3 weeks, and Noosphere monthly. Most recently, Forth was updated on November 3, 2026 and Noosphere on November 8, 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.*