The National E vs FT Digital Edition
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The National E
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.
- Read print edition replica
- Access latest news
- Digital newspaper format
- Familiar layout
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The National E-Reader Read The National Newspaper as it appears in print.
FT Digital Edition
Access the daily Financial Times newspaper delivered to your device. Enjoy exclusive digital magazines, translated articles, and a decade of archives. Listen to audio versions of top stories and read offline.
- Daily newspaper delivered to device
- Exclusive digital magazines
- Translated articles in 30+ languages
- Browse 10 years of previous editions
- Audio versions of top stories
- Download for offline reading
- Global editions and classic layout
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Your daily Financial Times newspaper, delivered to your device when it goes to print. Now with search to quickly find and save articles across editions. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT FROM THE FT APP • View global print editions editions in 3 reading modes • Editor-curated news in a classic newspaper layout • Exclusive digital access to FT magazines normally available only in print • Translate articles into 30+ languages • Access previous editions of the newspaper dating back 15 years APP FEATURES: • Search for and save articles across editions • Listen to articles with AI audio • Download editions to read offline • Set alerts to stay ahead of the day's news • Change the font size for easier reading EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINES INCLUDE: • HTSI (formerly ‘How To Spend It’): The FT's weekly, multi-award-winning luxury lifestyle magazine covering fashion, design, and the arts • FT Weekend Magazine: A supplement to the weekend edition of the Financial Times, featuring long-form journalism, investigations, photography, and international reporting • FT Wealth: Insights into wealth management and luxury living • The Art of Fashion: A special edition exploring the intersection of art and fashion • Business Education: Insights into executive education, MBA programs, and leadership development READING MODES • Headline view for quick browsing • Article view optimized for reading • Replica view to enjoy the full newspaper layout IS FT DIGITAL EDITION FOR YOU? Whether you're navigating global markets, exploring culture, or seeking fresh perspectives, the FT Digital Edition delivers expert, independent journalism you can trust. From Wall Street to Hong Kong, FT covers markets, politics, technology, climate policy, and industry-leading social research. Track economic shifts, follow business trends, and explore cultural movements with FT’s analysis and expertise. With reporting from over 50 countries, translation available in 30+ languages, and exclusive magazine content—including HTSI, FT Weekend Magazine, and FT Wealth—the FT Digital Edition is for those who think critically about the world. Whether you're planning your next trip to a cultural capital, deepening your understanding of global finance, or seeking fresh literary and lifestyle insights, stay engaged, informed, and inspired with FT. FINANCIAL TIMES ADVANTAGE: • Accurate, independent, and insightful journalism since 1888 • Unbiased reporting: expert commentary and analysis on business, politics, economics, finance, and more • Coverage across arts, real estate, fashion, food, books, technology, and beyond WHAT DOES IT COST? The FT Digital Edition offers comprehensive coverage and great value. Monthly pricing starts from $12.99, with discounts available for longer terms. Subscribe via the app or at https://www.ft.com/todaysnewspaper Terms and conditions apply. Read them at ft.com/terms We respect your privacy. Read our privacy policy at ft.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The National E at none against FT Digital Edition's 2. FT Digital Edition's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. FT Digital Edition sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $16.99 per month. The National E asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for The National E against 4.8 for FT Digital Edition. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FT Digital Edition has 2.9K ratings behind it against 138, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of The National E's written reviews are positive against 63% of FT Digital Edition's.
The National E ships an update every 8 months, FT Digital Edition every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The National E | FT Digital Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (138 ratings) | 4.8 (2.9K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better | 62.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 138 | 2.9K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PressReader Inc | Financial Times Ltd. |
Customer experience
The National E
FT Digital Edition
Bugs and requests
The National E
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
FT Digital Edition
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to log in and access the subscription
- Rendering issues with hyphens and other special characters
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between online and offline modes
Requested features
5 requests- Implement a full-screen mode for better reading experience
- Add a dark mode option for comfortable reading
- Improve the text-to-speech (audio) functionality to handle non-text elements better
- Introduce a search feature to easily find articles and content
- Enhance the offline reading capabilities to ensure consistent availability
In-app purchases
The National E
No in-app purchases
FT Digital Edition
- FT Digital Edition Monthly$16.991 Month
- FT Digital Edition$45.003 Months
Questions
Is The National E free?
Is FT Digital Edition free?
Which has better reviews, The National E or FT Digital Edition?
Do The National E or FT Digital Edition have ads?
Which is updated more often, The National E or FT Digital Edition?
Other comparisons
