# The Southern vs Argus Observer

The clearest difference is rating: Argus Observer at 4.5 against The Southern's 2.5. Argus Observer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). The Southern's advantage is ratings volume (13 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Southern sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $25.99 per month. Argus Observer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Argus Observer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Southern has 13 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The Southern ships an update every 3 months, Argus Observer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Southern | Argus Observer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-southern/id375277474/reviews) | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/argus-observer/id1455072513/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 60 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Paxton Media Group LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/431477409) | [Wick News Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1385372530) |

## What reviewers say

### The Southern

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-southern/id375277474)

Access local news, sports, and community stories from Southern Illinois. Personalize your feed, receive breaking news alerts, and enjoy exclusive commentary, photography, and podcasts. Read articles in a news feed or e-edition format.

**Highlights:** Personalized news topics, Breaking news notifications, Easy swipe navigation, News Feed and E-edition reading, Video and podcast content, Reading history

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscriptions | $25.99 | per month |


### Argus Observer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/argus-observer/id1455072513)

Stay informed about your local community with award-winning journalism. Discover news about neighbors, local government, school sports, and issues impacting your home.

**Highlights:** Local government news, High school sports coverage, Community events and issues, Retailer promotions, Award-winning journalism

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Southern free?

The Southern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Argus Observer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Southern or Argus Observer?

Argus Observer is rated higher. The Southern averages 2.5 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Argus Observer averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do The Southern or Argus Observer have ads?

Both The Southern and Argus Observer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Southern or Argus Observer?

The Southern ships an update every 3 months, and Argus Observer every 2 months. Most recently, The Southern was updated on October 6, 2026 and Argus Observer on October 10, 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.*