# Phys.org vs EL NORTE (autodescargable)

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Phys.org at 70 against EL NORTE (autodescargable)'s 2. Phys.org also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). EL NORTE (autodescargable)'s advantage is rating (3.0 vs 2.8). On price, review sentiment, ads 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 EL NORTE (autodescargable) sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

EL NORTE (autodescargable) holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phys.org has 70 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 18% of Phys.org's written reviews are positive against 13% of EL NORTE (autodescargable)'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Phys.org ships an update every 5 weeks, EL NORTE (autodescargable) every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phys.org | EL NORTE (autodescargable) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physorg/id356443503/reviews) | **[3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-norte-autodescargable/id540128038/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **70** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **18.5% of reviews** | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Omicron Tech Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/356443506) | [Editora el Sol](https://appshunter.io/developer/322378567) |

## 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


### EL NORTE (autodescargable)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-norte-autodescargable/id540128038)

Access daily news from Mexico and around the world automatically downloaded each morning. Stay informed on politics, sports, culture, and exclusive social events. Offers various subscription options after a limited free period.

**Highlights:** Automatic daily downloads, Wireless reading, Politics and sports news, Culture and entertainment updates, Exclusive social event coverage, Op-ed writer views

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EL NORTE (autodescargable) | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| EL NORTE (autodescargable) | $20.99 | per month |
| EL NORTE (autodescargable) | $99.99 | per 6 months |
| EL NORTE (autodescargable) | $179.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phys.org free?

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

### Is EL NORTE (autodescargable) free?

EL NORTE (autodescargable) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Phys.org or EL NORTE (autodescargable)?

EL NORTE (autodescargable) is rated higher. Phys.org averages 2.8 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while EL NORTE (autodescargable) averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Phys.org or EL NORTE (autodescargable) have ads?

Neither Phys.org nor EL NORTE (autodescargable) shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phys.org or EL NORTE (autodescargable)?

Phys.org ships an update every 5 weeks, and EL NORTE (autodescargable) every 4 months. Most recently, Phys.org was updated on September 25, 2026 and EL NORTE (autodescargable) on September 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.*