# PG Reader vs Observer

The clearest difference is rating: PG Reader at 4.7 against Observer's 4.1. PG Reader also leads on review sentiment (32% vs 12%) and ratings volume (2K vs 473). Observer's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 8 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PG Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2K and 473 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of PG Reader's written reviews are positive against 12% of Observer's.

PG Reader ships an update every 8 months, Observer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PG Reader | Observer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pg-reader/id365895829/reviews)** | [4.1 (473 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-reporter/id1174048954/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 473 |
| Positive reviews | **32.0% of reviews** | 11.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 57 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](https://appshunter.io/developer/342115595) | [Observer Publishing Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/888430805) |

## What reviewers say

### PG Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pg-reader/id365895829)

Access breaking local and regional news from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as soon as it's published. Stay informed on politics, business, lifestyle, and sports. Share articles via email or social media, and save your favorites for later.

**Highlights:** Live feed of local and regional news, Breaking news updates, Browse articles by section, Save articles to favorites, Share articles via email, Share articles on social media

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💯 Great local news coverage
- 🏆 Excellent sports reporting
- 👍 Easy to navigate app
- 🌐 Helpful for out-of-town readers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- ⚠️ Unreliable login and content access
- 💸 Paywall and subscription issues
- 🔍 Lacking search and organization features

**Reported bugs**

- Login functionality not working
- Content not loading or updating properly
- Notifications not taking users to the app
- Frequent app freezes and crashes

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved push notifications
- Better integration with social media
- More comprehensive local coverage


### Observer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-reporter/id1174048954)

Access daily news for Washington County, Greene County, and the Mon Valley in southwestern Pennsylvania. This app delivers localized news content directly to your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Daily newspaper coverage, Washington County news, Greene County news, Mon Valley news, Southwestern PA news, Mobile access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PG Reader free?

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

### Is Observer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PG Reader or Observer?

PG Reader is rated higher. PG Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while Observer averages 4.1 from 473 ratings.

### Do PG Reader or Observer have ads?

Both PG Reader and Observer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, PG Reader or Observer?

PG Reader ships an update every 8 months, and Observer every 4 months. Most recently, PG Reader was updated on October 14, 2026 and Observer on October 11, 2026.

---

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