# MacFormat vs 9to5Mac

The clearest difference is ratings volume: 9to5Mac at 4.8K against MacFormat's 87. MacFormat's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MacFormat sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and 9to5Mac sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for MacFormat against 4.7 for 9to5Mac. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 9to5Mac has 4.8K ratings behind it against 87, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of MacFormat's written reviews are positive against 41% of 9to5Mac's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MacFormat | 9to5Mac |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macformat/id451439182/reviews) | **[4.7 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/9to5mac-breaking-tech-news/id955138289/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 87 | **4.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **47.7% of reviews** | 40.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 24 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Future plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/378460265) | [Seth Weintraub](https://appshunter.io/developer/955138288) |

## What reviewers say

### MacFormat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macformat/id451439182)

Access in-depth reviews, expert advice, and tutorials for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Discover new apps and accessories to enhance your Apple device experience. Get more value from your technology.

**Highlights:** Apple device reviews, Expert technical advice, App and accessory recommendations, Tutorials and tips, In-depth content, Digital magazine issues

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Subscription | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Month Subscription | $18.99 | per 6 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| The complete guide to the new iPhone | $0.99 | one-time |
| The complete guide to the new iPad | $0.99 | one-time |
| February 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| August 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| September 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| December 2013 | $6.99 | one-time |
| All MacFormat back issues | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive app
- 📚 Excellent magazine content
- 💻 Well-designed for iPad
- 👍 Interactive and engaging format

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- ⏱️ Slow download speeds
- 📱 Compatibility problems on newer devices
- 💰 Expensive subscription price

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to exit/navigate out of magazine issues
- Subscription management problems
- Inconsistent performance after updates

**Requested features**

- Bookmark feature to save progress
- Font size adjustment options
- Offline reading mode
- Notifications for new issues


### 9to5Mac

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/9to5mac-breaking-tech-news/id955138289)

Stay informed with the latest news for Apple devices and other tech. Enjoy an ad-free reading experience with a clean layout and push notifications for breaking stories. An optional premium subscription offers enhanced features.

**Highlights:** Latest Apple news, Ad-free reading, Push notifications, Dark Theme, Optimized layout, Access to network sites

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Subscription | $1.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Informative content
- 📱 Great app for Apple news
- 🌓 Useful dark mode
- 👍 Modern design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall restricts access
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow content loading
- 💸 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues
- Inconsistent dark mode support
- Unreliable push notifications
- Crashes when opening articles
- Broken Disqus login functionality

**Requested features**

- Dark mode icon support
- Improved notifications
- In-app commenting
- Yearly subscription option
- Faster content updates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MacFormat free?

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

### Is 9to5Mac free?

9to5Mac is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MacFormat or 9to5Mac?

9to5Mac is rated higher. MacFormat averages 4.6 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while 9to5Mac averages 4.7 from 4.8K ratings.

### Do MacFormat or 9to5Mac have ads?

Neither MacFormat nor 9to5Mac shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MacFormat or 9to5Mac?

MacFormat ships an update every 3 months, and 9to5Mac every 3 months. Most recently, MacFormat was updated on October 17, 2026 and 9to5Mac on October 17, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*