# VIC Fires vs The Courier

The clearest difference is price: The Courier at Free against VIC Fires's $0.99. The Courier also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4). VIC Fires's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On device support there is nothing between them.

The Courier is free to download; VIC Fires costs $0.99 up front. The Courier sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. VIC Fires asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Courier holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VIC Fires has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of VIC Fires's written reviews are positive against 38% of The Courier'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 Courier every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VIC Fires | The Courier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vic-fires/id348142406/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-courier/id1567231887/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **65.9% of reviews** | 38.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#56** | — |
| Size | 34 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [P4G Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/296948831) | [Rural Press Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527270001) |

## 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 Courier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-courier/id1567231887)

Access local and national news, sports results, and in-depth analysis from your community's trusted source. Stay informed with breaking news alerts and a digital replica of the daily newspaper. Includes interactive puzzles.

**Highlights:** Breaking news updates 24/7, Browse articles by topic, Save articles for later, Breaking news alerts, Digital newspaper replica, Daily interactive puzzles

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Courier Monthly Subcription | $12.99 | per month |
| Courier Annual Subscription | $129.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VIC Fires free?

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

### Is The Courier free?

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

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

The Courier is rated higher. VIC Fires averages 4.4 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while The Courier averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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

The Courier shows ads; VIC Fires does not.

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

VIC Fires ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Courier every 4 months. Most recently, VIC Fires was updated on October 29, 2026 and The Courier on October 30, 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.*