# ProPublica vs The Bulwark

The clearest difference is rating: The Bulwark at 4.9 against ProPublica's 4.5. The Bulwark also leads on ratings volume (2.9K vs 105) and review sentiment (92% vs 75%). ProPublica's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and chart position there is nothing between them.

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

The Bulwark holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Bulwark has 2.9K ratings behind it against 105, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of ProPublica's written reviews are positive against 92% of The Bulwark's.

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, The Bulwark every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ProPublica | The Bulwark |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/propublica/id355298887/reviews) | **[4.9 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-bulwark/id6757498738/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 105 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 74.8% of reviews | **92.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #163 | **#78** |
| Size | 7 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ProPublica](https://appshunter.io/developer/355298890) | [Center Enterprises, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867294300) |

## What reviewers say

### ProPublica

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

**Currently charting:** #163 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


### The Bulwark

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-bulwark/id6757498738)

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #152 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Access exclusive news, analysis, and commentary from pro-democracy experts in an ad-free environment. Enjoy features like read-to-me, saved articles, personalized feeds, and audio versions of shows. Engage with a community dedicated to liberal democracy.

**Highlights:** Ad-free reading experience, Listen to articles on the go, Save articles and shows, Personalized 'For You' feed, Audio-only show versions, Adjustable text size and dark mode

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ProPublica free?

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

### Is The Bulwark free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ProPublica or The Bulwark?

The Bulwark is rated higher. ProPublica averages 4.5 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while The Bulwark averages 4.9 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do ProPublica or The Bulwark have ads?

Neither ProPublica nor The Bulwark shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ProPublica or The Bulwark?

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, and The Bulwark every 5 weeks. Most recently, ProPublica was updated on October 23, 2026 and The Bulwark on October 21, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ProPublica or The Bulwark?

ProPublica currently peaks at #163 in the App Store charts, and The Bulwark at #78. 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.*