# WCF Courier vs Des Moines Register

The clearest difference is rating: Des Moines Register at 4.3 against WCF Courier's 3.2. Des Moines Register also leads on ratings volume (2.9K vs 57) and chart position (#116 vs unranked). WCF Courier's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WCF Courier sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $27.99 per month and Des Moines Register sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Des Moines Register holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Des Moines Register has 2.9K ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of WCF Courier's written reviews are positive against 39% of Des Moines Register's.

WCF Courier ships an update monthly, Des Moines Register every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WCF Courier | Des Moines Register |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wcf-courier/id375842307/reviews) | **[4.3 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/des-moines-register/id524153305/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 57 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 32.0% of reviews | **39.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#116** |
| Size | 103 MB | 189 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Lee Enterprises](https://appshunter.io/developer/366562520) | [USA TODAY Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/404843797) |

## What reviewers say

### WCF Courier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wcf-courier/id375842307)

Access local news, sports, and community stories from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls region. Enjoy exclusive content like podcasts and photography, with options for personalized alerts and an ad-free premium experience.

**Highlights:** Personalized news topics, Customizable alerts, Easy swipe navigation, Exclusive commentary and photography, Listen to articles, Ad-free premium option

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscriptions | $27.99 | per month |
| Subscriptions | $40.99 | per month |
| Subscriptions | $44.99 | per month |
| Subscriptions | $50.00 | per year |
| Subscriptions | $269.99 | per year |
| Subscriptions | $329.99 | per year |
| Subscriptions | $364.99 | per year |


### Des Moines Register

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/des-moines-register/id524153305)

**Currently charting:** #116 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers, #160 Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

Stay informed with local news, in-depth journalism, and breaking alerts. Access a digital replica of the print edition, customize your reading experience, and enjoy content on the go.

**Highlights:** In-depth local journalism, Breaking news and alerts, Digital eNewspaper replica, Customizable reading experience, Offline reading, Sports and events coverage

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Des Moines Register Digital Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly Digital Rate | $24.99 | per month |
| Des Moines Register Annual Digital Subscription | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Best local news
- 📰 Like reading the paper
- 🗞️ Excellent newspaper
- 🔍 Great source for up-to-date local and state news
- 📰 Excellent news

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Doesn't work well for paid subscribers
- 🚫 Useless
- 🚫 Every Article Needs a Subscription
- 🚫 Terrible app that replaced Print Edition app
- 🚫 Hard to enlarge and read

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Page crashes when video is embedded in article
- Can't sign in
- Keeps asking for renewal though I have done that

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard
- Search function
- Ability to pause subscription
- Option to turn off sports news


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WCF Courier free?

WCF Courier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Des Moines Register free?

Des Moines Register is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, WCF Courier or Des Moines Register?

Des Moines Register is rated higher. WCF Courier averages 3.2 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while Des Moines Register averages 4.3 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do WCF Courier or Des Moines Register have ads?

Both WCF Courier and Des Moines Register show ads.

### Which is updated more often, WCF Courier or Des Moines Register?

WCF Courier ships an update monthly, and Des Moines Register every 3 weeks. Most recently, WCF Courier was updated on October 23, 2026 and Des Moines Register on October 26, 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.*