# TMZ vs Patch

The clearest difference is monetization model: Patch at ad-supported against TMZ's free with in-app purchases. TMZ's advantage is ratings volume (213K vs 26K) and device support (5 vs 3). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for TMZ against 4.7 for Patch. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TMZ has 213K ratings behind it against 26K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 62% of TMZ's written reviews are positive against 58% of Patch's.

TMZ ships an update monthly, Patch every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TMZ | Patch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (213K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tmz/id299948601/reviews)** | [4.7 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patch-everything-local/id430049632/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **213K** | 26K |
| Positive reviews | **61.5% of reviews** | 58.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#130** | #157 |
| Size | 81 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ehm Productions, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506775803) | [Patch Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/1088403234) |

## What reviewers say

### TMZ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tmz/id299948601)

**Currently charting:** #130 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Stay updated with the latest in entertainment news and celebrity gossip. Get exclusive stories, breaking alerts, and candid footage directly on your device. Access photos and stream full episodes of popular shows.

**Highlights:** Exclusive stories and footage, Breaking news alerts, Home and Lock Screen widget, Candid celebrity interviews, Curated photo galleries, Stream full episodes

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 First to report breaking news
- 👍 Accurate and reliable information
- 🤩 Entertaining celebrity gossip
- 💯 Trusted news source

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Inconsistent photo captions
- 🤬 Hateful and toxic comments
- 📢 Too many intrusive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Videos not loading or playing properly
- App redirecting to App Store unexpectedly
- Notifications not working reliably
- Frequent app crashes on iOS devices

**Requested features**

- Bring back comment section with moderation
- Add ability to turn off notification badges
- Improve swipe navigation between articles
- Make app more user-friendly on tablets


### Patch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patch-everything-local/id430049632)

**Currently charting:** #157 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Stay informed about your local community with real-time news, events, and weather updates. Discover schools, homes for sale, jobs, and announcements in a single, easy-to-scroll feed. Receive breaking news alerts and share stories with friends.

**Highlights:** Local news and events for 1,200+ towns, Breaking news push notifications, Local weather forecasts and alerts, Find local jobs and announcements, One-scroll feed for town happenings, Bookmark articles for later reading, Support for following multiple towns

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗞️ Informative local news
- 📰 Comprehensive coverage of community events
- 🔍 Useful for staying up-to-date on local happenings
- 🗓️ Timely and relevant information
- 💻 Convenient online/mobile access to local news

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 App stability and performance issues
- 🔍 Limited ability to customize content and notifications
- 📢 Concerns about removal of reader comments
- 🗺️ Lack of location-specific focus in some areas
- 💲 Paid subscription model for full access

**Reported bugs**

- Articles failing to load or open properly
- Notification issues, including duplicate or missing alerts
- Inconsistent app behavior after updates
- Difficulty clearing unread article indicators

**Requested features**

- Allow users to select specific news categories of interest
- Improve notification system to be more reliable and customizable
- Restore reader comment functionality
- Enhance location-based targeting and content curation
- Offer more affordable or free access options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TMZ free?

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

### Is Patch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TMZ or Patch?

TMZ is rated higher. TMZ averages 4.8 out of 5 from 213K ratings, while Patch averages 4.7 from 26K ratings.

### Do TMZ or Patch have ads?

Both TMZ and Patch show ads.

### Which is updated more often, TMZ or Patch?

TMZ ships an update monthly, and Patch every 2 months. Most recently, TMZ was updated on September 24, 2026 and Patch on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, TMZ or Patch?

TMZ currently peaks at #130 in the App Store charts, and Patch at #157. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*