# Stuff.co.nz vs The Central App

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stuff.co.nz | The Central App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (129 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stuffconz/id383545689/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **129** | — |
| Positive reviews | 20.8% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 21 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Stuff Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/383545692) | [THE INLAND APP COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1160054250) |

## What reviewers say

### Stuff.co.nz

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stuffconz/id383545689)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📰 Great source for NZ news
- 🌍 Useful for expats to stay connected
- 🗞️ Variety of interesting articles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🤖 Buggy and glitchy performance
- 🤯 Frustrating ad redirects and popups
- 🕰️ Slow loading times
- 🔍 Poor search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


### The Central App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-central-app/id1160054251)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter programme | $5.99 | per month |
| Koha Annual | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*