# The National E vs Railnews

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The National E at 67% against Railnews's 0%. The National E also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 21). Railnews's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Railnews sells 21 in-app purchases, starting at $15.99 per 6 months. The National E asks for nothing beyond the download.

The National E ships an update every 8 months, Railnews every 12 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The National E | Railnews |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-national-e-reader/id522987896/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **138** | — |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 45 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PressReader Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/313904714) | [Jellyfish Connect Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/373521339) |

## What reviewers say

### The National E

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-national-e-reader/id522987896)

Access and read The National Newspaper exactly as it appears in its print edition. Stay informed with the latest news presented in a familiar layout. This application provides a direct digital replica of the physical publication.

**Highlights:** Read print edition replica, Access latest news, Digital newspaper format, Familiar layout

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Railnews

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railnews/id643304684)

This publication delivers in-depth editorial and reader opinions on the rail industry. Access current and back issues, or subscribe for ongoing content. Protect your purchases by registering for an account.

**Highlights:** In-depth editorial content, Reader views and opinions, Purchase current and back issues, Subscription options available, Account registration for purchase protection, Cross-platform browsing of purchases

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

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Railnews Auto-Renewable Subscription | $15.99 | per 6 months |
| Railnews Auto-Renewable Subscription | $26.99 | per year |
| Railnews August 2014 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Dec-15 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Nov-15 | $2.99 | one-time |
| January 2016 (id:413528) | $2.99 | one-time |
| February 2016 (id:413530) | $2.99 | one-time |
| June 2016 (id:413538) | $2.99 | one-time |
| October 2023 (id:727086) | $2.99 | one-time |
| December 2023 (id:727082) | $2.99 | one-time |
| February 2024 (pp:1044371) | $2.99 | one-time |
| March 2024 (pp:1044365) | $2.99 | one-time |
| April 2024 (pp:1058416) | $2.99 | one-time |
| January 2025 (pp:1119962) | $2.99 | one-time |
| May 2025 (pp:1119954) | $2.99 | one-time |
| September 2024 (pp:1087442) | $2.99 | one-time |
| August 2024 (pp:1087448) | $2.99 | one-time |
| January 2024 (pp:1040169) | $3.99 | one-time |
| May 2026 (pp:1142953) | $3.99 | one-time |
| February 2026 (pp:1142931) | $3.99 | one-time |
| January 2026 (pp:1141885) | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The National E free?

The National E is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Railnews free?

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

### Do The National E or Railnews have ads?

The National E shows ads; Railnews does not.

### Which is updated more often, The National E or Railnews?

The National E ships an update every 8 months, and Railnews every 12 months. Most recently, The National E was updated on October 23, 2026 and Railnews on October 23, 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.*