PressReader vs Please Explain
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PressReader
Access over 7,000 global newspapers and magazines in their original print or a mobile-optimized format. Features include translation into over 30 languages and text-to-speech functionality. Read on up to three devices with a free trial available.
- Read 7,000+ newspapers and magazines
- Original print view
- Mobile-optimized text view
- Auto-Translate to over 30 languages
- Text-to-speech stories
- Unlimited reading on 3 devices
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Read 7,000+ of the world’s most popular newspapers and magazines on your iPhone or iPad. Enjoy unlimited reading on up to 3 devices with a 7-day free trial of PressReader Premium. PressReader is the best way to read your favorite magazines and newspapers in one place—from local stories to global news, and everything in between. Download complete issues and switch between the original print view and a mobile-optimized text view. Bring it all to life with Auto-Translate to over 30 languages or listen to stories with our text-to-speech features. Subscribe to PressReader Premium to get unlimited access to most publications in the catalog or purchase single issues of your favorite title. Individual subscriptions for some publications are also available. To access PressReader without a subscription, visit one of our HotSpot partners. “PressReader delivers an authentic multi-platform newspaper-reading experience” – TNW “I found it especially useful for keeping up with international news, which often offers viewpoints you won’t find in US media.” – LIFEHACKER “Anyone with even a passing interest in the news should give PressReader a try” – CNET “A sleeping giant in the digital media landscape” – INC. “If you love newspapers but hate inky fingers and creepy delivery people, you might be interested in taking a gander at PressReader” – TECHCRUNCH Terms of Use: https://www.pressreader.com/help/termsofuse Privacy Policy: https://www.pressreader.com/help/privacypolicy Support - Newspapers and magazines can be translated in up to 32 different languages - Monthly subscription payment is charged to a user’s iTunes account at confirmation of purchase - Monthly subscriptions will renew automatically unless renewals are disabled in account settings TOP NEWSPAPERS The Washington Post, The Guardian, National Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Post, The Globe and Mail, The Herald, The Irish Times, China Daily, USA Today, Le Figaro, Le Journal de Montreal, Toronto Star, El Pais, The Daily Telegraph, Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, The Dallas Morning News, Miami Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Houston Chronicle, The Mercury News TOP MAGAZINES BUSINESS & NEWS: Forbes, Newsweek International, Robb Report, The Economist, Business Traveler, The Monthly, Financial Post Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fast Company, Inc. FASHION: VOGUE, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Esquire, ELLE, Fashion, Harper's Bazaar, Wallpaper, Grazia ENTERTAINMENT: Variety, Q Magazine, Empire, Top Gear, Reader's Digest, Daily Mail Weekend Magazine, Total Film, Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, The New York Review of Books, US Weekly LIFESTYLE & TRAVEL: Lonely Planet, Esquire, Canadian Geographic, Maxim, DNA, Where Milan, National Geographic Traveller, New York Magazine, Backpacker, Oncuba Travel FOOD & HOME: Canadian Living, BBC Good Food Magazine, VOGUE Living Australia, Quick & Easy, Style at Home, Good Housekeeping, Taste of Home, BBC Easy Cook Magazine SPORTS & FITNESS: Men's Health, Women's Health, Yoga Journal, Runner's World, Better Nutrition, The Hockey News, Ladies in Racing, MiNDFOOD, Golf Digest, Men's Fitness, Oxygen TECHNOLOGY & GAMING: PC Gamer, Popular Science, Science Illustrated, T3, iPhone Life Magazine, Air & Space Smithsonian, TechLife Australia, PCWorld, Macworld Connect With Us: Web: https://www.pressreader.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pressreader Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pressreader X: https://x.com/pressreader YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pressreader LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pressreader
Please Explain
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Please Explain rewinds the news so you never feel lost. With one tap, you can jump from today's headline back to the beginning of the story, following a simple timeline that connects all the key moments. No more piecing things together from scattered articles — just a clear path from "what's happening now" to "how it all started." Whether you're skimming on your commute, preparing for class, or just trying to make sense of the headlines, Please Explain gives you clear, ad-free context in seconds. WHY PLEASE EXPLAIN - Rewind any story — tap a headline and follow it back to where it began - Simple timelines — see the key moments connected in order, start to finish - Clear context, fast — understand the bigger picture in seconds, not hours - Ad-free — no clutter, no distractions, just the story - Built for busy people — perfect for commutes, study breaks, or quick catch-ups STAY INFORMED, NOT OVERWHELMED The news moves fast and assumes you've been following along. Please Explain meets you where you are — giving you the background you need to actually understand what's going on, without the noise. Understand the news, from the start. — Please Explain offers auto-renewable subscriptions: - Monthly — $4.99 / month - Bi-Annual — $24.99 / every 6 months - Annual — $49.99 / year A subscription unlocks up to 50 story timelines a day. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://pleaseexplain.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://pleaseexplain.app/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Please Explain at every 2 days against PressReader's monthly. Please Explain also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). PressReader's advantage is chart position (#42 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. PressReader sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month and Please Explain sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PressReader ships an update monthly, Please Explain every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PressReader | Please Explain |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (19K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 59.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 19K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #42 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 117 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PressReader Inc | One Trick Pony NYC LLC |
Bugs and requests
PressReader
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inability to log in or access content
- Inconsistent performance after app updates
- Missing or delayed newspaper/magazine issues
- Incorrect or outdated content display
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Improved search and filtering capabilities
- Better organization and management of downloaded content
- Ability to annotate and take notes on articles
- Smoother integration with library accounts
Please Explain
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
PressReader
- Get Select7 Days trial$11.991 Month
- Legacy Monthly Membership7 Days trial$29.991 Month
- Go Premium7 Days trial$29.991 Month
- Get this issue$0.99
- Get this issue$1.99
- Get this issue$2.99
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- Single Issue$3.99
- Get this issue$4.99
- Get this issue$5.99
- Get this issue$9.99
Please Explain
- Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
- Bi-Annual Subscription$29.996 Months
- Annual Subscription$49.991 Year









