# Phys.org vs Popular Science

The clearest difference is rating: Popular Science at 4.3 against Phys.org's 2.8. Popular Science also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 18%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Phys.org sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and Popular Science sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Popular Science holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 134 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Phys.org's written reviews are positive against 51% of Popular Science's.

Phys.org ships an update every 5 weeks, Popular Science every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phys.org | Popular Science |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physorg/id356443503/reviews) | **[4.3 (134 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popular-science/id364049283/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 70 | **134** |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | **50.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Omicron Tech Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/356443506) | [Ziff Davis](https://appshunter.io/developer/6792869834) |

## What reviewers say

### Phys.org

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physorg/id356443503)

Stay updated with daily science and technology news across various fields like physics, space, biology, and engineering. Bookmark and share articles easily. Access a selection of spotlight stories for free, with an option to subscribe for unlimited content.

**Highlights:** Daily science and technology news, Covers physics, space, biology, engineering, and more, Bookmark favorite stories, Share articles, Ads-free experience, Free spotlight stories

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All access | $0.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great content source
- 👍 Informative articles
- 👍 Smooth experience (sometimes)
- 👍 No ads (in some contexts)
- 👍 Well-formatted content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes when accessing saved articles
- 🐛 App crashes on startup
- 🐛 Unreadable text/links in dark mode
- 🐛 Flickering articles
- 🐛 Login issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to view saved articles
- App crashes on startup
- App crashes after iOS updates
- Login issues
- Subscription not working

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality
- Sync ScienceX account for saved articles
- Improve dark mode readability
- Add Stage Manager support for iPadOS
- Add Apple Watch compatibility


### Popular Science

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popular-science/id364049283)

Explore the latest innovations in technology, science, and future trends. This app delivers news and in-depth articles on gadgets, robotics, healthcare, and energy, making complex topics accessible for curious minds.

**Highlights:** Latest gadget and software news, Robotics and defense insights, Healthcare and energy breakthroughs, Future innovations and trends, Understanding big issues

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Subscription | $11.99 | per year |
| April 2010 | $4.99 | one-time |
| June 2010 | $4.99 | one-time |
| July 2010 | $4.99 | one-time |
| September 2010 | $4.99 | one-time |
| December 2010 | $4.99 | one-time |
| January 2011 | $4.99 | one-time |
| March 2011 | $4.99 | one-time |
| June 2011 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent use of iPad technology
- 👍 Innovative and interesting design
- 🖼️ Stunning visuals and photography
- 📚 Great content and informative articles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive navigation
- 💰 Overpriced issues compared to print
- 📥 Slow and problematic downloads
- 🔒 Issues with restoring purchases

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Unable to access purchased issues
- Download progress resets unexpectedly
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to download issues in the background
- Option to adjust text size and layout
- Improved table of contents and navigation
- Better integration with existing subscriptions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phys.org free?

Phys.org is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Popular Science free?

Popular Science is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Phys.org or Popular Science?

Popular Science is rated higher. Phys.org averages 2.8 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Popular Science averages 4.3 from 134 ratings.

### Do Phys.org or Popular Science have ads?

Neither Phys.org nor Popular Science shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phys.org or Popular Science?

Phys.org ships an update every 5 weeks, and Popular Science every 2 months. Most recently, Phys.org was updated on October 16, 2026 and Popular Science on October 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.*