# EL NORTE vs Seattle Times Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: Seattle Times Mobile at 4.6 against EL NORTE's 2.9. Seattle Times Mobile also leads on ratings volume (26K vs 14). EL NORTE's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EL NORTE sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Seattle Times Mobile sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Seattle Times Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Seattle Times Mobile has 26K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of EL NORTE's written reviews are positive against 26% of Seattle Times Mobile's.

EL NORTE ships an update every 3 weeks, Seattle Times Mobile every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EL NORTE | Seattle Times Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-norte/id322378564/reviews) | **[4.6 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seattle-times-mobile/id329502124/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **26K** |
| Positive reviews | 23.3% of reviews | **25.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #151 | **#68** |
| Size | 64 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Editora el Sol](https://appshunter.io/developer/322378567) | [The Seattle Times](https://appshunter.io/developer/329502127) |

## What reviewers say

### EL NORTE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-norte/id322378564)

**Currently charting:** #151 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access independent journalism with a comprehensive news app. Enjoy video content, save articles, listen to news on the go, and receive breaking news alerts. Read the digital printed edition and engage in discussions.

**Highlights:** All content on one app, Free video content access, Favorites section for articles, Listen to articles module, Breaking news alerts, Digital printed edition, Comment and share features

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| El Norte | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| El Norte | $20.99 | per month |
| El Norte | $179.99 | per year |


### Seattle Times Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seattle-times-mobile/id329502124)

**Currently charting:** #68 Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

Access local news and in-depth reporting with a focus on speed and convenience. Stay updated on breaking stories, community impact, and local sports with a streamlined interface. Enjoy award-winning content and a customizable news feed.

**Highlights:** Lightning-fast load times, Breaking news push notifications, Award-winning local content, Customizable news feed, Complete local sports coverage, Print Replica digital copy

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited App Access | $19.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 📰 Excellent journalism and reporting
- 🗞️ Valuable local news coverage
- 💻 Convenient mobile app experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and content issues
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 🔗 Links opening in external browsers
- 🔍 Poor organization and navigation
- 💰 Subscription issues and paywall problems

**Reported bugs**

- Articles cutting off prematurely
- Scrolling issues causing app exits
- Inconsistent content loading and display
- Compatibility problems on older devices

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality
- Improve in-app article navigation
- Integrate subscription management
- Optimize for mobile reading experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EL NORTE free?

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

### Is Seattle Times Mobile free?

Seattle Times Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, EL NORTE or Seattle Times Mobile?

Seattle Times Mobile is rated higher. EL NORTE averages 2.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Seattle Times Mobile averages 4.6 from 26K ratings.

### Do EL NORTE or Seattle Times Mobile have ads?

Seattle Times Mobile shows ads; EL NORTE does not.

### Which is updated more often, EL NORTE or Seattle Times Mobile?

EL NORTE ships an update every 3 weeks, and Seattle Times Mobile every 2 weeks. Most recently, EL NORTE was updated on September 22, 2026 and Seattle Times Mobile on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, EL NORTE or Seattle Times Mobile?

EL NORTE currently peaks at #151 in the App Store charts, and Seattle Times Mobile at #68. 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.*