# Patch vs Local Matters

The clearest difference is update cadence: Local Matters at every 2 days against Patch's every 2 months. Local Matters also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 59%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Patch's advantage is ratings volume (27K vs 1.1K) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Local Matters holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patch has 27K ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Patch's written reviews are positive against 89% of Local Matters's.

Patch ships an update every 2 months, Local Matters every 2 days. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Patch | Local Matters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patch-everything-local/id430049632/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/local-matters-where-you-live/id6756904989/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | 59.2% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#145** | — |
| Size | 66 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Patch Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/1088403234) | [Life Agents, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1817111538) |

## What reviewers say

### Patch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patch-everything-local/id430049632)

**Currently charting:** #145 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Stay informed about your local community with real-time news, events, and weather updates. Discover schools, homes for sale, jobs, and announcements in a single, easy-to-scroll feed. Receive breaking news alerts and share stories with friends.

**Highlights:** Local news and events for 1,200+ towns, Breaking news push notifications, Local weather forecasts and alerts, Find local jobs and announcements, One-scroll feed for town happenings, Bookmark articles for later reading, Support for following multiple towns

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗞️ Informative local news
- 📰 Comprehensive coverage of community events
- 🔍 Useful for staying up-to-date on local happenings
- 🗓️ Timely and relevant information
- 💻 Convenient online/mobile access to local news

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 App stability and performance issues
- 🔍 Limited ability to customize content and notifications
- 📢 Concerns about removal of reader comments
- 🗺️ Lack of location-specific focus in some areas
- 💲 Paid subscription model for full access

**Reported bugs**

- Articles failing to load or open properly
- Notification issues, including duplicate or missing alerts
- Inconsistent app behavior after updates
- Difficulty clearing unread article indicators

**Requested features**

- Allow users to select specific news categories of interest
- Improve notification system to be more reliable and customizable
- Restore reader comment functionality
- Enhance location-based targeting and content curation
- Offer more affordable or free access options


### Local Matters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/local-matters-where-you-live/id6756904989)

Stay informed about your immediate surroundings with AI-powered local news and safety alerts. Get instant updates on events, incidents, and weather relevant to your neighborhood without needing an account or endless scrolling.

**Highlights:** Instant local updates, Real-time safety alerts, AI-powered smart feed, Categorized news, Local weather forecasts, Ad-light experience

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Patch free?

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

### Is Local Matters free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Patch or Local Matters?

Local Matters is rated higher. Patch averages 4.7 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Local Matters averages 4.9 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Patch or Local Matters have ads?

Both Patch and Local Matters show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Patch or Local Matters?

Patch ships an update every 2 months, and Local Matters every 2 days. Most recently, Patch was updated on November 9, 2026 and Local Matters on November 9, 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.*