# PDI E vs The Freeman

The clearest difference is ads: The Freeman at none against PDI E's shown. The Freeman also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). PDI E's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 17 months). On price, 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 Freeman sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDI E ships an update every 7 months, The Freeman every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDI E | The Freeman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdi-e-reader/id401323082/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **127** | — |
| Positive reviews | 16.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 17 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 126 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 Freeman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-freeman-cebu/id495126923)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Freeman - Cebu | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| The Freeman - Cebu | $6.99 | per month |
| The Freeman - Cebu | $12.99 | per 2 months |
| The Freeman - Cebu | $18.99 | per 3 months |
| The Freeman - Cebu | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| The Freeman - Cebu | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDI E free?

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

### Is The Freeman free?

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

### Do PDI E or The Freeman have ads?

PDI E shows ads; The Freeman does not.

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

PDI E ships an update every 7 months, and The Freeman every 17 months. Most recently, PDI E was updated on September 11, 2026 and The Freeman on September 24, 2026.

---

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