# VIC Fires vs The Age

The clearest difference is price: The Age at Free against VIC Fires's $0.99. The Age also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4). VIC Fires's advantage is review sentiment (66% vs 27%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

The Age is free to download; VIC Fires costs $0.99 up front. The Age sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month. VIC Fires asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Age holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 31 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of VIC Fires's written reviews are positive against 27% of The Age's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

VIC Fires ships an update every 3 weeks, The Age every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VIC Fires | The Age |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vic-fires/id348142406/reviews) | **[4.7 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-age/id1411569220/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **31** |
| Positive reviews | **65.9% of reviews** | 27.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#56** | — |
| Size | 34 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [P4G Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/296948831) | [Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/319908649) |

## What reviewers say

### VIC Fires

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vic-fires/id348142406)

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Paid · News (US App Store)

Stay informed about bushfires in Victoria, Australia. This app uses official data and your location to show the nearest fires, helping you understand your current situation. Requires internet access for up-to-date information.

**Highlights:** Up-to-date bushfire information, Uses official CFA/Dept. of Sustainability data, Integrates Bureau of Meteorology wind data, Shows nearest fires first, Utilizes iPhone GPS for location

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Reliable and up-to-date info
- 👍 Provides critical service
- 🗺️ Useful map for spotting areas
- ✈️ Great for firefighting pilots
- 💡 Informative, especially wind data

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and freezes
- 🐛 Map not moving smoothly
- 🐛 Keeps freezing
- 🐛 Constantly freezes
- 🐛 Very laggy

**Reported bugs**

- Main icon needs dark theme support
- Map is not moving smoothly across the state
- Screen keeps freezing
- Continually freezes
- Constantly freezes

**Requested features**

- Add iOS dark icon theme support
- More information about fires and emergencies
- Add KML/KMZ compatibility for OzRunways
- Include local fire restriction dates
- Allow reporting of intended burning off


### The Age

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-age/id1411569220)

Stay informed with breaking news and in-depth stories. Customize your news feed with topics you care about and listen to exclusive podcasts. Access premium content and daily puzzles with a subscription.

**Highlights:** Breaking headlines, Push notifications, Podcast catalogue, Customizable news feed, Today's Paper, Daily crosswords, Daily Sudoku

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Digital | $17.99 | per month |
| Premium Digital | $24.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🗞️ Trusted news source
- 📰 Comprehensive news coverage
- 🗺️ Useful local news and information
- 💯 Excellent journalism and reporting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- 🤖 Lack of user-friendly features and poor navigation
- 💰 Expensive subscription with diminishing value
- 📦 Frustrating download and offline reading experience
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality and personalization

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between sections
- Issues with downloading and accessing offline content
- Unreliable login and authentication processes

**Requested features**

- Bring back the old iPad app design and functionality
- Improve article saving and bookmarking capabilities
- Add more customization options for content display
- Enhance crossword and puzzle experiences
- Provide better support for offline reading


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VIC Fires free?

VIC Fires costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Age free?

The Age is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VIC Fires or The Age?

The Age is rated higher. VIC Fires averages 4.4 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while The Age averages 4.7 from 31 ratings.

### Do VIC Fires or The Age have ads?

Neither VIC Fires nor The Age shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VIC Fires or The Age?

VIC Fires ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Age every 2 weeks. Most recently, VIC Fires was updated on October 29, 2026 and The Age on October 29, 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.*