# Outside vs Observer Local

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Outside | Observer Local |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outside/id1627530419/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-local/id1630254977/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 21.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#154** | — |
| Size | 43 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Outside Television Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/987860990) | [Observer Media Group, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451288950) |

## What reviewers say

### Outside

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outside/id1627530419)

**Currently charting:** #154 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #178 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Outside+ All Access | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Terrific content
- 👍 Awesome but
- 🚀 Amazing outdoor adventures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Horrible app
- 🐛 Extremely buggy
- 🐛 Crashes constantly
- 🐛 Formatting issues
- 🐛 App doesn't load

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Observer Local

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-local/id1630254977)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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