# LAist vs OCRegister

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LAist at none against OCRegister's 2. LAist also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (30% vs 19%). OCRegister's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and chart position (#151 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OCRegister sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. LAist asks for nothing beyond the download.

OCRegister holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 634 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 30% of LAist's written reviews are positive against 19% of OCRegister's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LAist | OCRegister |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (634 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laist/id293825085/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ocregister/id380372599/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 634 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **30.0% of reviews** | 18.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#151** |
| Size | 39 MB | 189 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Southern California Public Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/293825088) | [MediaNews Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/364357227) |

## What reviewers say

### LAist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laist/id293825085)

Access Southern California's premier news source for NPR broadcasts, local headlines, and podcasts. Stream live radio, catch up on on-demand programs, and receive breaking news alerts. Stay informed with comprehensive coverage from LAist.com.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, On-demand program archives, Daily news headlines, Breaking news alerts, Sleep timer and alarm clock, Story sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Reliable source of news
- 👍 Vital app for news
- 👍 Fantastic
- 👍 Reliable and unbiased

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Glitchy performance issues
- 🐛 Carplay not working properly
- 🐛 Ads disrupt the listening experience

**Reported bugs**

- Podcasts not loading properly
- Live stream frequently drops out
- Playback issues when switching between apps
- Inconsistent behavior when pausing and resuming
- Sync issues between device and app

**Requested features**

- Add rewind and fast-forward functionality
- Improve CarPlay integration
- Implement a sleep timer
- Enhance podcast playback controls
- Improve organization and discoverability of content


### OCRegister

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ocregister/id380372599)

**Currently charting:** #151 Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

Access personalized news content, save articles for later, and receive custom push notifications. Enjoy the digital replica of the newspaper and play included games. Read content offline and navigate seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Personalized news recommendations, Save articles for later, Customizable push notifications, Digital newspaper replica, Offline reading, In-app games

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OC Register Monthly Subs | $14.99 | per month |
| OC Register Annual Subs | $174.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast load times
- 👍 Improved user interface
- 📰 Frequent news updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 💤 Outdated and sluggish app
- 📢 Too many ads
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Inability to access past articles
- Compatibility problems with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Bring back city-specific news sections
- Add search functionality
- Improve photo and article formatting
- Integrate with sports content (OCVarsity)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LAist free?

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

### Is OCRegister free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LAist or OCRegister?

OCRegister is rated higher. LAist averages 4.3 out of 5 from 634 ratings, while OCRegister averages 4.6 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do LAist or OCRegister have ads?

OCRegister shows ads; LAist does not.

### Which is updated more often, LAist or OCRegister?

LAist ships an update monthly, and OCRegister monthly. Most recently, LAist was updated on October 16, 2026 and OCRegister on October 16, 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.*