# Sun Sentinel vs Kitsap Sun

The clearest difference is monetization model: Kitsap Sun at free with in-app purchases against Sun Sentinel's subscription. Kitsap Sun also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 27%). Sun Sentinel's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (7K vs 575). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sun Sentinel sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Kitsap Sun sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sun Sentinel holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sun Sentinel has 7K ratings behind it against 575, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 27% of Sun Sentinel's written reviews are positive against 43% of Kitsap Sun's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sun Sentinel | Kitsap Sun |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sun-sentinel/id402230662/reviews)** | [4.2 (575 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kitsap-sun/id1119333831/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7K** | 575 |
| Positive reviews | 27.2% of reviews | **43.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#99** | #189 |
| Size | 191 MB | 184 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Tribune Publishing Company, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/290161713) | [USA TODAY Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/404843797) |

## What reviewers say

### Sun Sentinel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sun-sentinel/id402230662)

**Currently charting:** #99 Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

Access in-depth local news, sports, business, and entertainment from South Florida's premier news source. Customize your reading experience with personalized sections, exclusive videos, and photo galleries. Read stories offline and receive breaking news alerts.

**Highlights:** Local news, sports, business, entertainment, Push notifications for breaking news, Exclusive videos and photo galleries, Customizable section order, Save stories for later, Offline reading, Progress tracking for read articles

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| News App Only | $19.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Digital Access | $19.99 | per month |
| Sun Sentinel | $199.99 | per year |
| Premium Story Credits | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📰 Great reporting and articles
- 🗞️ Excellent local news coverage
- 🗞️ Variety of content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗞️ Biased and one-sided reporting
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and search
- 💻 Buggy and glitchy app
- 📢 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🔒 Issues with account login and subscription access

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Repeated login issues for subscribers
- Inability to access subscriber-only content
- Outdated and repetitive content

**Requested features**

- Restore landscape mode on iPad
- Improve search functionality
- Reduce ads for paid subscribers
- Provide a dark mode option


### Kitsap Sun

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kitsap-sun/id1119333831)

**Currently charting:** #189 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Stay informed with local news, in-depth journalism, and real-time alerts. Enjoy a fast-loading experience with customizable features like offline reading and adjustable text size. Access a digital replica of the print edition and other local newspapers.

**Highlights:** In-depth local journalism, Breaking news and alerts, Streamlined, fast-loading experience, Customizable reading options, Offline reading, eNewspaper access, Real-time notifications

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Digital Rate | $14.99 | per month |
| Kitsap Sun Digital Subscription | $16.99 | per month |
| Kitsap Sun Annual Digital Subscription | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Great local news
- 💡 Appreciate the news source
- 👍 Wonderful reporting
- 👍 Best news on the peninsula

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Not working properly
- 💸 Too many ads
- 👎 Clunky and not user-friendly
- 👎 Lacking local news and features
- 👎 Buggy and unstable

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Issues with login and subscription management
- Content not updating properly

**Requested features**

- More local news and coverage
- Better customization options
- Improved search functionality
- Restore previous app version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sun Sentinel free?

Sun Sentinel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Kitsap Sun free?

Kitsap Sun is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sun Sentinel or Kitsap Sun?

Sun Sentinel is rated higher. Sun Sentinel averages 4.5 out of 5 from 7K ratings, while Kitsap Sun averages 4.2 from 575 ratings.

### Do Sun Sentinel or Kitsap Sun have ads?

Both Sun Sentinel and Kitsap Sun show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sun Sentinel or Kitsap Sun?

Sun Sentinel ships an update monthly, and Kitsap Sun monthly. Most recently, Sun Sentinel was updated on October 27, 2026 and Kitsap Sun on October 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Sun Sentinel or Kitsap Sun?

Sun Sentinel currently peaks at #99 in the App Store charts, and Kitsap Sun at #189. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*