# PDI E vs Philstar

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDI E | Philstar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdi-e-reader/id401323082/reviews)** | [3.3 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philstar/id532930273/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **127** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 16.1% of reviews | **51.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 42 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PressReader Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/313904714) | [Philstar Global Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1377548247) |

## 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 |


### Philstar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philstar/id532930273)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


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