# WDRB+WAVE vs Courier Journal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WDRB+WAVE at none against Courier Journal's 5. WDRB+WAVE also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and device support (4 vs 2). Courier Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Courier Journal sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. WDRB+WAVE asks for nothing beyond the download.

WDRB+WAVE holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.4K and 3.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 45% of WDRB+WAVE's written reviews are positive against 50% of Courier Journal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WDRB+WAVE ships an update every 2 months, Courier Journal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WDRB+WAVE | Courier Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wdrb-plus-wave/id466477444/reviews)** | [4.3 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/courier-journal/id525811534/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.4K** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | 44.6% of reviews | **49.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #155 | **#85** |
| Size | 88 MB | 188 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Gray Television Group, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/416888140) | [USA TODAY Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/404843797) |

## What reviewers say

### WDRB+WAVE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wdrb-plus-wave/id466477444)

**Currently charting:** #155 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Access local news, weather, traffic, and sports from Louisville and surrounding areas. Stay informed with real-time updates, weather radar, and alerts. Submit your own stories to contribute to the community.

**Highlights:** Local news coverage, Weather radar, Real-time alerts, Traffic updates, Sports scores, Story submission

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Courier Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/courier-journal/id525811534)

**Currently charting:** #85 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers, #113 Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

Access local news, in-depth journalism, and a digital replica of the print edition. Get breaking news alerts, sports scores, and weather updates. Customize your reading experience with offline access and adjustable text size.

**Highlights:** In-depth local journalism, Breaking news and alerts, Digital eNewspaper replica, Customizable reading experience, Offline reading, Sports coverage

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Digital Rate | $19.99 | per month |
| Annual Digital Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Monthly Digital Rate | $24.99 | per month |
| The Courier-Journal Digital Subscription | $24.99 | per month |
| The Courier-Journal Annual Digital Subscription | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good app for reading the newspaper
- 👍 Ease of e-paper
- 👍 Enjoy keeping up with local and national news
- 👍 Solid journalism

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy at times
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate
- 🐛 Requires frequent sign-in
- 🐛 Outdated content

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Subscription problems
- Printing and viewing issues
- Unreliable updates

**Requested features**

- Bring back old app
- Improve layout and readability
- Add more local news coverage
- Improve login and account management
- Provide print-friendly version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WDRB+WAVE free?

WDRB+WAVE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Courier Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WDRB+WAVE or Courier Journal?

WDRB+WAVE is rated higher. WDRB+WAVE averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.4K ratings, while Courier Journal averages 4.3 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do WDRB+WAVE or Courier Journal have ads?

Both WDRB+WAVE and Courier Journal show ads.

### Which is updated more often, WDRB+WAVE or Courier Journal?

WDRB+WAVE ships an update every 2 months, and Courier Journal every 3 weeks. Most recently, WDRB+WAVE was updated on September 25, 2026 and Courier Journal on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, WDRB+WAVE or Courier Journal?

WDRB+WAVE currently peaks at #155 in the App Store charts, and Courier Journal at #85. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*