# EL NORTE vs LA Times

The clearest difference is rating: LA Times at 4.6 against EL NORTE's 2.9. LA Times also leads on ratings volume (20K vs 14) and chart position (#16 vs #153). EL NORTE's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). 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 LA Times sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

LA Times holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LA Times has 20K 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 29% of LA Times's.

EL NORTE ships an update every 3 weeks, LA Times every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EL NORTE | LA Times |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-norte/id322378564/reviews) | **[4.6 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/la-times/id373238146/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **20K** |
| Positive reviews | 23.3% of reviews | **29.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #153 | **#16** |
| Size | 64 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Editora el Sol](https://appshunter.io/developer/322378567) | [Los Angeles Times Communications LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449774969) |

## What reviewers say

### EL NORTE

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

**Currently charting:** #153 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 |


### LA Times

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/la-times/id373238146)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers, #27 Top Grossing · News, #73 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #135 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Access award-winning journalism, breaking news, and in-depth coverage of California and global events. Browse digital content or the eNewspaper, save articles, and watch exclusive videos. Stay informed with curated news feeds and push notifications.

**Highlights:** Award-winning journalism, Breaking news alerts, Digital content browsing, eNewspaper access, Save articles to 'My Library', Exclusive video content

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stage News App Only | $4.99 | per month |
| News App Only | $4.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Digital Access | $5.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Access - Stage App | $7.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Digital Access | $15.99 | per month |
| Jonathan Gold's 101 List | $2.99 | one-time |
| Jonathan Gold's 101 List for 2016 | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth navigation
- 👍 Great UI design
- 🚀 Fast load times
- 💡 Useful features like traffic alerts
- 👍 Comprehensive local and national news coverage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy search functionality
- 🔒 Subscription issues and paywall problems
- 🔋 Slow performance on older devices
- 👎 Outdated or irrelevant content
- 👎 Overwhelming with ads

**Reported bugs**

- Images not loading properly
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Paywall issues preventing access to content
- Sync problems between app and website

**Requested features**

- Customizable news feed and section ordering
- Offline reading mode
- Better integration with subscription accounts
- Improved article navigation and scrolling
- Accessibility features for visually impaired users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EL NORTE free?

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

### Is LA Times free?

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

### Which has better reviews, EL NORTE or LA Times?

LA Times is rated higher. EL NORTE averages 2.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while LA Times averages 4.6 from 20K ratings.

### Do EL NORTE or LA Times have ads?

LA Times shows ads; EL NORTE does not.

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

EL NORTE ships an update every 3 weeks, and LA Times every 4 weeks. Most recently, EL NORTE was updated on September 22, 2026 and LA Times on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, EL NORTE or LA Times?

EL NORTE currently peaks at #153 in the App Store charts, and LA Times at #16. 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.*