# ProPublica vs The Messenger All Access

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ProPublica at 75% against The Messenger All Access's 0%. ProPublica also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.0) and ratings volume (105 vs 1). The Messenger All Access's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ProPublica has 105 ratings behind it against 1, 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 0% of The Messenger All Access's.

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, The Messenger All Access every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ProPublica | The Messenger All Access |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/propublica/id355298887/reviews)** | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-messenger-all-access/id886769574/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **105** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#167** | — |
| Size | 7 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ProPublica](https://appshunter.io/developer/355298890) | [Presteligence](https://appshunter.io/developer/395982559) |

## What reviewers say

### ProPublica

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

**Currently charting:** #167 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 Messenger All Access

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-messenger-all-access/id886769574)

Access the full print edition of a local newspaper on your iPhone or iPad. Read headlines, stories, and view photos, with options to listen to articles and read offline. Stay informed about local and national news, sports, and weather.

**Highlights:** Full print edition replica, Story viewer with photos, Read and listen to stories, Offline reading capability, Searchable news content, Weather updates

**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 Messenger All Access free?

The Messenger All Access is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ProPublica or The Messenger All Access?

ProPublica is rated higher. ProPublica averages 4.5 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while The Messenger All Access averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do ProPublica or The Messenger All Access have ads?

Neither ProPublica nor The Messenger All Access shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ProPublica or The Messenger All Access?

ProPublica ships an update every 4 months, and The Messenger All Access every 3 months. Most recently, ProPublica was updated on October 26, 2026 and The Messenger All Access on October 7, 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.*