# EL NORTE vs The Minnesota Star Tribune

The clearest difference is rating: The Minnesota Star Tribune at 4.4 against EL NORTE's 2.9. The Minnesota Star Tribune also leads on ratings volume (13K vs 14) and review sentiment (32% vs 23%). EL NORTE's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 The Minnesota Star Tribune sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $25.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Minnesota Star Tribune holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Minnesota Star Tribune has 13K 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 32% of The Minnesota Star Tribune's.

EL NORTE ships an update every 3 weeks, The Minnesota Star Tribune every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EL NORTE | The Minnesota Star Tribune |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-norte/id322378564/reviews) | **[4.4 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-minnesota-star-tribune/id476107280/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 23.3% of reviews | **31.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#78** | — |
| Size | 64 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Editora el Sol](https://appshunter.io/developer/322378567) | [The Star Tribune Media Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/449267561) |

## What reviewers say

### EL NORTE

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

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers, #109 Top Grossing · News (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 |


### The Minnesota Star Tribune

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-minnesota-star-tribune/id476107280)

Stay informed with comprehensive Minnesota news coverage from over 240 journalists. Access breaking news alerts, in-depth reports, and trending topics in sports, food, and home. Enjoy a sampling of articles or unlock unlimited access with a digital subscription.

**Highlights:** Minnesota news coverage, National and world news, Sports and team updates, Breaking news alerts, Opinion and feature articles, Search and share stories

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Digital Access | $25.99 | per month |
| Premium Digital Access | $259.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 📰 Comprehensive local and national news coverage
- 🗞️ Enjoyable reading experience
- 🏆 Strong local journalism
- 🗓️ Timely updates throughout the day

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Poor search functionality
- 🔒 Login and subscription issues
- 🔀 Repeated and outdated articles
- 🗣️ Lack of comment section

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when switching between screens
- Inability to load comments or view images
- Inconsistent login and subscription behavior
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize news feed and sections
- Improved article bookmarking and reading list
- Easier access to specific sports teams and leagues
- Larger font size options for accessibility
- Integration with other news apps and social media


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EL NORTE free?

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

### Is The Minnesota Star Tribune free?

The Minnesota Star Tribune is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, EL NORTE or The Minnesota Star Tribune?

The Minnesota Star Tribune is rated higher. EL NORTE averages 2.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while The Minnesota Star Tribune averages 4.4 from 13K ratings.

### Do EL NORTE or The Minnesota Star Tribune have ads?

The Minnesota Star Tribune shows ads; EL NORTE does not.

### Which is updated more often, EL NORTE or The Minnesota Star Tribune?

EL NORTE ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Minnesota Star Tribune every 2 months. Most recently, EL NORTE was updated on November 10, 2026 and The Minnesota Star Tribune on November 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.*