Comparison

The New Criterion vs Static Reader

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

Head to head
About

The New Criterion

This monthly review offers incisive criticism on culture and the arts. It features a wide range of established and emerging critics, engaging with the best of thought and discourse.

Highlights
  • Monthly review of culture and arts
  • Incisive criticism
  • Features established and emerging critics
  • Engages with intellectual discourse
  • Free sample issue available
Features
Read full description

The leading review of the arts and intellectual life. Download for a FREE sample issue. The New Criterion is a monthly review of culture and the arts edited by Roger Kimball. Founded in 1982 by the art critic Hilton Kramer and the pianist and music critic Samuel Lipman, The New Criterion began as an experiment in critical audacity, a publication devoted to engaging, in Matthew Arnold's famous phrase, with "the best that has been thought and said." Harry Mount in the Daily Telegraph of London has called The New Criterion "America's leading review of the arts and intellectual life" Julian Symons, in the Times Literary Supplement, writes that "As a critical periodical, The New Criterion is probably more consistently worth reading than any other magazine in English." Published monthly from September through June, The New Criterion brings together a wide range of young and established critics whose common aim is to bring you the most incisive criticism being written today. The New Criterion Pricing: Single Issues - $4.99 12 Month Subscription - $48 Please note: App subscriptions do not include access to subscription-only content on newcriterion.com The New Criterion Pricing: • Subscription 1 Month - USD 3.99* • Subscription 1 Year - USD 29.99* * For non-US app stores, the equivalent currency charges will apply. Please note: App subscriptions do not include access to subscription-only content on our website. Additional Subscription Information: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Privacy Policy - https://bit.ly/2J5Ujfh Terms of Use - https://bit.ly/2J1YZqL • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable.

About

Static Reader

Save any web page with all its images for offline reading. Ideal for travel or commutes, this app downloads complete articles and embeds images, allowing access without an internet connection. Content is organized by website for easy browsing.

Highlights
  • Save full web pages with embedded images
  • Offline reading without internet connection
  • Background downloads
  • Content organized by website
  • No ads or tracking
  • Unlimited downloads with Pro upgrade
Features
Read full description

Save any web page — with all images — for offline reading. Static Reader downloads complete articles and embeds all images so you can read them anytime, without internet. Perfect for travel, commutes, or anywhere with spotty connections. HOW IT WORKS Share any web page from Safari: tap Share → Static Reader. The page saves in the background. Open the app to read it anywhere, no signal needed. FEATURES • Full pages with all images embedded — truly offline • Auto-discovers related articles from the same site • Content organized by website for easy browsing • Background downloads — even when the app is closed • No ads, no tracking, no account needed • Upgrade to Pro for unlimited downloads

Screenshots

The New Criterion4 screens
Static Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The New Criterion at 44% against Static Reader's 0%. The New Criterion also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). Static Reader's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 New Criterion sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Static Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The New Criterion ships an update every 3 months, Static Reader every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
The New Criterion versus Static Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe New CriterionStatic Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (362 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews43.8% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings362 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB4 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperFoundation for Cultural Review, Inc.Tam Nguyen

Customer experience

The New Criterion

All ratings361 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive43.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative50.0%

Static Reader

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

The New Criterion

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Subscription not started
  • Login information incorrect
  • Unable to download owned issues prior to 2019
  • App lags on iPhone

Requested features

6 requests
  • Alter font size
  • Dark mode
  • Integration with Apple News
  • Save spot in issue
  • Contents page
Show 1 more
  • Better preview of magazine content

Static Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

26 purchases

The New Criterion

Subscriptions2
  • The New Criterion$3.991 Month
  • The New Criterion$29.991 Year
One-time24
  • The New Criterion Feb 11$4.99
  • The New Criterion June 11$4.99
  • The New Criterion Sept 11$4.99
Show 21 more
  • The New Criterion Jan 12$5.99
  • June 2012$5.99
  • June 2016$5.99
  • September 2016$5.99
  • October 2016$5.99
  • November 2017$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 76$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 70$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 74$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 75$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 64$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 61$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 60$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 58$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 57$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 56$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 53$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 55$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 54$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 18$5.99
  • New Criterion Feed 19$5.99
1 purchases

Static Reader

One-time1
  • Static Reader Pro$2.99

Questions

Is The New Criterion free?
The New Criterion is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Static Reader free?
Static Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do The New Criterion or Static Reader have ads?
Neither The New Criterion nor Static Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The New Criterion or Static Reader?
The New Criterion ships an update every 3 months, and Static Reader every 5 months. Most recently, The New Criterion was updated on October 22, 2026 and Static Reader on October 11, 2026.

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