# ProPublica vs POLITICO

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ProPublica at 75% against POLITICO's 29%. ProPublica also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). POLITICO's advantage is ratings volume (49K vs 104) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, in-app purchases, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

POLITICO holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: POLITICO has 49K ratings behind it against 104, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of ProPublica's written reviews are positive against 29% of POLITICO's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, POLITICO monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ProPublica | POLITICO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/propublica/id355298887/reviews) | **[4.7 (49K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/politico/id358305912/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 104 | **49K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 29.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | **#48** | #52 |
| Size | 7 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ProPublica](https://appshunter.io/developer/355298890) | [POLITICO, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/358305915) |

## What reviewers say

### ProPublica

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/propublica/id355298887)

**Currently charting:** #48 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Access in-depth investigative journalism covering critical topics like government, healthcare, and criminal justice. Enjoy a streamlined reading experience with offline support and notifications for major stories.

**Highlights:** Latest investigative journalism, Reporting on government and policy, Coverage of healthcare and criminal justice, Environmental reporting, Streamlined reading experience, Offline support, Story notifications

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📰 High-quality investigative journalism
- ✅ Factual, unbiased reporting
- 🎯 In-depth, well-researched stories
- 🆓 Ad-free content
- 🧹 Clean, simple interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🌙 Bright white screen (no dark mode)
- 📤 Social sharing doesn't include headlines
- ⚠️ Outdated app updates
- 🖼️ Image sizing issues on older devices
- 🔄 Slow initial loading times

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- App won't open or load content
- Stories don't appear when clicked
- MuckReads section fails to load
- Data filter dropdowns non-functional

**Requested features**

- Dark mode for nighttime reading
- Bookmark/save articles function
- Home screen widget
- Adjustable font size
- Persistent font size settings


### POLITICO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/politico/id358305912)

**Currently charting:** #52 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Get real-time political news and analysis delivered directly to your phone. This app offers a streamlined way to access breaking news and in-depth stories from a leading political news source.

**Highlights:** Up-to-the-minute insight, Political news analysis, Breaking news alerts, Sleek and navigable design, Dynamic stories

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent news coverage
- 🔍 Thorough and insightful analysis
- 🗞️ Reliable and trustworthy journalism
- 📊 Valuable data and metrics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Difficulty refreshing content
- 📱 Poor app performance and navigation
- 🔍 Biased or partisan reporting
- 🔍 Lack of objectivity

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and crashes
- Inability to refresh content
- Notifications not working properly
- Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to adjust font size
- Offline reading mode
- Improved article organization and search
- More balanced political coverage


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ProPublica free?

ProPublica is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is POLITICO free?

POLITICO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ProPublica or POLITICO?

POLITICO is rated higher. ProPublica averages 4.5 out of 5 from 104 ratings, while POLITICO averages 4.7 from 49K ratings.

### Do ProPublica or POLITICO have ads?

POLITICO shows ads; ProPublica does not.

### Which is updated more often, ProPublica or POLITICO?

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, and POLITICO monthly. Most recently, ProPublica was updated on September 24, 2026 and POLITICO on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ProPublica or POLITICO?

ProPublica currently peaks at #48 in the App Store charts, and POLITICO at #52. 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.*