Comparison

PDI E vs Philstar

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

Head to head
About

PDI E

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
Read full description

InquirerPlus is the exciting new home of the digital version of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Libre, Bandera, Cebu Daily News and several other top Inquirer Group titles. InquirerPlus delivers an exact replica of the printed titles with additional features such as article sharing via social networks, Smartzoom, storage of previously downloaded issues for on-the-go reading when wi-fi is not available and automatic-bookmarking of your place. If you are a print subscriber of an Inquirer title with a subscription term of at least six months, contact inquirerdigital@inquirer.com.ph for your complimentary access. The app is free to download and comes with a complimentary 14-issue preview. The Philippine Daily Inquirer offers the following subscriptions for inApp Purchase: Single copy ($0.99 each): any single title Inquirer Plus ($9.99/mo): gives one access to all the titles within the app. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period.You may manage your subscriptions by going to your 'Account Settings' after purchase. http://philippinedailyinquirerplus.pressreader.com/help

About

Philstar

Access trusted news from the Philippines and around the world with this fast and easy-to-use application. Stay informed on breaking news, politics, sports, entertainment, and more through original reporting and multimedia features.

Highlights
  • Free access to news
  • Timely and relevant stories
  • Breaking news and politics
  • Sports, entertainment, lifestyle, business
  • Original reporting and explainers
  • Multimedia features
Features
Read full description

Over a decade, the Philstar Global app has provided free access to trusted news from the Philippines and around the world. Light, fast and easy to use, the latest version of the Philstar app connects you to the most timely and relevant stories — from breaking news and politics to sports, entertainment, lifestyle and business. Access original reporting, in-depth explainers, opinion pieces and multimedia features from Philstar.com, Interaksyon, The Philippine STAR, Pilipino Star Ngayon, The Freeman, Pang-Masa and Banat — all in one place. Stay informed with credible journalism that empowers you to make sense of what’s happening — wherever you are, whenever you need it.

Screenshots

PDI E4 screens
Philstar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PDI E at 4.7 against Philstar's 3.3. PDI E also leads on ratings volume (127 vs 18). Philstar's advantage is review sentiment (51% vs 16%) and in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. PDI E sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Philstar asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDI E holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDI E has 127 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 16% of PDI E's written reviews are positive against 51% of Philstar's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDI E ships an update every 7 months, Philstar every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PDI E versus Philstar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDI EPhilstar
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (127 ratings) — better3.3 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews16.1% of reviews51.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings127 — better18
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.016
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB54 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperPressReader IncPhilstar Global Corporation

Customer experience

PDI E

All ratings127 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral5.5%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive16.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative80.6%

Philstar

All ratings18 ratings
Positive44.4%
Neutral16.7%
Negative38.9%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive51.4%
Neutral8.1%
Negative40.5%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

PDI E

Subscriptions7
  • PREMIUM Monthly$3.991 Month
  • ALL ACCESS 1 Month$4.491 Month
  • Philippine Daily$5.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Philippine Daily Inq. Standard$8.991 Month
  • Philippine Daily Inquirer Plus$15.991 Month
  • PREMIUM 12 Month$39.991 Year
  • ALL ACCESS 12 Month$44.991 Year
One-time1
  • Single Copy$0.99
None

Philstar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDI E free?
PDI E is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Philstar free?
Philstar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PDI E or Philstar?
PDI E is rated higher. PDI E averages 4.7 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while Philstar averages 3.3 from 18 ratings.
Do PDI E or Philstar have ads?
Both PDI E and Philstar show ads.
Which is updated more often, PDI E or Philstar?
PDI E ships an update every 7 months, and Philstar every 5 weeks. Most recently, PDI E was updated on September 11, 2026 and Philstar on September 23, 2026.

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