# Scientific American vs Domus

The clearest difference is rating: Scientific American at 4.8 against Domus's 4.1. Scientific American also leads on ratings volume (10K vs 11) and chart position (#103 vs unranked). Domus's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (84% vs 48%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scientific American sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Domus sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scientific American holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scientific American has 10K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 48% of Scientific American's written reviews are positive against 84% of Domus's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Scientific American ships an update every 5 months, Domus every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scientific American | Domus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scientific-american/id514734550/reviews)** | [4.1 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/domus/id556531557/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 48.4% of reviews | **84.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#103** | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Springer Nature America, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/349659425) | [Editoriale Domus SpA](https://appshunter.io/developer/299629227) |

## What reviewers say

### Scientific American

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scientific-american/id514734550)

**Currently charting:** #103 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access expert insights on groundbreaking science and technology advances. Stay informed with news, commentary, and in-depth features from leading scientists. Explore the modern world through a trusted lens.

**Highlights:** Expert science and technology insights, News and commentary on current events, In-depth features by Nobel laureates, Coverage of important scientific advances, Essential guide to the modern world

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Scientific American - 1 year Subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Scientific American October 2012 issue | $5.99 | one-time |
| Scientific American February 2013 issue | $5.99 | one-time |
| Scientific American August 2013 issue | $5.99 | one-time |
| Scientific American September 2013 issue | $5.99 | one-time |
| Scientific American January 2014 issue | $5.99 | one-time |
| Scientific American issue for November 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Scientific American issue for September 2015 | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great reading experience
- 👍 Intuitive navigation
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 Broad range of topics
- 👍 Reliable content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Subscription issues and login problems
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance and crashes
- 🐛 Buggy downloads and lost content
- 🐛 Lack of offline reading options
- 🐛 Outdated and poor app design

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent login issues and lost subscriptions
- Unreliable downloads and disappearing content
- Crashes and performance problems, especially on newer iOS
- Outdated app design and lack of modern features

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved bookmarking and article saving
- Better search and organization tools
- Ability to adjust font size and display settings
- Seamless sync across devices


### Domus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/domus/id556531557)

Access the latest and past issues of a renowned architecture and design magazine on your tablet, smartphone, or desktop. Enjoy offline reading with stunning visuals and easy navigation. Offers various subscription options and single issue purchases.

**Highlights:** Digital magazine access, Offline reading, Stunning photography, Access to past issues, Multi-device compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Domus | $5.49 | per month |
| Domus (3 issues) | $13.49 | per 3 months |
| Domus (11 issues) | $39.99 | per year |
| Domus 965EN | $5.99 | one-time |
| Domus 982 July 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Domus 984 September 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Domus 987 December 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Domus, March 2016 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Domus, July 2016 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Domus, January 2017 | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scientific American free?

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

### Is Domus free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scientific American or Domus?

Scientific American is rated higher. Scientific American averages 4.8 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Domus averages 4.1 from 11 ratings.

### Do Scientific American or Domus have ads?

Neither Scientific American nor Domus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scientific American or Domus?

Scientific American ships an update every 5 months, and Domus every 2 months. Most recently, Scientific American was updated on November 9, 2026 and Domus on November 6, 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.*