# 12OnYourSide vs Richmond Observer

The clearest difference is ads: Richmond Observer at none against 12OnYourSide's shown. Richmond Observer also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). 12OnYourSide's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (6.3K vs 6). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

12OnYourSide holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 12OnYourSide has 6.3K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of 12OnYourSide's written reviews are positive against 0% of Richmond Observer's.

12OnYourSide ships an update monthly, Richmond Observer every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 12OnYourSide | Richmond Observer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12onyourside/id450211141/reviews)** | [4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/richmond-observer/id1251970241/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **13.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 99 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **9.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Gray Television Group, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/416888140) | [Bradford Jenkins](https://appshunter.io/developer/1251969460) |

## What reviewers say

### 12OnYourSide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12onyourside/id450211141)

Get local news and traffic updates for Richmond and central Virginia. Receive breaking news alerts, view live headlines, and access sports and video content. The app customizes content based on your location.

**Highlights:** Breaking news alerts, Local traffic coverage, School closings, Live news headlines, Sports updates, Video content

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate news reporting
- 🌟 Great weather team
- 💻 Useful for live streaming

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult to navigate
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔌 High battery consumption
- 🤖 Poorly designed UI updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after recent updates
- Live stream frequently pauses or stops working
- Notifications don't link to updated stories
- Compatibility issues with certain devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- Reduce ads and improve user experience
- Improve accessibility and readability
- Provide more timely updates, especially on weekends
- Offer an ad-free paid version


### Richmond Observer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/richmond-observer/id1251970241)

Stay informed with local news and updates for Richmond County, North Carolina. This app provides comprehensive coverage of your community, keeping you connected to important events and information.

**Highlights:** Local news coverage, Community updates, Richmond County focus, Digital news authority

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 12OnYourSide free?

12OnYourSide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Richmond Observer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 12OnYourSide or Richmond Observer?

12OnYourSide is rated higher. 12OnYourSide averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Richmond Observer averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do 12OnYourSide or Richmond Observer have ads?

12OnYourSide shows ads; Richmond Observer does not.

### Which is updated more often, 12OnYourSide or Richmond Observer?

12OnYourSide ships an update monthly, and Richmond Observer every 14 months. Most recently, 12OnYourSide was updated on October 22, 2026 and Richmond Observer on October 24, 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.*