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.
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.
- Breaking news updates
- Live videos and blogs
- On-demand video content
- Daily quizzes
- NZ weather forecasts
- Personalized notifications
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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.
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.
- Local news updates
- Weather forecasts
- Road condition reports
- Event listings
- Community information
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | Stuff.co.nz | The Central App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (129 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 20.8% of reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 129 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Stuff Limited | THE INLAND APP COMPANY LIMITED |
Customer experience
Stuff.co.nz
The Central App
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
Stuff.co.nz
No in-app purchases
The Central App
- Supporter programme$5.991 Month
- Koha Annual$59.991 Year
Questions
Is Stuff.co.nz free?
Is The Central App free?
Do Stuff.co.nz or The Central App have ads?
Which is updated more often, Stuff.co.nz or The Central App?
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