# The Spectrum vs AIM COUNCIL

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AIM COUNCIL at none against The Spectrum's 4. AIM COUNCIL also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price 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. AIM COUNCIL asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Spectrum ships an update monthly, AIM COUNCIL every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Spectrum | AIM COUNCIL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-spectrum/id520602256/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **160** | — |
| Positive reviews | 65.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 184 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [USA TODAY Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/404843797) | [Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Bahrain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1185847627) |

## 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

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**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 |


### AIM COUNCIL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aim-council/id1453639159)

**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 AIM COUNCIL free?

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

### Do The Spectrum or AIM COUNCIL have ads?

The Spectrum shows ads; AIM COUNCIL does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Spectrum or AIM COUNCIL?

The Spectrum ships an update monthly, and AIM COUNCIL every 5 days. Most recently, The Spectrum was updated on October 23, 2026 and AIM COUNCIL on October 19, 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.*