# City Journal vs Reason

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Reason at none against City Journal's 10. Reason also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). City Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. City Journal sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Reason asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for City Journal against 4.9 for Reason. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 812 and 396 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of City Journal's written reviews are positive against 100% of Reason's.

City Journal ships an update every 4 months, Reason every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | City Journal | Reason |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (812 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/city-journal/id420931366/reviews)** | [4.9 (396 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reason/id6480322558/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **812** | 396 |
| Positive reviews | 86.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#99** |
| Size | 72 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1356205507) | [Reason](https://appshunter.io/developer/340034132) |

## What reviewers say

### City Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/city-journal/id420931366)

This app delivers in-depth articles on urban policy, covering topics from public order and education to architecture and social welfare. It offers a blend of practical advice and theoretical insights for discerning readers, featuring full-color illustrations.

**Highlights:** Urban policy articles, Public order and policing, Education policy, Urban architecture, Social welfare, Full-color illustrations

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| City Journal | $9.99 | per year |
| Summer 2011 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Autumn 2011 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2012 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Spring 2012 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Summer 2012 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Autumn 2012 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Winter 2013 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Autumn 2016 | $3.99 | one-time |
| City Journal Feed 47 | $3.99 | one-time |


### Reason

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reason/id6480322558)

**Currently charting:** #99 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access accurate and honest news, ideas, videos, and podcasts from a libertarian perspective. Personalize notifications and stream exclusive content, including documentaries and newsletters.

**Highlights:** Libertarian news and ideas, Exclusive videos and documentaries, Podcast streaming, Personalized news notifications, Newsletter access, Reason Plus subscription for early magazine access

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is City Journal free?

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

### Is Reason free?

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

### Which has better reviews, City Journal or Reason?

City Journal is rated higher. City Journal averages 4.9 out of 5 from 812 ratings, while Reason averages 4.9 from 396 ratings.

### Do City Journal or Reason have ads?

City Journal shows ads; Reason does not.

### Which is updated more often, City Journal or Reason?

City Journal ships an update every 4 months, and Reason every 3 months. Most recently, City Journal was updated on November 1, 2026 and Reason on November 4, 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.*