Comparison

Outside vs Observer Local

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Outside

Access content from 15 outdoor and wellness publications in one app. Discover articles, videos, training plans, recipes, and gear guides tailored to your interests. Share your favorite content with friends and stay inspired for your next adventure.

Highlights
  • Content from 15 publications
  • Personalized content feed
  • Trending articles and videos
  • Gear reviews and buying guides
  • Training plans and recipes
  • Content sharing
Features
Read full description

Fuel all your adventures with the latest from 15 brands across the Outside Network, including Outside, Velo, Yoga Journal, Vegetarian Times, and more. Plus, watch trending videos from the palm of your hand. Start using this free app by logging in with your Outside+ subscription. Your daily destination for content from: Outside • Outside Watch • Backpacker • Clean Eating • Climbing • National Park Trips • SKI • Trail Runner • Triathlete • Vegetarian Times • Velo • Women’s Running • Yoga Journal • And More Get inspired to get outside with these app features: - Explore content tailored to your interests, and fill your feed with what you love – choose from running, cycling, backpacking, climbing, nutrition, snow sports, triathlon, yoga, strength training, and more. - Get the latest new and greatest stories from across the Outside Network – long reads, breaking news, in-depth event coverage (Tour de France, IRONMAN, and more), gear reviews & buying guides, opinion pieces, training plans for all levels, yoga practices, recipes, meal plans, and more. - See which articles and videos are trending. - Spread the stoke, and share your favorite content with your favorite adventure buddies. Terms of Use: https://www.outsideinc.com/terms-of-use/

About

Observer Local

Access digital replicas of your favorite Observer newspapers, including the Palm Coast Observer and Ormond Beach Observer. Read the full print layout on any device with this convenient e-Newspaper format. Stay informed about local news impacting your community.

Highlights
  • Digital newspaper replicas
  • Palm Coast Observer included
  • Ormond Beach Observer included
  • e-Newspaper format
  • Local news coverage
  • Accessible on multiple devices
Features
Read full description

Enjoy a digital replica identical to the printed version of your favorite Observer newspaper each week. Issues included are the Palm Coast Observer and the Ormond Beach Observer. For just $5 per month or $60 per year, read the Observer’s publications as laid out in print on any of your devices and take us with you wherever you may go in our convenient e-Newspaper format. As a hyperlocal, independent news organization, we cover all the local news that impacts the communities in our coverage areas.

Screenshots

Outside4 screens
Observer Local4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Observer Local at none against Outside's 1. Outside's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). On price, rating, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Outside sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $89.99 per year. Observer Local asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Observer Local holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Outside has 1.9K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Outside ships an update every 3 weeks, Observer Local every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Outside versus Observer Local: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOutsideObserver Local
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.9K ratings)4.8 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.9K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#170 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOutside Television IncObserver Media Group, Inc.

Customer experience

Outside

All ratings1,795 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral3.1%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews88 reviews
Positive21.6%
Neutral14.8%
Negative63.6%

Observer Local

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Outside

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Crashing on video playback
  • Content not updating frequently

Requested features

4 requests
  • Apple Watch support for Trailforks
  • Ability to save articles
  • Better article organization and sorting
  • Separate apps for each publication

Observer Local

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Outside

Subscriptions1
  • Outside+ All Access$89.991 Year
None

Observer Local

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Outside free?
Outside is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Observer Local free?
Observer Local is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Outside or Observer Local?
Observer Local is rated higher. Outside averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Observer Local averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.
Do Outside or Observer Local have ads?
Observer Local shows ads; Outside does not.
Which is updated more often, Outside or Observer Local?
Outside ships an update every 3 weeks, and Observer Local every 8 months. Most recently, Outside was updated on November 12, 2026 and Observer Local on November 3, 2026.

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