# The Knowledge vs Big News

The clearest difference is rating: The Knowledge at 4.8 against Big News's 4.3. The Knowledge also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Big News sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. The Knowledge asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Knowledge holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 57 and 53 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of The Knowledge's written reviews are positive against 46% of Big News's.

The Knowledge ships an update every 5 weeks, Big News every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Knowledge | Big News |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-knowledge/id1536785371/reviews)** | [4.3 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-news-smart-reader/id1582306019/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **57** | 53 |
| Positive reviews | **52.5% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 20 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | +4 |
| Developer | [dmg media ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/353423937) | [The Not So Big Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/1539128388) |

## What reviewers say

### The Knowledge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-knowledge/id1536785371)

Get essential news and perspectives in just five minutes daily. Expert editors curate insightful commentary, useful information, and relevant podcasts from top news sources. Stay informed with fresh viewpoints on important issues in a friendly and accessible format.

**Highlights:** Daily news digest, Expert editor curation, Incise comment and useful info, Curated podcasts, Fresh perspectives on issues

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Concise and digestible news format
- 👍 Informative and well-written summaries
- 👍 Good mix of news and eclectic pieces
- 👍 Delightful light writing style
- 👍 Refreshing reset on news consumption

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Right-wing bias in reporting
- 👎 Unreliable daily updates
- 👎 Content can be days old
- 👎 Subscription required for access
- 👎 Cherry-picking of right-wing opinion pieces

**Reported bugs**

- App not updating daily
- Shows same stories multiple times
- App not loading/working
- App insists on account for reading, no create option
- Subscription process not recognized

**Requested features**

- Less opinions, more facts
- More balance to reporting
- Improve app icon design
- Dark mode option
- Earlier daily updates (before 7 am)


### Big News

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-news-smart-reader/id1582306019)

Consolidate your newsletters and RSS feeds into a single, intelligent reading platform. Get a dedicated email address for newsletters and enjoy a distraction-free experience with prioritized news and real-time notifications.

**Highlights:** Combine newsletters and RSS feeds, Dedicated @bignews.app email address, Prioritize stories by importance, Distraction-free reading experience, Real-time push notifications, Home screen widgets, Search thousands of stories

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Max Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Plus Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Max Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Knowledge free?

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

### Is Big News free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Knowledge or Big News?

The Knowledge is rated higher. The Knowledge averages 4.8 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while Big News averages 4.3 from 53 ratings.

### Do The Knowledge or Big News have ads?

Neither The Knowledge nor Big News shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Knowledge or Big News?

The Knowledge ships an update every 5 weeks, and Big News every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Knowledge was updated on October 20, 2026 and Big News on October 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*