Comparison

Octane Magazine vs Auto Express

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

Head to head
About

Octane Magazine

Explore the world of classic cars with expert insights and exclusive content. Discover top events, browse thousands of vehicles for sale, and build your collection of past issues. Share your passion for automotive history.

Highlights
  • Expert insights into classic cars
  • Exclusive content from contributors
  • Information on top classic car events
  • Thousands of classic cars for sale
  • Bookmark favorite articles
  • Searchable content
  • Build a collection of past issues
Features
Read full description

Octane is the authoritative guide to the best classic cars the world has to offer. Each issue gives you an exclusive insight into the world of classic cars from our experienced and expert contributors, and also our celebrity columnists such as Jay Leno and Nick Mason. Octane also brings you the top events plus offers thousands of classic cars for sale to help you find your dream car! With Octane Magazine Replica, you can bookmark your favourite articles, easily search for your favourite content and build a collection of past issues. Share your passion for classic cars with Octane today. All the subscriptions are auto-renewable subscription directly from the App Store. Payment will be charged to your App Store Account at confirmation of purchase. This subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period, your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. The cost of the renewal will match the initial subscription price. You can manage your subscriptions through your Account Settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Subscription costs: 12 month subscription at £45.99 Please click here to read our Privacy Policy: http://www.dennis.co.uk/privacy and here to read our Terms of Use: http://www.dennis.co.uk/subs/terms

About

Auto Express

Access the UK's top-selling weekly car magazine on your iPhone or iPad. Get the latest car news, in-depth reviews, group tests, and coverage of motoring issues that matter. Stay informed about new models, car verdicts, and transport policy.

Highlights
  • Latest car news and reviews
  • In-depth car group tests
  • Ground-breaking features
  • Product reviews
  • Motoring issues coverage
  • New model insights
Features
Read full description

The digital edition of Auto Express brings the UK’s best-selling weekly car magazine to your iPhone or iPad. Auto Express gives you the very latest car news and reviews, with in-depth car group tests, ground-breaking features, product reviews and top-quality coverage of the motoring issues that matter. Whether it’s inside info on the hottest new models, the definitive verdict on the best cars on sale, or the lowdown on the Government’s latest transport policy, we provide everything you need for your weekly motoring fix. All the subscriptions are auto-renewable subscription directly from the App Store. Payment will be charged to your App Store Account at confirmation of purchase. This subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period, your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. The cost of the renewal will match the initial subscription price. You can manage your subscriptions through your Account Settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Subscription costs: 3 month sub £17.99 6 month sub £35.99 12 month sub £69.99 Please click here to read our Privacy Policy: http://www.dennis.co.uk/privacy and here to read our Terms of Use: http://www.dennis.co.uk/subs/terms

Screenshots

Octane Magazine4 screens
Auto Express4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Octane Magazine at 4.8 against Auto Express's 4.4. Octane Magazine also leads on ratings volume (213 vs 16). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Octane Magazine sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $44.99 per year and Auto Express sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $19.49 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Octane Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Octane Magazine has 213 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of Octane Magazine's written reviews are positive against 32% of Auto Express's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Octane Magazine ships an update every 3 months, Auto Express every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Octane Magazine versus Auto Express: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOctane MagazineAuto Express
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (213 ratings) — better4.4 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews26.5% of reviews32.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings213 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHothouse PublishingCarwow Studio Limited

Customer experience

Octane Magazine

All ratings213 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral0.5%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive26.5%
Neutral5.9%
Negative67.6%

Auto Express

All ratings16 ratings
Positive81.3%
Neutral12.5%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews71 reviews
Positive32.4%
Neutral11.3%
Negative56.3%

Bugs and requests

Octane Magazine

Reported bugs

29 issues
  • App not working on iOS 17
  • Auto-renewal issues
  • No delivery for subscribed issues
  • App denied access to new issues
  • Downloads with no content
Show 24 more
  • Slow magazine release
  • Strained eyes reading text on mobile
  • Top 1/3 of page hidden by menu bar
  • Past issues gone
  • Unstable product
  • No access to issues over 12 months old
  • Old issues disappeared
  • Paid issues no longer readable
  • Only current year issues viewable
  • New app is worse than old
  • Photos split across pages in landscape
  • Lost old issues with new app
  • Previous purchases not carried over
  • Login required frequently
  • Purchases disappear
  • Customer service silent/nonexistent
  • Charged but no access
  • Confused by subscription carry-over
  • No easy way to carry over subscription
  • Lost interactivity from original app
  • Double pages split photos
  • App crashes immediately
  • Not an interactive magazine
  • Subscription doesn't include digital version

Requested features

8 requests
  • Showcase the Honda S2000
  • Improve app for laptop viewing
  • Restore access to older issues
  • Improve landscape view for photos
  • Make app interactive like original version
Show 3 more
  • Add back original interactive features
  • Fix app crashes
  • Include digital version with print subscription

Auto Express

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Octane Magazine

Subscriptions2
  • Octane: Auto Renewing Subscription$44.991 Year
  • 12 Month Subscription$49.991 Year
One-time8
  • Octane Magazine: December 2012$4.99
  • Octane Magazine: September 2013$4.99
  • August 2016 of Octane Magazine Replica$4.99
Show 5 more
  • November 2016 of Octane Magazine Replica$4.99
  • October 2016 of Octane Magazine Replica$4.99
  • July 2016 of Octane Magazine Replica$4.99
  • May 2016 of Octane Magazine Replica$4.99
  • April 2016 of Octane Magazine Replica$4.99
10 purchases

Auto Express

Subscriptions4
  • 3 Month Subscription$19.493 Months
  • Auto Express subscription1 Month trial$20.993 Months
  • Auto Express subscription1 Month trial$129.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • 12 Month Subscription$129.991 Year
One-time6
  • Issue 1449 of Auto Express Magazine Replica$2.99
  • Issue 1432 of Auto Express Magazine Replica$2.99
  • Issue 1425 of Auto Express Magazine Replica$2.99
Show 3 more
  • Issue 1423 of Auto Express Magazine Replica$2.99
  • Issue 1422 of Auto Express Magazine Replica$2.99
  • Issue 1421 of Auto Express Magazine Replica$2.99

Questions

Is Octane Magazine free?
Octane Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Auto Express free?
Auto Express is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Octane Magazine or Auto Express?
Octane Magazine is rated higher. Octane Magazine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 213 ratings, while Auto Express averages 4.4 from 16 ratings.
Do Octane Magazine or Auto Express have ads?
Neither Octane Magazine nor Auto Express shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Octane Magazine or Auto Express?
Octane Magazine ships an update every 3 months, and Auto Express every 2 months. Most recently, Octane Magazine was updated on November 6, 2026 and Auto Express on November 6, 2026.

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