# PDI E vs The Philippine Star

The clearest difference is rating: PDI E at 4.7 against The Philippine Star's 2.0. PDI E also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (127 vs 4). The Philippine Star's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (25% vs 16%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDI E sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and The Philippine Star sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDI E holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDI E has 127 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 16% of PDI E's written reviews are positive against 25% of The Philippine Star'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 Philippine Star every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDI E | The Philippine Star |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdi-e-reader/id401323082/reviews)** | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-philippine-star/id490078018/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **127** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 16.1% of reviews | **25.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 42 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PressReader Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/313904714) | [Philstar Daily Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1431749320) |

## 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 Philippine Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-philippine-star/id490078018)

Access a leading Filipino news source on your tablet, from breaking news to celebrity updates and lifestyle trends. Enjoy unbiased reporting and diverse opinions, all presented in a familiar page-turning format. Stay informed anytime, anywhere with daily editions.

**Highlights:** Full digital newspaper access, Unbiased news reporting, Celebrity and trend updates, Favorite writer columns, Multiple subscription options, Daily editions available

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Philippine STAR - 1 Week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Philippine STAR - 1 Month | $8.99 | per month |
| Philippine STAR | $14.99 | per 2 months |
| Philippine STAR - 3 Month | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| Philippine STAR - 6 Month | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| Philippine STAR - 1 Year | $69.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDI E free?

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

### Is The Philippine Star free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDI E or The Philippine Star?

PDI E is rated higher. PDI E averages 4.7 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while The Philippine Star averages 2.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do PDI E or The Philippine Star have ads?

PDI E shows ads; The Philippine Star does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDI E or The Philippine Star?

PDI E ships an update every 7 months, and The Philippine Star every 6 months. Most recently, PDI E was updated on September 11, 2026 and The Philippine Star on September 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.*