# Universalis vs Commonweal Mag

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universalis at 95% against Commonweal Mag's 0%. Universalis also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.5) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 57 months). Commonweal Mag's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Commonweal Mag is free to download; Universalis costs $9.99 up front. Universalis sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Commonweal Mag sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universalis holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universalis has 9.7K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of Universalis's written reviews are positive against 0% of Commonweal Mag's.

Universalis ships an update every 3 weeks, Commonweal Mag every 57 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universalis | Commonweal Mag |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universalis/id284942719/reviews)** | [1.5 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/commonweal-mag/id1161373385/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.7K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **94.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 57 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 78 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Universalis Publishing](https://appshunter.io/developer/284942722) | [PressPad Sp. z o.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/449000752) |

## What reviewers say

### Universalis

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universalis/id284942719)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Paid · Lifestyle, #159 Top Paid (US App Store)

This app provides the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass readings for every day, along with additional spiritual content. It offers offline access, customizable display options, and optional spoken audio. It's designed for daily prayer and spiritual enrichment.

**Highlights:** Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office), Daily Mass readings and prayers, Offline access, Customizable display (fonts, themes), Spiritual reading and commentaries, Optional spoken audio add-on

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Daily Mass Readings | $1.99 | per month |
| Daytime Hours | $2.99 | per month |
| All Hours | $2.99 | per month |
| Daily Mass Readings | $19.99 | per year |
| Daytime Hours | $29.99 | per year |
| All Hours | $29.99 | per year |
| Add-on translation: RSV Hours | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sung Latin Compline | $3.99 | one-time |
| Revelations of Divine Love | $5.99 | one-time |
| Journey into Light | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Wonderful Catholic app
- 🙌 Great app for Catholic devotions
- 📚 This is a wonderful app for the laity
- 🙏 Excellent resource for Mass and Liturgy of the Hours
- 🌟 Comprehensive and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Hymns selection could be improved
- 🤔 Navigation can be confusing
- 🤔 Kenyan version text does not match book
- 🤔 Difficult to navigate, missing menu buttons

**Reported bugs**

- Gospel readings sometimes incorrect
- App crashes when trying to change hymns or readings

**Requested features**

- Add Salesian saints and young saints
- Include NAB translation for US users
- Add option for 1962 liturgical calendar
- Improve hymn selection, especially for seasons
- Implement more inclusive language in prayers


### Commonweal Mag

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/commonweal-mag/id1161373385)

This app offers a forum for civil debate on faith, politics, and culture from a Catholic perspective. It features well-argued viewpoints on contemporary issues, social justice, and theological discussions, providing a space for diverse opinions.

**Highlights:** Civil debate on faith and culture, Catholic perspective on contemporary issues, Independent lay-run journal, Social justice and ecumenism discussions, Diverse viewpoints from leading writers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Commonweal Magazine | $4.49 | per month |
| 1 Commonweal Magazine | $54.99 | per year |
| October 7, 2016 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #77 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #81 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #82 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #85 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #110 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #121 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #127 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #154 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #181 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #185 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #208 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #204 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #188 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Issue #193 | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universalis free?

Universalis costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Commonweal Mag free?

Commonweal Mag is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universalis or Commonweal Mag?

Universalis is rated higher. Universalis averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9.7K ratings, while Commonweal Mag averages 1.5 from 10 ratings.

### Do Universalis or Commonweal Mag have ads?

Neither Universalis nor Commonweal Mag shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universalis or Commonweal Mag?

Universalis ships an update every 3 weeks, and Commonweal Mag every 57 months. Most recently, Universalis was updated on October 21, 2026 and Commonweal Mag on October 14, 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.*