# StarPhoenix vs PembinaValleyOnline

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PembinaValleyOnline at none against StarPhoenix's 1. PembinaValleyOnline also leads on review sentiment (10% vs 0%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). StarPhoenix's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StarPhoenix sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. PembinaValleyOnline asks for nothing beyond the download.

StarPhoenix ships an update every 3 weeks, PembinaValleyOnline every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarPhoenix | PembinaValleyOnline |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **10.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 65 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Postmedia Network INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/406384675) | [Golden West Broadcasting, Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/585838524) |

## What reviewers say

### StarPhoenix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starphoenix/id406393011)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access | $9.99 | per month |


### PembinaValleyOnline

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pembinavalleyonline/id1185528637)

Stay connected to your local community with instant access to news, weather, and radio streams. Receive customizable notifications for important updates like school cancellations and breaking news. Discover local businesses and events with ease.

**Highlights:** Customizable push notifications, Live local radio streaming, Hourly and 7-day weather forecasts, Local news and community updates, Business directory lookup

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StarPhoenix free?

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

### Is PembinaValleyOnline free?

PembinaValleyOnline is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do StarPhoenix or PembinaValleyOnline have ads?

Both StarPhoenix and PembinaValleyOnline show ads.

### Which is updated more often, StarPhoenix or PembinaValleyOnline?

StarPhoenix ships an update every 3 weeks, and PembinaValleyOnline every 3 months. Most recently, StarPhoenix was updated on October 26, 2026 and PembinaValleyOnline on October 8, 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.*