Comparison

The Star Malaysia vs PaperFIRST

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

Head to head
About

The Star Malaysia

Access verified news from Malaysia's most trusted source. Enjoy features like offline reading, audio summaries, and customizable navigation. Stay informed with breaking news alerts.

Highlights
  • Verified news from official sources
  • Offline reading capability
  • News-in-audio summaries
  • Customizable navigation menu
  • Dark mode option
  • Breaking news alerts
Features
Read full description

Information is freely available these days. But false information can be costly and detrimental to unsuspecting readers. We are Malaysia's most trusted news source and this is endorsed by the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2022. We pride ourselves for only publishing news that have been verified by official sources and this is where we stand out from the crowd. We are backed by a team of award winning journalists and respected thought leaders in their respective fields. Easily access The Star's award-winning journalism with features like: - Nexus Rewards [NEW]: Turn your reading into real rewards! Earn points automatically as you read and share articles, then trade them in at the online Nexus Hub for guaranteed prizes. - Read Offline: Download stories to read even when you're not connected - Bookmarks: Save articles and retrieve them later at your convenience - News-in-audio: Listen to the top story summaries at the tap of a button - Personal navigation menu: Customise your navigation with your preferred sections - Dark mode: Switch to a darker interface that's easier on the eyes and saves on your battery consumption - Quick command: Access all the story tools from one place Breaking news alerts: Stay up-to-date with the important headlines of the day The Star app is free to download, and all users can access Complimentary (non-locked) stories. Subscribers get unlimited access to all content and features on the app and web. Rates may vary by location. Subscriptions will be charged through your Apple account. Subscriptions are offered at MYR4.90 per week, MYR14.90/month and MYR 99.90 per year. Subscription will be automatically renewed unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Cancel anytime by going to Account Settings and turning off the auto-renewal function. Terms of Use: https://www.thestar.com.my/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://www.thestar.com.my/privacy/ We always welcome and take your valuable feedback into consideration when we shape our product. Write to us via the in-app feedback form (Profile > Feedback) or contact The Star Customer Service at 1 300 88 7827, or email customerservice@thestar.com.my.

About

PaperFIRST

Features
Read full description

PaperFIRST APP opens you the door to the world of pulp & paper informations. With a unique mix of producers’ and suppliers’ informations, we track the latest news and the greatest pulp, paper, board or tissue achievements. Make your choice to receive all the informations or your pre-selected geographical info by push notification. PaperFIRST APP is an excellent marketing tool for companies wishing to get global exposure to a highly targeted audience within the pulp and paper industry worldwide.

Screenshots

The Star Malaysia4 screens
PaperFIRST4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PaperFIRST at none against The Star Malaysia's 4. The Star Malaysia's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. The Star Malaysia sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. PaperFIRST asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Star Malaysia ships an update fortnightly, PaperFIRST every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
The Star Malaysia versus PaperFIRST: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Star MalaysiaPaperFIRST
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.5 (16 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews8.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings16 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 6 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB47 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperStar Media Group BerhadEDITIONS NICOLAS PELLETIER

In-app purchases

4 purchases

The Star Malaysia

Subscriptions4
  • Premium Weekly Package$0.997 Days
  • Standard Package (Upgraded)1 Month trial$2.491 Month
  • Premium Monthly Package1 Month trial$3.491 Month
Show 1 more
  • Premium Yearly Package$19.991 Year
None

PaperFIRST

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The Star Malaysia free?
The Star Malaysia is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PaperFIRST free?
PaperFIRST is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do The Star Malaysia or PaperFIRST have ads?
Both The Star Malaysia and PaperFIRST show ads.
Which is updated more often, The Star Malaysia or PaperFIRST?
The Star Malaysia ships an update fortnightly, and PaperFIRST every 6 months. Most recently, The Star Malaysia was updated on November 2, 2026 and PaperFIRST on October 29, 2026.

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