Comparison

Stuff.co.nz vs The Central App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Stuff.co.nz

Access breaking news, live videos, and in-depth journalism from across New Zealand. Stay informed on politics, sports, business, and celebrity updates, with on-demand video content and daily quizzes.

Highlights
  • Breaking news updates
  • Live videos and blogs
  • On-demand video content
  • Daily quizzes
  • NZ weather forecasts
  • Personalized notifications
Features
Read full description

Stuff is New Zealand’s essential news source - independent and dedicated to making Aotearoa a better place. We deliver live, lively and trustworthy journalism from across this glorious nation. On our app you can: • Get up-to-the minute reports on breaking stories in New Zealand on our live videos and blogs • Easily read stories on the latest news, weather, sports, politics, money, business, celebrities, travel - whatever Kiwis are talking about today, we got you • Watch video on demand - including from our ThreeNews 6pm bulletin • Do the highly addictive daily Stuff Quiz (a national obsession) • See the latest NZ weather forecasts • Personalise your experience by enabling notifications Share feedback to experience@stuff.co.nz or click “Report a bug” from the end of the Settings screen on the app. Please note: This app features Nielsen’s proprietary measurement software, which contributes to market research, like Nielsen’s TV Ratings. Please see http://www.nielsen.com/digitalprivacy for more information.

About

The Central App

This app provides comprehensive local information for Central Otago, including news, weather, and event listings. Access real-time updates on road conditions and community happenings directly on your smartphone.

Highlights
  • Local news updates
  • Weather forecasts
  • Road condition reports
  • Event listings
  • Community information
Features
Read full description

Everything you need to know about living, working and playing in Central Otago - all in ONE place. The Central App features local news, weather, road conditions, information, events and much, much more. Now you've got all the information you need to hand, whenever and wherever you are, all on your smartphone. Download The Central App today (it's FREE!) and stay informed about what's happening in your community. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: - Premium subscriptions provide access to exclusive content and features - Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase - You can manage and cancel your subscriptions via the profile page or by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase Terms of Use: You can review the standard on Apple's website (https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/) Privacy Policy: You can find the developer's privacy practices in the Central App Privacy Statement (https://centralapp.nz/PrivacyStatement)

Screenshots

Stuff.co.nz4 screens
The Central App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Central App at 80% against Stuff.co.nz's 21%. Stuff.co.nz's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. The Central App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Stuff.co.nz asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stuff.co.nz ships an update weekly, The Central App every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Stuff.co.nz versus The Central App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStuff.co.nzThe Central App
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (129 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews20.8% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings129 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supportedAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB60 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperStuff LimitedTHE INLAND APP COMPANY LIMITED

Customer experience

Stuff.co.nz

All ratings129 ratings
Positive68.2%
Neutral3.1%
Negative28.7%
Written reviews504 reviews
Positive20.8%
Neutral6.9%
Negative72.2%

The Central App

Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Stuff.co.nz

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Constant app crashes and freezes
  • Redirects to App Store without user interaction
  • Videos not playing properly or getting stuck
  • Scrolling issues and content jumping around
  • Login and password reset problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to save articles for offline reading
  • Improved navigation and article browsing
  • Better personalization and customization options

The Central App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Stuff.co.nz

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

The Central App

Subscriptions2
  • Supporter programme$5.991 Month
  • Koha Annual$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Stuff.co.nz free?
Stuff.co.nz is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Central App free?
The Central App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Stuff.co.nz or The Central App have ads?
Both Stuff.co.nz and The Central App show ads.
Which is updated more often, Stuff.co.nz or The Central App?
Stuff.co.nz ships an update weekly, and The Central App every 4 months. Most recently, Stuff.co.nz was updated on October 13, 2026 and The Central App on September 30, 2026.

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