Comparison

Smithsonian Magazine vs FlipPhonic

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

Head to head
About

Smithsonian Magazine

Access a digital version of a renowned magazine covering history, science, culture, and travel. Enjoy in-depth articles, photos, and departments. Purchase single issues or subscribe for ongoing access to engaging content.

Highlights
  • Digital magazine issues
  • History and archaeology articles
  • Cutting-edge science reporting
  • Virtual travel and culture features
  • In-app subscriptions and single purchases
Features
Read full description

Enjoy an iOS compatible issue of Smithsonian magazine on your iPhone or iPad. The issue includes every story, department, photo and more. Subscriptions and single copies are available for purchase within the app. Smithsonian magazine delivers trusted and incisive reporting on history, science, nature, culture and travel. * Explore history and archaeology from the earliest days of civilization to secrets of American history to the latest historical discoveries * Catch up on cutting-edge science from wildlife to evolution and the solar system * Travel the world virtually from Petra to Prague, taking in cultural treasures along the way ____________________________________________ SINGLE ISSUES: - Single issue, $3.99 (one time purchase, not ongoing) SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE: - One month for $1.99, automatically renewed until canceled - One year for $19.99, automatically renewed until canceled Smithsonian Magazine publishes 8 issues a year. Payment for any issue or subscription will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. SUBSCRIBERS AUTO-RENEWING FEATURE: Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and the cost of the renewal will be provided (yearly subscriptions will renew for another year and monthly subscriptions will renew for another month). Your subscription may be managed through your Account Settings after purchase. Auto-renewal may be turned off in Account Settings. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. Visit https://www.smithsonianmag.com/app/ and https://www.smithsonianmag.com/about/privacy/ for more information. ABOUT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: The Smithsonian Institution has inspired generations through knowledge and discovery since 1846. It's the world's largest complex of museums and research facilities, and it focuses on four core areas: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe, Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet, World Cultures, and the American Experience. Privacy Statement: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/about/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.si.edu/termsofuse **Please note that the minimum requirements for Smithsonian Magazine is iOS 13 or higher.**

About

FlipPhonic

Features
Read full description

Flip any word or phrase backwards — then hear it spoken out loud in a realistic AI voice. FlipPhonic turns "hello" into "olleh," reads it back in the voice you pick, and makes it ridiculously fun to share. Type anything, tap play, and listen. Spell it out letter by letter, sound it out phonetically, or say it straight. Pick from 300+ expressive AI voices — or start free with a hand-picked set of favorites. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Reverse words and phrases and hear them in lifelike AI voices • Choose from 300+ voices, from booming and villainous to warm and friendly • Skits: stage a back-and-forth between multiple voices and play it as one clip — with per-line "spell it out" and "sound it out" modes • Add background music under any flip or skit, with Soft, Medium, and Loud volume • Daily Word: a fresh word to flip every day, build a streak, and set an optional reminder • Tune any voice and add playful effects — telephone, underwater, stadium, vinyl, robot, and more • Save, favorite, tag, and organize your best clips into collections • Export as audio (MP3/M4A), save to Files, loop it, or render a shareable waveform video • Phrase Deck: generate a whole batch of flips at once FLIPPHONIC PLUS Unlock the full experience: every voice, longer phrases, all playback speeds, voice effects and tuning, background music, unlimited skits, batch generation, web share links, and optional iCloud sync across your devices. Prefer to pay once? Grab the lifetime Pro Unlock. Just need more generations? Add a generation pack anytime. No account required. No ads. No tracking. Your saved clips stay on your device unless you choose to turn on iCloud sync. — FlipPhonic Plus subscription (US pricing; may vary by region): • FlipPhonic Plus (Monthly) — $3.99/month • FlipPhonic Plus (Yearly) — $29.99/year Also available: Pro Unlock (one-time lifetime) — $44.99, and generation packs from $0.99. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://flipphonic.app/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://flipphonic.app/terms.html

Screenshots

Smithsonian Magazine4 screens
FlipPhonic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: FlipPhonic at every 2 months against Smithsonian Magazine's every 5 months. Smithsonian Magazine's advantage is chart position (#171 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Smithsonian Magazine sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and FlipPhonic sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smithsonian Magazine ships an update every 5 months, FlipPhonic every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Smithsonian Magazine versus FlipPhonic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmithsonian MagazineFlipPhonic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (430 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews22.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings430 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#171 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmithsonian InstitutionOmnia Data Analytics LLC

Bugs and requests

Smithsonian Magazine

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unable to download new issues
  • Fails to remember last read position
  • Incompatible with newer iOS versions
  • Incorrect issue labeling in library

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow login with existing subscription
  • Restore previously downloaded issues
  • Improve stability and performance
  • Provide better customer support

FlipPhonic

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Smithsonian Magazine

Subscriptions3
  • Smithsonian Annual Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Smithsonian Annual Subscription$19.991 Year
  • 12-Month Subscription$19.991 Year
One-time3
  • Smithsonian Magazine5 variants$3.99
  • Smithsonian Magazine - February 2014$3.99
  • Smithsonian Magazine - September 2014$3.99
6 purchases

FlipPhonic

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Plus3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time4
  • 50 pack$0.99
  • 200 Pack$2.99
  • 500 Pack$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Lifetime 1000 generations / 30 days$44.99

Questions

Is Smithsonian Magazine free?
Smithsonian Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FlipPhonic free?
FlipPhonic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Smithsonian Magazine or FlipPhonic have ads?
Neither Smithsonian Magazine nor FlipPhonic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smithsonian Magazine or FlipPhonic?
Smithsonian Magazine ships an update every 5 months, and FlipPhonic every 2 months. Most recently, Smithsonian Magazine was updated on November 10, 2026 and FlipPhonic on November 5, 2026.

Other comparisons