# Mac Fan vs Pen

The clearest difference is rating: Pen at 4.0 against Mac Fan's 1.0. Pen also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Mac Fan's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (6.1 vs 9.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mac Fan sells 27 in-app purchases, starting at $6.49 per month and Pen sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pen holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 10% of Mac Fan's written reviews are positive against 7% of Pen's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Mac Fan ships an update every 2 months, Pen every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mac Fan | Pen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mac-fan/id469315086/reviews) | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pen/id471302082/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **9.5% of reviews** | 6.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 22 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.1** | 9.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [DENTSU INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/326362308) | [CE Media House Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1015059153) |

## What reviewers say

### Mac Fan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mac-fan/id469315086)

This monthly magazine app focuses on Apple's Mac computers, offering easy-to-understand and engaging content. Subscribe to access all editorial articles, with options for monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual plans. Enjoy a free trial month on annual subscriptions.

**Highlights:** Monthly Mac-focused magazine, Subscription plans available, Access to all editorial articles, Free trial for annual subscriptions, Newsstand compatible, Content for Mac enthusiasts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (27)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mac Fan | $6.49 | per month |
| Mac Fan | $17.49 | per 3 months |
| Mac Fan | $29.99 | per year |
| Mac Fan | $30.99 | per 6 months |
| Mac Fan　2016年5月号 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2023年10月号 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年4月号 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan 2018年2月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2023年12月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年1月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年2月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年3月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2025年9月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2025年7月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2025年5月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2025年3月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年5・6月合併号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年7月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年9月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2025年1月号 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2023年9月号 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2023年11月号 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年5・6月合併号 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2026年2月号 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2026年5月号 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2025年11月号 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Mac Fan　2024年11月号 | $9.99 | one-time |


### Pen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pen/id471302082)

This app offers a digital lifestyle magazine for design-conscious adults, focusing on products, fashion, and homes. It explores various themes through the lens of design, catering to a sophisticated male audience. Subscribers gain access to monthly issues and can purchase individual copies.

**Highlights:** Digital lifestyle magazine, Design-focused content, Product, fashion, and home themes, Monthly issues (twice a month), Individual issue purchases, Subscription options

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Penの定期購読 | $6.99 | per month |
| Penの定期購読 | $19.49 | per 3 months |
| Penの定期購読 | $67.99 | per year |
| Pen　2015年　11/15号 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pen　2016年　1/1・15号 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pen　2016年　3/1号 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pen　2016年　3/15号 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pen　2020年 3/1号 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pen 2020年 8/1号 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pen　2019年 3/1号 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pen＋　手塚治虫 | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mac Fan free?

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

### Is Pen free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mac Fan or Pen?

Pen is rated higher. Mac Fan averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Pen averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Mac Fan or Pen have ads?

Neither Mac Fan nor Pen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mac Fan or Pen?

Mac Fan ships an update every 2 months, and Pen every 6 months. Most recently, Mac Fan was updated on September 17, 2026 and Pen on September 12, 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.*