# STARSS vs Star Wars

The clearest difference is monetization model: STARSS at free against Star Wars's free with in-app purchases. STARSS also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (81% vs 66%). Star Wars's advantage is ratings volume (2K vs 283). 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.

STARSS holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star Wars has 2K ratings behind it against 283, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of STARSS's written reviews are positive against 66% of Star Wars's.

STARSS ships an update every 3 months, Star Wars every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STARSS | Star Wars |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (283 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starss-news-reader/id367300362/reviews)** | [4.4 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-wars/id960108075/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 283 | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.5% of reviews** | 65.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 197 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Christopher Kriens](https://appshunter.io/developer/367300365) | [Disney](https://appshunter.io/developer/284888248) |

## What reviewers say

### STARSS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starss-news-reader/id367300362)

Experience news reading with a futuristic interface. Access your favorite news and blogs through RSS feeds, enhanced with classic design, animations, and sounds. This app offers a unique and engaging way to stay informed.

**Highlights:** Futuristic interface, RSS feed aggregation, Classic design elements, Animations and sounds, Universal App support, Retina Display support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and responsive interface
- 🎨 Authentic LCARS design
- 🔊 Immersive sound effects
- 📰 Curated news content
- 🤖 Feels like using a real PADD

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔇 Lack of volume control for sound effects
- 📱 Limited functionality beyond news reading
- 🔍 Difficulty adding custom RSS feeds
- 🔄 Syncing issues between devices

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening certain articles
- RSS feed list disappearing after updates
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Slow or failed feed refreshes

**Requested features**

- Expanded LCARS functionality (calendar, calculator, etc.)
- Customizable news categories and sources
- Ability to save/share articles
- Dark mode option
- Support for more platforms (macOS, Android)


### Star Wars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-wars/id960108075)

Immerse yourself in the Star Wars universe with breaking news, exclusive media, and interactive features. Personalize your experience with themed interfaces, share fun selfies, and enjoy Star Wars-themed weather forecasts. Stay updated with trailers, behind-the-scenes content, and classic sound clips.

**Highlights:** Breaking news and announcements, Themed interfaces (Light Side, Dark Side, Droid), Star Wars-themed selfies, In-universe weather forecasts, Classic sound clips and effects, Official videos and trailers, News and blogs from StarWars.com

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Awesome app for Star Wars fans
- 🎨 Fun and creative features
- 📰 Provides latest Star Wars news and updates
- 🔊 Great sound effects and soundboard
- 🎮 Engaging mini-games and activities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔌 High data and battery consumption
- 🌍 Lacks support for non-US temperature units
- 🤖 Limited character and content variety
- 🔍 Difficulty finding certain features

**Reported bugs**

- Force Trainer mode has black screen issue
- Jakku Spy VR experience not working
- Weather information stuck in Fahrenheit
- Sticker feature crashes the app
- Certain links and activities not functioning

**Requested features**

- Add more clone troopers and characters
- Integrate emojis and stickers with keyboard
- Improve AR/VR functionality and experiences
- Expand soundboard with more quotes and voices
- Introduce new mini-games and interactive content


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STARSS free?

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

### Is Star Wars free?

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

### Which has better reviews, STARSS or Star Wars?

STARSS is rated higher. STARSS averages 4.7 out of 5 from 283 ratings, while Star Wars averages 4.4 from 2K ratings.

### Do STARSS or Star Wars have ads?

Neither STARSS nor Star Wars shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, STARSS or Star Wars?

STARSS ships an update every 3 months, and Star Wars every 2 months. Most recently, STARSS was updated on November 6, 2026 and Star Wars on November 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.*