# ProPublica vs Utne Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ProPublica at 75% against Utne Reader's 0%. ProPublica also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). Utne Reader's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Utne Reader sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per 6 months. ProPublica asks for nothing beyond the download.

Utne Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ProPublica has 104 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of ProPublica's written reviews are positive against 0% of Utne Reader'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, Utne Reader every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ProPublica | Utne Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/propublica/id355298887/reviews) | **[4.9 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/utne-reader/id735180387/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **104** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#131** | — |
| Size | 7 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ProPublica](https://appshunter.io/developer/355298890) | [Ogden Publications, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/450808661) |

## What reviewers say

### ProPublica

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

**Currently charting:** #131 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


### Utne Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/utne-reader/id735180387)

This app curates essential stories from independent voices, focusing on environmental issues, marginalized communities, and political events. It also highlights the impact of art, philosophy, and spirituality.

**Highlights:** Independent voices, Cultural zeitgeist focus, Environmental crisis coverage, Marginalized communities spotlight, Political strife analysis, Art, philosophy, spirituality appreciation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Utne Reader - The best of the alternative press | $17.99 | per 6 months |
| Utne Reader - The best of the alternative press | $35.99 | per year |
| November/December 2013 | $6.99 | one-time |
| March/April 2014 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2014 | $6.99 | one-time |
| September 2016 Digital | $6.99 | one-time |
| Utne Reader Feed 2 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Utne Reader Feed 3 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2016 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2017 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Summer 2018 | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ProPublica free?

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

### Is Utne Reader free?

Utne Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ProPublica or Utne Reader?

Utne Reader is rated higher. ProPublica averages 4.5 out of 5 from 104 ratings, while Utne Reader averages 4.9 from 16 ratings.

### Do ProPublica or Utne Reader have ads?

Utne Reader shows ads; ProPublica does not.

### Which is updated more often, ProPublica or Utne Reader?

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, and Utne Reader every 3 months. Most recently, ProPublica was updated on October 13, 2026 and Utne Reader on October 9, 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.*