# Northside Sun vs Jefferson Star

The clearest difference is ads: Northside Sun at none against Jefferson Star's shown. Northside Sun also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Jefferson Star's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 20 months). On price, 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.

Northside Sun ships an update every 20 months, Jefferson Star every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Northside Sun | Jefferson Star |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jefferson-star/id6446707600/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Emmerich Newspapers, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1636309161) | [Pioneer Newspapers Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/432183917) |

## What reviewers say

### Northside Sun

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northside-sun/id1661908995)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Jefferson Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jefferson-star/id6446707600)

Access a digital replica of the printed newspaper. This application is included with your all-access subscription. Contact customer service for assistance with app usage.

**Highlights:** Digital newspaper replica, Included with subscription, Customer support contact, Access to printed edition

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Northside Sun free?

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

### Is Jefferson Star free?

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

### Do Northside Sun or Jefferson Star have ads?

Jefferson Star shows ads; Northside Sun does not.

### Which is updated more often, Northside Sun or Jefferson Star?

Northside Sun ships an update every 20 months, and Jefferson Star every 5 months. Most recently, Northside Sun was updated on November 7, 2026 and Jefferson Star 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.*