# Phys.org vs BBC Science Focus Magazine

The clearest difference is rating: BBC Science Focus Magazine at 4.7 against Phys.org's 2.8. BBC Science Focus Magazine also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 18%). Phys.org's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Phys.org sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and BBC Science Focus Magazine sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BBC Science Focus Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 78 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Phys.org's written reviews are positive against 52% of BBC Science Focus Magazine's.

Phys.org ships an update every 5 weeks, BBC Science Focus Magazine every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phys.org | BBC Science Focus Magazine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physorg/id356443503/reviews) | **[4.7 (78 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbc-science-focus-magazine/id458036083/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 70 | **78** |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | **52.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Omicron Tech Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/356443506) | [Our Media Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702229453) |

## 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


### BBC Science Focus Magazine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbc-science-focus-magazine/id458036083)

Explore the latest discoveries and breakthroughs in science and technology. This app offers in-depth articles, expert interviews, and answers to your burning questions. Enjoy interactive features like text adjustment, bookmarking, and multimedia content.

**Highlights:** Latest issue access, Back issue archive, Expert interviews, Q&A section, Adjustable text size, Bookmark features, Search tool

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BBC Focus Magazine Apple News | $4.99 | per month |
| 1-Month Subscription | $5.49 | per month |
| 3-Month Subscription | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| 6-Month Subscription | $28.49 | per 6 months |
| Discounted Annual Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| BBC Focus  Magazine Apple News | $42.99 | per year |
| 12-Month Subscription Bundle | $45.99 | per year |
| 12-Month Subscription | $47.99 | per year |
| World in Motion: England's Story | Free | one-time |
| August 2014 | $4.99 | one-time |
| September 2024 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Summer 2024 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Complete Your Collection | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Excellent magazine
- 💡 Great interactive features
- 👍 Informative and well-presented content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Poor user interface and navigation
- 💸 Subscription and purchase problems

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to access purchased content
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Compatibility issues with iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Offline reading support
- Better optimization for newer devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phys.org free?

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

### Is BBC Science Focus Magazine free?

BBC Science Focus Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Phys.org or BBC Science Focus Magazine?

BBC Science Focus Magazine is rated higher. Phys.org averages 2.8 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while BBC Science Focus Magazine averages 4.7 from 78 ratings.

### Do Phys.org or BBC Science Focus Magazine have ads?

BBC Science Focus Magazine shows ads; Phys.org does not.

### Which is updated more often, Phys.org or BBC Science Focus Magazine?

Phys.org ships an update every 5 weeks, and BBC Science Focus Magazine every 2 months. Most recently, Phys.org was updated on September 25, 2026 and BBC Science Focus Magazine on September 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*