# POPEYE（ポパイ） vs Kono Digital Magazines

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Kono Digital Magazines at 84% against POPEYE（ポパイ）'s 17%. Kono Digital Magazines also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.9) and ads (none vs shown). POPEYE（ポパイ）'s advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. POPEYE（ポパイ） sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month and Kono Digital Magazines sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Kono Digital Magazines holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kono Digital Magazines has 101 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of POPEYE（ポパイ）'s written reviews are positive against 84% of Kono Digital Magazines's.

POPEYE（ポパイ） ships an update every 2 months, Kono Digital Magazines fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | POPEYE（ポパイ） | Kono Digital Magazines |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popeye/id437343599/reviews) | **[4.7 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kono-digital-magazines/id477224666/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **101** |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **84.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 41 MB | 135 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [マガジンハウス](https://appshunter.io/developer/390114571) | [Kono Digital Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/477224689) |

## What reviewers say

### POPEYE（ポパイ）

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popeye/id437343599)

This app offers the digital edition of a popular fashion and culture magazine for urban young men. It provides content focused on city life, style, and trends. Users can enjoy a free latest issue upon initial download and opt for subscription plans for ongoing access.

**Highlights:** Digital magazine edition, Latest issue free on download, Monthly publication, Subscription plans available, Focus on urban fashion and culture

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ポパイ定期購読 1カ月 | $5.49 | per month |
| ポパイ定期購読 3カ月 | $15.99 | per 3 months |
| ポパイ定期購読 6カ月 | $30.99 | per 6 months |
| ポパイ定期購読 1年 | $59.99 | per year |
| 2023年3月号 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2023年2月号 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2019年2月号 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2020年3月号 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2026年3月号 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Special Edition Hello, Tokyo! | $12.99 | one-time |


### Kono Digital Magazines

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kono-digital-magazines/id477224666)

Access a vast library of digital magazines across various categories, including business, fashion, and lifestyle. Enjoy an enhanced reading experience with customizable text modes, offline downloads, and personalized recommendations. This subscription service offers a convenient way to stay informed and entertained.

**Highlights:** 300+ latest magazines, Exclusive Smarticle Technology, Customizable text mode, Offline downloads, Personalized recommendations, Audio read feature

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| 6-Months Subscription | $37.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Subscription | $64.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app for magazines
- 👍 Wide variety of magazines
- 👍 Good for language learning
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 👍 Reasonable subscription price

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🐛 Download speed issues
- 🐛 Small images are blurry
- 🐛 Restore purchase issues
- 🐛 Difficult page turning

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot open magazines after update
- App crashes after update
- Download speed is slow
- Download stuck at 0%
- Restore purchase issues

**Requested features**

- More English publications (TIME, NEWYORKER)
- Change page turning gesture
- Customizable search result ranking
- iPad landscape mode
- More Japanese fashion magazines


## Frequently asked questions

### Is POPEYE（ポパイ） free?

POPEYE（ポパイ） is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Kono Digital Magazines free?

Kono Digital Magazines is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, POPEYE（ポパイ） or Kono Digital Magazines?

Kono Digital Magazines is rated higher. POPEYE（ポパイ） averages 1.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Kono Digital Magazines averages 4.7 from 101 ratings.

### Do POPEYE（ポパイ） or Kono Digital Magazines have ads?

POPEYE（ポパイ） shows ads; Kono Digital Magazines does not.

### Which is updated more often, POPEYE（ポパイ） or Kono Digital Magazines?

POPEYE（ポパイ） ships an update every 2 months, and Kono Digital Magazines fortnightly. Most recently, POPEYE（ポパイ） was updated on November 6, 2026 and Kono Digital Magazines on November 6, 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.*