# The Northern Echo vs Bylines

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bylines at 87% against The Northern Echo's 39%. Bylines also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Northern Echo sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Bylines asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Northern Echo ships an update every 5 months, Bylines every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Northern Echo | Bylines |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bylines/id1613752209/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 39.1% of reviews | **86.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 147 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Newsquest](https://appshunter.io/developer/504547133) | [Cliff Mitchell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1208940805) |

## What reviewers say

### The Northern Echo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-northern-echo/id505935823)

Stay informed with local news, sports, and cultural features from the North East. Enjoy ad-free reading, digital newspapers, and interactive puzzles. Listen to articles on the go with the audio player.

**Highlights:** Live news and sport updates, Ad-free reading experience, Daily digital newspapers, Interactive puzzles (crosswords, sudoku), Article audio player, Coverage of local teams

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Subscription | $13.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Month Subscription | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


### Bylines

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bylines/id1613752209)

Access all content from the Byline Network, including regional publications, TV videos, and articles. This app serves as a central hub for citizen journalism, allowing users to read, share, and stay updated on the latest news.

**Highlights:** Access Byline Network content, Read regional publications, Watch Byline TV videos, Browse Byline Times articles, Share articles, Refresh for new content

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Northern Echo free?

The Northern Echo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bylines free?

Bylines is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do The Northern Echo or Bylines have ads?

Neither The Northern Echo nor Bylines shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Northern Echo or Bylines?

The Northern Echo ships an update every 5 months, and Bylines every 3 months. Most recently, The Northern Echo was updated on November 6, 2026 and Bylines on November 3, 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.*