# Direct Local vs Category Design Academy

The clearest difference is update cadence: Direct Local at every 4 days against Category Design Academy's weekly. Direct Local also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Direct Local ships an update every 4 days, Category Design Academy weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Direct Local | Category Design Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/category-design-academy/id6458876663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **10** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 29 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Direct Global Buying Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1554873439) | [Category Pirates, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701504631) |

## What reviewers say

### Direct Local

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/direct-local/id1554873437)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Category Design Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/category-design-academy/id6458876663)

Learn category design strategy to create new markets and avoid competition. Access courses, live workshops, and connect with innovative entrepreneurs. This app offers a transformative learning experience for those who think differently.

**Highlights:** Category Design Curriculum, Actionable Exercises, Live Workshops & Events, Proven Frameworks, Pirate Crew Connections, Community Collaboration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Direct Local free?

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

### Is Category Design Academy free?

Category Design Academy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Direct Local or Category Design Academy have ads?

Neither Direct Local nor Category Design Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Direct Local or Category Design Academy?

Direct Local ships an update every 4 days, and Category Design Academy weekly. Most recently, Direct Local was updated on October 25, 2026 and Category Design Academy on November 3, 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.*