Comparison

Commentary Magazine vs JNS.org

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Commentary Magazine

Access influential conservative opinion and analysis on the iPad. Read articles, book reviews, arts and culture features, humor, and fiction. Download issues for offline reading and store back issues.

Highlights
  • Latest articles access
  • Easy navigation
  • Offline reading
  • Back issue storage
  • Article sharing
Read full description

Experience Commentary on the iPad. Download our app for free. You can subscribe on a monthly or yearly basis, or purchase single issues for $5.99. Commentary is the bold, influential voice of conservative opinion in America. Conservatives have turned to Commentary for decades for hard-hitting, authoritative analysis and opinion they just won’t find in the liberal mainstream media. Commentary consistently takes on hard issues, like the Middle East, Israel, the economy, the war on terror, the economy and presidential politics. Policymakers, politicians, and presidents rely on Commentary for insightful and thought-provoking articles available nowhere else. You’ll also enjoy our book reviews, arts and culture features, humor, and fiction. No other magazine will inform you, inspire you, and stoke the Conservative fire in you quite like Commentary. Isn’t it time you discovered it for yourself? In every issue: • Full access to Commentary’s latest articles. • Easy-to-use navigation that puts every article just a touch away. • Download each issue to your device to read without an Internet connection. • Store and access back issues. • Share your favorite articles. Subscriptions available: • 1-month subscription available for $5.99, automatically renewed until canceled. • 1-year subscription for $49.99, automatically renewed until canceled. • When purchasing through iTunes, your account will be charged at confirmation of purchase. • Your subscription will auto-renew unless you turn this off 24-hours before the subscription runs out. You can turn off auto-renewal at any time from your iTunes account settings. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during an active subscription period. • By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use. Please read an understand these by visiting www.commentarymagazine.com/terms-of-use/

About

JNS.org

This news app provides fact-based reporting and analysis on Israel and Jewish world affairs. It offers breaking news, exclusive insights, and custom alerts, aiming to be a reliable source against media bias.

Highlights
  • Breaking news alerts
  • Exclusive analysis
  • Customizable smart alerts
  • Coverage of Israel-Hamas war
  • U.S.-Israel relations insights
  • Jewish culture and community stories
Features
Read full description

JNS is a trusted voice for Israel and the Jewish people in a world flooded with media bias and misinformation. Our award-winning newsroom delivers timely, fact-based reporting and analysis that supporters describe as brave, balanced, and essential. From the front lines of the IDF to the halls of Congress, from Jerusalem to your inbox, JNS gives you what others won’t: the full picture, without distortion. Why people turn to JNS: • Truth you can trust – A reliable alternative to biased mainstream coverage. • Pro-Israel, fact-based journalism – We report from a place of clarity, strength, and love for Israel and the Jewish people. • Courageous voices – Including Jonathan Tobin, Melanie Phillips, Ruthie Blum, and other top thinkers. • Support from around the world – Readers call JNS a lifeline for truth, a wake-up call, and a critical counterweight to rising antisemitism. With the JNS app, you’ll be the first to receive: • Breaking News – Real-time alerts on IDF operations, hostages, and developments in the Israel–Hamas war and global Jewish affairs. • Exclusive Analysis – Insightful commentary on U.S.–Israel relations, antisemitism, BDS, the UN, and the global media landscape. • Smart Alerts – Custom notifications on key events from Israel, Washington, and the Diaspora. • Popular Coverage – From the war with Hamas and judicial reform to Jewish life, values, and activism. • Jewish Culture & Community – Stories that speak to Jewish identity, history, and the power of people standing together. Popular Topics: • Israel’s multi-front war with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran • U.S.–Israel diplomacy and security • Campus controversies and antisemitism • Jewish leadership and activism • United Nations bias and global responses

Screenshots

JNS.org4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Commentary Magazine at 51% against JNS.org's 0%. Commentary Magazine also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (300 vs 17). JNS.org's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 24) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Commentary Magazine sells 24 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. JNS.org asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Commentary Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Commentary Magazine has 300 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Commentary Magazine's written reviews are positive against 0% of JNS.org's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Commentary Magazine ships an update every 3 months, JNS.org every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Commentary Magazine versus JNS.org: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCommentary MagazineJNS.org
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (300 ratings) — better4.1 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews51.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings300 — better17
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCommentary, Inc.Jewish News Service, inc.

Customer experience

Commentary Magazine

All ratings300 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral0.7%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive51.4%
Neutral8.1%
Negative40.5%

JNS.org

All ratings17 ratings
Positive70.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative23.5%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative66.7%

Bugs and requests

Commentary Magazine

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • App hard to access
  • App does not work
  • App does not remember reading place
  • App has no bookmarking function
  • App has no note taking or highlighting
Show 15 more
  • App dictatorial reading experience
  • App has tiny font, no zoom
  • App loses access after renewal
  • App issues deleted randomly
  • App reloading issues
  • App has no way to save single articles
  • App requires re-downloading
  • App has no desktop connection
  • App unreadable without retina support
  • App slow download speeds
  • App subscription issues
  • App doesn't recognize existing subscribers
  • App doesn't recognize digital subscribers
  • App crashes immediately after opening
  • App closes down after opening home screen

Requested features

9 requests
  • Zooming function for text
  • Note taking or highlighting
  • Ability to save single articles
  • Retina support
  • Newsstand support
Show 4 more
  • Dictionary definitions on word press-and-hold
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to change type sizes
  • Forwarding articles

JNS.org

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

24 purchases

Commentary Magazine

Subscriptions2
  • Subscription to Commentary Magazine$5.991 Month
  • Subscription to Commentary Magazine1 Month trial$49.991 Year
One-time22
  • November 2011$4.99
  • January 2012$4.99
  • March 2012$4.99
Show 19 more
  • June 2012$4.99
  • October 2012$4.99
  • January 2013$4.99
  • January 2014$4.99
  • June 2014$4.99
  • February 2012$4.99
  • April 2012$4.99
  • January 2024$5.99
  • May 2024$5.99
  • May 2026$5.99
  • January 2026$5.99
  • June 2025$5.99
  • February 2025$5.99
  • January 2025$5.99
  • December 2024$5.99
  • November 2024$5.99
  • October 2024$5.99
  • September 2024$5.99
  • July/August 2024$5.99
None

JNS.org

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Commentary Magazine free?
Commentary Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is JNS.org free?
JNS.org is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Commentary Magazine or JNS.org?
Commentary Magazine is rated higher. Commentary Magazine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 300 ratings, while JNS.org averages 4.1 from 17 ratings.
Do Commentary Magazine or JNS.org have ads?
Neither Commentary Magazine nor JNS.org shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Commentary Magazine or JNS.org?
Commentary Magazine ships an update every 3 months, and JNS.org every 2 months. Most recently, Commentary Magazine was updated on October 15, 2026 and JNS.org on October 13, 2026.

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