# The Spectrum vs M360

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: M360 at none against The Spectrum's 4. M360 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Spectrum sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. M360 asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Spectrum ships an update monthly, M360 every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Spectrum | M360 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (159 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-spectrum/id520602256/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **159** | — |
| Positive reviews | 65.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 182 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [USA TODAY Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/404843797) | [Opoint AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1036764969) |

## What reviewers say

### The Spectrum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-spectrum/id520602256)

Access in-depth local journalism, including community events, sports, and photography. Enjoy a fast, customizable reading experience with real-time notifications and offline access. Includes a digital replica of the print edition and access to other eNewspapers.

**Highlights:** In-depth local journalism, Streamlined, fast-loading experience, Real-time notifications, Customizable reading experience, Offline reading, eNewspaper replica, Access to USA TODAY and other eNewspapers

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Digital Rate | $9.99 | per month |
| The Spectrum Digital Subscription | $16.99 | per month |
| The Spectrum Digital Subscription | $69.99 | per year |


### M360

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/m360/id1036764970)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Spectrum free?

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

### Is M360 free?

M360 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do The Spectrum or M360 have ads?

The Spectrum shows ads; M360 does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Spectrum or M360?

The Spectrum ships an update monthly, and M360 every 5 weeks. Most recently, The Spectrum was updated on September 21, 2026 and M360 on September 5, 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.*