# The Standard vs Sixth Tone

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sixth Tone at 82% against The Standard's 28%. Sixth Tone also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (147 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sixth Tone holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sixth Tone has 147 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of The Standard's written reviews are positive against 82% of Sixth Tone's.

The Standard ships an update monthly, Sixth Tone every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Standard | Sixth Tone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-standard/id408301869/reviews) | **[4.9 (147 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sixth-tone/id1462612037/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **147** |
| Positive reviews | 28.3% of reviews | **81.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 47 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sing Tao Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/348023219) | [上海东方报业有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/878962721) |

## What reviewers say

### The Standard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-standard/id408301869)

Access Hong Kong's leading free English daily newspaper on your mobile device. Stay updated with breaking news, local events, business, and sports, all delivered in a bold tabloid format. Customize text size and share stories easily.

**Highlights:** Breaking news push notifications, Social media sharing, Dynamic text size adjustment, Access to print ads, Local, Business, China, World news, Entertainment and Sports coverage, Arts & Lifestyle section

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sixth Tone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sixth-tone/id1462612037)

Access in-depth news, features, and visual storytelling about contemporary China. Explore diverse perspectives, expert opinions, and multimedia content. Stay informed with daily highlights and special projects.

**Highlights:** Daily news highlights, In-depth features, Commentaries and opinions, Visual storytelling, Interviews with key figures, Collaborative projects

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Standard free?

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

### Is Sixth Tone free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Standard or Sixth Tone?

Sixth Tone is rated higher. The Standard averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Sixth Tone averages 4.9 from 147 ratings.

### Do The Standard or Sixth Tone have ads?

Both The Standard and Sixth Tone show ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Standard or Sixth Tone?

The Standard ships an update monthly, and Sixth Tone every 2 months. Most recently, The Standard was updated on October 26, 2026 and Sixth Tone on October 26, 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.*