# LAist vs CalMatters

The clearest difference is rating: CalMatters at 5.0 against LAist's 4.3. CalMatters also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 30%) and chart position (#206 vs unranked). LAist's advantage is ratings volume (634 vs 18) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CalMatters holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LAist has 634 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of LAist's written reviews are positive against 50% of CalMatters's.

LAist ships an update monthly, CalMatters fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LAist | CalMatters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (634 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laist/id293825085/reviews) | **[5.0 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calmatters/id6475375084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **634** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 30.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | — | **#206** |
| Size | 39 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Southern California Public Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/293825088) | [CalMatters](https://appshunter.io/developer/1724098439) |

## 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


### CalMatters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calmatters/id6475375084)

**Currently charting:** #206 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access in-depth, nonpartisan news and analysis focused on California's quality of life issues. Hold leaders accountable with investigative journalism covering the Golden State and its global economic impact.

**Highlights:** In-depth news analysis, Focus on quality of life issues, Investigative journalism, Accountability reporting, Covers California and its economy

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LAist free?

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

### Is CalMatters free?

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

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

CalMatters is rated higher. LAist averages 4.3 out of 5 from 634 ratings, while CalMatters averages 5.0 from 18 ratings.

### Do LAist or CalMatters have ads?

Neither LAist nor CalMatters shows ads.

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

LAist ships an update monthly, and CalMatters fortnightly. Most recently, LAist was updated on October 20, 2026 and CalMatters on October 12, 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.*