# Edge magazine vs Smithsonian Magazine

Edge magazine and Smithsonian Magazine both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 46% of Edge magazine's written reviews are positive against 22% of Smithsonian Magazine's. Edge magazine also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). Smithsonian Magazine's advantage is chart position (#156 vs unranked) and ratings volume (430 vs 134). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Edge magazine sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Smithsonian Magazine sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Smithsonian Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 134 and 430 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Edge magazine's written reviews are positive against 22% of Smithsonian Magazine's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Edge magazine ships an update every 3 months, Smithsonian Magazine every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Edge magazine | Smithsonian Magazine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (134 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/edge-magazine/id451410596/reviews) | **[4.7 (430 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smithsonian-magazine/id484193368/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 134 | **430** |
| Positive reviews | **45.7% of reviews** | 22.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#156** |
| Size | 25 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Future Publishing Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/378460265) | [Smithsonian Institution](https://appshunter.io/developer/370564865) |

## What reviewers say

### Edge magazine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/edge-magazine/id451410596)

This app offers in-depth, impartial reviews and coverage of hardware and software across various platforms. Explore detailed content, back issues, specials, and guides to stay informed about the latest in interactive entertainment.

**Highlights:** In-depth hardware and software reviews, Coverage of PC, console, and portable gaming, Impartial and detailed analysis, Access to back issues and specials, Interactive digital content

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Subscription | $11.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Month Subscription | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| November 2011 | $6.99 | one-time |
| December 2011 | $6.99 | one-time |
| January 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| August 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| September 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Issue 354 | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔍 Excellent content and coverage
- 📱 Great interactive magazine experience
- 💻 Seamless digital experience on iPad
- 🌍 Accessible for international readers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 📥 Slow and unreliable downloads
- 💰 Subscription issues and billing problems
- 🔍 Outdated or subpar user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to download or access purchased issues
- Inconsistent behavior across iOS versions
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Improved navigation and issue management
- Optimized layout and text readability
- Support for larger iPad screens
- Offline reading mode


### Smithsonian Magazine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smithsonian-magazine/id484193368)

**Currently charting:** #156 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers, #162 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access a digital version of a renowned magazine covering history, science, culture, and travel. Enjoy in-depth articles, photos, and departments. Purchase single issues or subscribe for ongoing access to engaging content.

**Highlights:** Digital magazine issues, History and archaeology articles, Cutting-edge science reporting, Virtual travel and culture features, In-app subscriptions and single purchases

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smithsonian Annual Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Smithsonian Annual Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| 12-Month Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Smithsonian Magazine | $3.99 | one-time |
| Smithsonian Magazine - February 2014 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Smithsonian Magazine - September 2014 | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to navigate
- 🔍 Great content
- 👍 Intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔒 Difficult to authenticate subscription
- 💰 Requires separate digital subscription
- 🔧 Clunky and buggy
- 🗂️ Loses downloaded issues

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to download new issues
- Fails to remember last read position
- Incompatible with newer iOS versions
- Incorrect issue labeling in library

**Requested features**

- Allow login with existing subscription
- Restore previously downloaded issues
- Improve stability and performance
- Provide better customer support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Edge magazine free?

Edge magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Smithsonian Magazine free?

Smithsonian Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Edge magazine or Smithsonian Magazine?

Smithsonian Magazine is rated higher. Edge magazine averages 4.5 out of 5 from 134 ratings, while Smithsonian Magazine averages 4.7 from 430 ratings.

### Do Edge magazine or Smithsonian Magazine have ads?

Neither Edge magazine nor Smithsonian Magazine shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Edge magazine or Smithsonian Magazine?

Edge magazine ships an update every 3 months, and Smithsonian Magazine every 5 months. Most recently, Edge magazine was updated on November 10, 2026 and Smithsonian Magazine on November 10, 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.*