The Hamilton Spectator vs MiDiocesis
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Hamilton Spectator
Stay informed with up-to-date local and global news. This app provides breaking news, in-depth reporting, and community-specific coverage. Engage in discussions and access opinions from columnists, all in a convenient mobile format.
- Breaking news and in-depth reporting
- Community-specific local news
- Personalized community selection
- Commenting and discussion features
- Opinions and commentary from columnists
- Credible, source-based reporting
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Your city. Your Stories. From community and local coverage to global issues and breaking news, The Hamilton Spectator reports on topics that matter and affect the day-to-day lives of our readers. Download The Hamilton Spectator app now to receive the best features of The Spectator’s website, all within the palm of your hand. • Made for You: A custom newsfeed that evolves with your interests. • Stay Informed: Real-time breaking news alerts so you’re always the first to know. • Resume Reading: Pick up exactly where you left off, instantly. • Trending Now: Stay ahead of the curve with the stories Hamilton is talking about. • Instant Access: Your saved stories are now organized in one streamlined hub. • Newsletter Management: You can now browse, subscribe, and manage your newsletter preferences directly within the app. Stay informed with curated stories delivered straight to your inbox. Questions or feedback? Contact us at specmobilefeedback@torstar.ca SEE BELOW FOR IMPORTANT NOTICES By installing and using the App, you agree to our Privacy and Anti-Spam Notice (available at https://www.thespec.com/about/mobile-app-privacy-anti-spam-notice.html), our Privacy Policy (available at https://metroland.com/privacy-policy/) and our Terms of Use (available at http://notices.torstar.com/main_terms_of_use_daily_and_community_brands_EN/), each of which is accessible with the App's settings menu. This App (including any updates or upgrades) may (i) automatically communicate with The Hamilton Spectator's or its third party service providers' servers and record usage and browsing pattern metrics, (ii) manage App-related preferences or data stored on your device, and (iii) collect personal information, all as more particularly set out in our Privacy and Anti-Spam Notice and our Privacy Policy. You may withdraw your consent to the above at any time by removing or disabling the App. The Spec mobile application, an application offered by Metroland Media Group Ltd., 8 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8 For assistance, please contact us at circ@thespec.com.
MiDiocesis
Stay updated with the latest diocesan news, homilies, and events. This app provides real-time information and allows you to listen to live radio broadcasts.
- Latest diocesan news
- Homilies and events
- Live radio broadcasts
- Real-time information
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Descarga nuestra aplicación para tener toda la información de la diócesis al momento, descubre las más recientes noticias, homilias y eventos. Escucha Radiócesis en directo.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MiDiocesis at 5.0 against The Hamilton Spectator's 4.5. MiDiocesis also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). The Hamilton Spectator's advantage is ratings volume (20 vs 3). On price, update cadence and device support 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
Both are free to download. The Hamilton Spectator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. MiDiocesis asks for nothing beyond the download.
MiDiocesis holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Hamilton Spectator has 20 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
The Hamilton Spectator ships an update fortnightly, MiDiocesis every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Hamilton Spectator | MiDiocesis |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (20 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 9.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 20 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 108 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | thestar.com | SOLUCIONES INTEGRALES MULTIMEDIA SA DE CV |
Customer experience
The Hamilton Spectator
MiDiocesis
Bugs and requests
The Hamilton Spectator
Reported bugs
40 issues- Everything is repeated multiple times
- Old news stays on for days
- Difficult to access all parts of the paper
- Some stories listed for weeks
- Others show up multiple times
Show 35 moreShow fewer
- Misses direct access to Home and Obituaries
- Keeps asking to sign in every time
- App does not work well on iPhone
- Site does not work properly on Safari
- App does not work on iPad
- Cutoff content on iPad
- App crashes when trying to open/refresh
- Ads don't load, show white screen
- App crashes when refreshing news
- App doesn't load or keeps crashing
- App crashes immediately upon installation
- Blank screens popping up
- App won't open after updates
- App resets itself or sits jammed with no content
- App crashes constantly, blank pages
- Uneven and sporadic refreshing
- Poor loading
- App crashes when loading
- Blank page, no news after update
- Constantly crashing
- App won't open
- App doesn't show breaking news or local news
- App won't load anymore, just crashes
- No content at all once the app loads
- Crashes all the time
- App crashes when I refresh news
- App hasn't worked for months
- App hasn't worked properly in months
- App doesn't work at all
- App does not open at all since the latest update
- App crashes for over a month
- App doesn't even open
- App instantly crashes and closes after update
- App won't open on my phone
- App not completely loading properly or keeps crashing
Requested features
14 requests- Update app for newspaper format
- Allow lookup of pages like Toronto Star
- Update app to read like paper version
- More options for notifications
- Bring back landscape reading
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Allow sharing of articles
- Allow favouriting of articles
- Fix app layout for better access
- Improve app functionality and usability
- Fix bugs causing crashes and blank screens
- Reinstall landscape mode
- Return to previous scroll position after reading
- Improve app layout compared to other e-papers
- Allow access to former papers missed
MiDiocesis
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
The Hamilton Spectator
- Flexible Digital Access6 Months trial$14.991 Month
- Annual Digital Access1 Year trial$49.991 Year
MiDiocesis
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Hamilton Spectator free?
Is MiDiocesis free?
Which has better reviews, The Hamilton Spectator or MiDiocesis?
Do The Hamilton Spectator or MiDiocesis have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Hamilton Spectator or MiDiocesis?
Other comparisons
