# Castanet vs The StarPhoenix ePaper

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Castanet at none against The StarPhoenix ePaper's 2. Castanet also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). The StarPhoenix ePaper's advantage is ratings volume (16 vs 1) and review sentiment (28% vs 19%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The StarPhoenix ePaper sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Castanet asks for nothing beyond the download.

Castanet holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The StarPhoenix ePaper has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 19% of Castanet's written reviews are positive against 28% of The StarPhoenix ePaper's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Castanet ships an update every 6 weeks, The StarPhoenix ePaper every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Castanet | The StarPhoenix ePaper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castanet/id383228296/reviews)** | [4.7 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-starphoenix-epaper/id604089222/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **16** |
| Positive reviews | 19.4% of reviews | **28.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Castanet Media Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/383228299) | [Postmedia Network INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/406384675) |

## What reviewers say

### Castanet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castanet/id383228296)

Access local and national news, classifieds, events, and more from the Okanagan region. Features include direct messaging for classifieds, posting ads, webcams, and an airport arrivals/departures page.

**Highlights:** Local and national news, Classifieds with messaging, Post classified ads, Scenic and traffic webcams, Airport arrivals/departures, Events listings, Obituaries

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### The StarPhoenix ePaper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-starphoenix-epaper/id604089222)

Access a digital replica of the printed newspaper, featuring all original content, photos, and artwork. Browse pages like a physical paper or search and share articles online. Enjoy your daily news on any of your favorite devices, whether at home or on the go.

**Highlights:** Digital replica of printed edition, Full stories, features, and photos, Page-flipping interface, Article search functionality, Article sharing, Available on multiple devices

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Star Phoenix ePaper | $10.99 | per month |
| The StarPhoenix ePaper Single Issue | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Castanet free?

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

### Is The StarPhoenix ePaper free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Castanet or The StarPhoenix ePaper?

Castanet is rated higher. Castanet averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while The StarPhoenix ePaper averages 4.7 from 16 ratings.

### Do Castanet or The StarPhoenix ePaper have ads?

Neither Castanet nor The StarPhoenix ePaper shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Castanet or The StarPhoenix ePaper?

Castanet ships an update every 6 weeks, and The StarPhoenix ePaper every 7 months. Most recently, Castanet was updated on October 21, 2026 and The StarPhoenix ePaper on October 18, 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.*