# PDI E vs The Japan Times

PDI E and The Japan Times both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 65% of The Japan Times's written reviews are positive against 16% of PDI E's. The Japan Times also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDI E sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. The Japan Times asks for nothing beyond the download.

PDI E holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 127 and 243 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 16% of PDI E's written reviews are positive against 65% of The Japan Times's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PDI E ships an update every 7 months, The Japan Times every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDI E | The Japan Times |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdi-e-reader/id401323082/reviews)** | [4.5 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-japan-times/id1239714390/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 127 | **243** |
| Positive reviews | 16.1% of reviews | **65.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [PressReader Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/313904714) | [The Japan Times, Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/557484534) |

## What reviewers say

### PDI E

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdi-e-reader/id401323082)

Access digital versions of top Philippine newspapers, including exact replicas of print editions. Enjoy features like article sharing, smart zoom, offline reading, and automatic bookmarking. Offers a free download with a preview and various subscription options.

**Highlights:** Digital replicas of print newspapers, Article sharing via social networks, Smartzoom for enhanced reading, Offline reading of downloaded issues, Automatic bookmarking, Complimentary 14-issue preview

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PREMIUM Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| ALL ACCESS 1 Month | $4.49 | per month |
| Philippine Daily | $5.99 | per month |
| Philippine Daily Inq. Standard | $8.99 | per month |
| Philippine Daily Inquirer Plus | $15.99 | per month |
| PREMIUM 12 Month | $39.99 | per year |
| ALL ACCESS 12 Month | $44.99 | per year |
| Single Copy | $0.99 | one-time |


### The Japan Times

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-japan-times/id1239714390)

Stay informed with breaking news and featured stories delivered as they happen. Access audio versions of articles and engage in discussions with a paid subscription. Bookmark articles for later reading.

**Highlights:** Breaking news notifications, Featured stories, Bookmark articles, Audio versions of stories (paid), Comment on articles (paid)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📰 Informative news coverage
- 🌍 Diverse perspectives on global affairs
- 📚 Helpful for English language learning
- 🇯🇵 Valuable insights into Japanese culture and society

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall limits free access to content
- 📱 Outdated or buggy app experience
- 🔍 Inconsistent article navigation and search
- 🔋 High data consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and frequent sign-outs
- Crashes and freezes on launch
- Incompatibility with latest iOS devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved iPad compatibility
- Customizable font and text size
- Offline reading mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDI E free?

PDI E is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Japan Times free?

The Japan Times is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PDI E or The Japan Times?

PDI E is rated higher. PDI E averages 4.7 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while The Japan Times averages 4.5 from 243 ratings.

### Do PDI E or The Japan Times have ads?

PDI E shows ads; The Japan Times does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDI E or The Japan Times?

PDI E ships an update every 7 months, and The Japan Times every 9 months. Most recently, PDI E was updated on October 23, 2026 and The Japan Times on October 24, 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.*