# ProPublica vs The eCourier

The clearest difference is rating: ProPublica at 4.5 against The eCourier's 3.2. ProPublica also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

ProPublica holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ProPublica has 104 ratings behind it against 13, 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 50% of The eCourier's.

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, The eCourier every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ProPublica | The eCourier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/propublica/id355298887/reviews)** | [3.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-ecourier/id714920240/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **104** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#160** | — |
| Size | 7 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ProPublica](https://appshunter.io/developer/355298890) | [Findlay Publishing Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/714920243) |

## What reviewers say

### ProPublica

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

**Currently charting:** #160 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 eCourier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-ecourier/id714920240)

Access a digital replica of a daily print newspaper, featuring local news, sports, weather, and obituaries. This app is available for iOS devices and is included with a digital membership.

**Highlights:** Digital newspaper replica, Local news coverage, Sports updates, Weather forecasts, Obituaries section, iOS device compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ProPublica free?

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

### Is The eCourier free?

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

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

ProPublica is rated higher. ProPublica averages 4.5 out of 5 from 104 ratings, while The eCourier averages 3.2 from 13 ratings.

### Do ProPublica or The eCourier have ads?

The eCourier shows ads; ProPublica does not.

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

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, and The eCourier every 15 months. Most recently, ProPublica was updated on October 17, 2026 and The eCourier on September 17, 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.*