Comparison

Star vs Turlock Journal

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

Head to head
About

Star

Access local news, sports, and community updates. Features include personalized topics, breaking news alerts, and multimedia content like podcasts and videos. Subscribers get an ad-free experience.

Highlights
  • Personalized news topics
  • Breaking news alerts
  • Exclusive commentary and podcasts
  • Video updates
  • Ad-free premium experience for subscribers
  • Customizable text size
  • Hourly and 10-day weather forecasts
Read full description

Your story lives in the Culpeper Star-Exponent. From reporting on all of your favorite teams to the news that matters most in your community, we cover it all. Get in-depth stories from Culpeper County and beyond – including news, sports, opinion, obituaries, entertainment, and politics. Easily access the very latest news in an app built for you. Read, see, and hear exclusive commentary, stunning photography, video updates, and binge-worthy podcasts. Plus, subscribers have the ability to upgrade to News+, our premium ad-free experience! That means faster-loading pages and an uninterrupted reading experience. Our app features: * Your Stories – personalize your experience by selecting the local news topics that matter most to you * Get notified – stay in the loop by selecting alerts for news, sports, weather, and more * Easy navigation – see all the latest local stories by simply swiping up/down, and left/right. * Read stories your way – either in the News Feed or via the E-edition * Breaking news updates – top banners let you know what’s happening right now * Follow author – get notifications whenever your favorite writers post a story * Bookmark for later – save stories to enjoy at your leisure * Listen to articles – press the play button to listen instead * Customize your text size – make the content bigger or smaller in your profile settings * Weather where you are – hourly, 10-day forecasts, and frequent video updates Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. https://starexponent.com/terms/

About

Turlock Journal

Stay informed with local news and community updates from Turlock and surrounding areas. This interactive news source provides multimedia content to keep residents connected. Access articles, connect on social media, and stay up-to-date with local happenings.

Highlights
  • Local news coverage
  • Community updates
  • Multimedia content
  • Social media integration
  • Interactive news source
Read full description

Since 1904, the Turlock Journal has been a vital source of news and information for residents of Turlock and its surrounding communities. Now, 116 years later, the Journal is an interactive, multi-media news organization that aims to keep the communities it serves connected. The Turlock Journal is an MNC publication connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Privacy Policy -https://www.turlockjournal.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use -https://www.turlockjournal.com/terms-of-service/

Screenshots

Star4 screens
Turlock Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Star at 4.6 against Turlock Journal's 3.0. Star also leads on ratings volume (31 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Star sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $25.99 per month and Turlock Journal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $11.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Star holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star has 31 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Star versus Turlock Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarTurlock Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (31 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings31 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB40 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBH Media GroupMorris Multimedia

Customer experience

Star

All ratings31 ratings
Positive87.1%
Neutral12.9%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%

Turlock Journal

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Star

Subscriptions7
  • Subscriptions$25.991 Month
  • Subscriptions$38.991 Month
  • Subscriptions$42.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Subscriptions$50.001 Year
  • Subscriptions$249.991 Year
  • Subscriptions$314.991 Year
  • Subscriptions$349.991 Year
1 purchases

Turlock Journal

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Subscription$11.491 Month

Questions

Is Star free?
Star is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Turlock Journal free?
Turlock Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Star or Turlock Journal?
Star is rated higher. Star averages 4.6 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Turlock Journal averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Star or Turlock Journal have ads?
Both Star and Turlock Journal show ads.
Which is updated more often, Star or Turlock Journal?
Star ships an update every 2 months, and Turlock Journal every 2 months. Most recently, Star was updated on October 23, 2026 and Turlock Journal on October 19, 2026.

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