# The Courier vs The Border Mail

The clearest difference is monetization model: The Border Mail at free with in-app purchases against The Courier's subscription. The Border Mail also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 13%). The Courier's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 4 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Border Mail sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. The Courier asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Courier ships an update every 11 days, The Border Mail every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Courier | The Border Mail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.9 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-courier-mail/id399165869/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **232** | — |
| Positive reviews | 12.7% of reviews | **44.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 163 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [News Digital Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/369849699) | [Rural Press Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527270001) |

## What reviewers say

### The Courier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-courier-mail/id399165869)

Access breaking news and in-depth stories from Queensland and around the world. Personalize your news feed, receive custom alerts, and enjoy a digital replica of the daily newspaper. Explore podcasts and exclusive subscriber content.

**Highlights:** Personalized news feed, Customized notifications, Digital newspaper replica, Podcast discovery, Award-winning journalism, Local perspectives

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Border Mail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-border-mail/id1567231561)

Access local and national news, sports results, and in-depth analysis from your community's trusted source. Read articles, save them for later, and receive breaking news alerts.

**Highlights:** Breaking news updates 24/7, Browse articles by topic, Save articles for later, Breaking news alerts, Digital newspaper replica, Daily interactive puzzles

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $129.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Courier free?

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

### Is The Border Mail free?

The Border Mail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do The Courier or The Border Mail have ads?

The Border Mail shows ads; The Courier does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Courier or The Border Mail?

The Courier ships an update every 11 days, and The Border Mail every 4 months. Most recently, The Courier was updated on November 1, 2026 and The Border Mail on November 3, 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.*