Comparison

StarPhoenix vs SaskAlert

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

Head to head
About

StarPhoenix

Stay informed with local and national news, comprehensive explainers, and compelling longreads. Personalize your news feed by selecting topics, journalists, and columnists to see content that aligns with your interests. Access unlimited content with a subscription.

Highlights
  • Customizable news feed
  • Community and national news
  • In-depth explainers and longreads
  • Photo and video coverage
  • Discover trending Canadian stories
  • Personalize topics and journalists
Features
Read full description

The Saskatoon StarPhoenix app connects you to the news you need to know. Create your custom feed so you don't miss the latest from your favourite writers. Features include: · Stay connected to news from your community and beyond. · Enjoy the wide variety of comprehensive explainers on issues shaping your community and compelling longreads from our top journalists — plus extensive photo and video coverage. · Navigate directly to individual publications from across the Postmedia network. · You can choose your preferred publications when you first open the new app, ensuring a curated news feed that aligns with your interests. · Use the Discover tab to explore trending stories from our newsrooms across Canada. · Personalize your news experience by selecting topics, journalists and columnists you want to see more of, so your feed will be filled with the content and perspectives you enjoy. · Online Access and Home Delivery subscribers receive unlimited access to content on the app, included with your subscription. · App readers can access one free article before being prompted to register to gain access to two more articles. If you are not an existing subscriber, you can easily sign up through the app marketplace. · Payment will be charged to your store account upon confirmation of purchase. · Subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. · The account will now be charged $14.99 for monthly renewal within the 24 hours before the current period ends. · You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal after purchase in the App settings. Select "My Subscription" then "Manage my Subscription" and you will be able to make changes. Privacy Policy: https://www.postmedia.com/privacy-statement/ Postmedia Terms and Conditions: https://www.postmedia.com/terms-and-conditions/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ We appreciate and value your feedback. Please send any comments, suggestions or questions to: appsupport@postmedia.com

About

SaskAlert

Receive real-time, critical information about emergencies directly from the Government of Saskatchewan. Protect yourself, your family, and your property with alerts tailored to your location and preferences. Stay informed about life-threatening situations and receive clear safety instructions.

Highlights
  • Real-time critical emergency alerts
  • Location-based alerts
  • Follow Me feature for alerts near current location
  • View alert areas on map
  • Share alerts easily
  • Detailed safety instructions
  • Customizable alert types
Features
Read full description

SaskAlert is the Government of Saskatchewan's official emergency alerting program, providing real-time, critical information on emergencies to help you protect yourself, your family, and your property. Key features of the SaskAlert App: • Alerts for life-threatening and emerging situations • Alerts based on locations you're interested in • "Follow Me" feature to get alerts near your current location, even when traveling outside Saskatchewan • View alert areas on a map • Easily share alerts via social media, email, and text • Detailed emergency descriptions, impacted areas, and safety instructions • Simple setup and user-friendly interface • Choose the types of alerts you want to receive • Accessibility features for users of all abilities • Multilingual, with the option to translate alerts into your device's default language An emergency alert issued through SaskAlert will: • let you know what the emergency is; • let you know where it is happening; • provide instructions for you to follow to stay safe; • and advise you when the incident is over. Alerts can be issued by Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations, agencies, local governing bodies, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Provincial ministries, Crown corporations, and local authorities issue alerts for emergencies within their areas of responsibility that may impact life and safety. Policing agencies issue alerts to warn the public of imminent potential risks to their safety, child abductions, and critical incidents. ECCC provides alerts for severe weather events, including: • Tornado watches and warnings • Warnings for blizzards, blowing snow, dust storms, extreme cold, freezing drizzle, freezing rain, heat, rainfall, severe thunderstorms, snowfall, high winds, and winter storms

Screenshots

StarPhoenix4 screens
SaskAlert4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SaskAlert at 56% against StarPhoenix's 0%. SaskAlert also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). StarPhoenix's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price and device support 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. StarPhoenix sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. SaskAlert asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StarPhoenix ships an update every 3 weeks, SaskAlert every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
StarPhoenix versus SaskAlert: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarPhoenixSaskAlert
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (57 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews56.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—57 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB38 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperPostmedia Network INC.Government of Saskatchewan

Customer experience

StarPhoenix

Written reviews53 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral3.8%
Negative96.2%

SaskAlert

All ratings57 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral3.5%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive56.3%
Neutral9.4%
Negative34.4%

User reviews

StarPhoenix

From App Store reviews

Room to improve

  • 📉 App constantly freezes
  • 💥 App crashes frequently
  • 🐌 Slow loading times
  • ⚪ Blank/white screens
  • 🔄 App doesn't update

SaskAlert

From 57 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Handy for travel
  • 👍 Provides advance notice
  • 👍 Keeps public aware
  • 👍 Useful for serious emergencies
  • 👍 Good for preparing for weather

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Alerts come too late
  • 🐛 Annoying, too many alerts
  • 🐛 Alerts from wrong areas
  • 🐛 Unnecessary alerts
  • 🐛 Useless help in app

Bugs and requests

StarPhoenix

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App freezes constantly
  • App crashes on load
  • Articles do not load or display
  • App causes phone to restart
  • Incorrect images displayed with articles
Show 4 more
  • App does not recognize account updates
  • App is slow to load
  • App locks up frequently
  • App does not work with new iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Restore dark mode
  • Fix incorrect article images
  • Improve app stability
  • Update app for new iOS versions
  • Add back obituaries

SaskAlert

Reported bugs

23 issues
  • Alerts come after the event
  • App seems to be broken
  • Cannot delete reviews
  • App stops working on devices
  • Alerts arrive too frequently
Show 18 more
  • App cancels alert then storm happens
  • Alerts are continuously sent with nothing happening
  • Not getting audibles on Tornado & getting audible on thunderstorms
  • Map shows empty map instead of fire locations
  • Alerts for entire province and never stops sending
  • Tried to narrow location but help in app is useless
  • Alert notification is too loud
  • Alert notification is too loud and can startle drivers
  • Alerts are too loud, hard on ears with headphones
  • Alerts are repetitive and interruptive
  • Alerts are the same for months
  • Alerts have false alarms
  • Alerts are late
  • Alerts are for areas not relevant to preferences
  • App doesn't give specific location
  • Town moved to neighboring province in alert
  • No sounds, no vibrations for notifications
  • Proof scanning feature does not work

Requested features

13 requests
  • Ability to select specific areas for warnings
  • Ability to delete old alerts
  • Specify location when warnings are issued
  • Improve audible alerts for different weather types
  • Volume setting for alerts
Show 8 more
  • Option to only receive alerts for serious situations
  • Identify new alerts with a star or icon
  • Alerts should speak like global weather tracker
  • Alerts should repeat or buzz longer
  • Alerts should provide more specific location information
  • Alerts should provide more detailed storm information (direction, movement)
  • Improve app's ability to scan proof
  • Link to website should be less confusing

In-app purchases

1 purchases

StarPhoenix

Subscriptions1
  • Full Access$9.991 Month
None

SaskAlert

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StarPhoenix free?
StarPhoenix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SaskAlert free?
SaskAlert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do StarPhoenix or SaskAlert have ads?
StarPhoenix shows ads; SaskAlert does not.
Which is updated more often, StarPhoenix or SaskAlert?
StarPhoenix ships an update every 3 weeks, and SaskAlert every 4 months. Most recently, StarPhoenix was updated on October 29, 2026 and SaskAlert on October 29, 2026.

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