# The National E vs Benalla Ensign

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The National E at 67% against Benalla Ensign's 0%. The National E also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 8 months vs every 17 months). Benalla Ensign's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Benalla Ensign sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. The National E asks for nothing beyond the download.

The National E ships an update every 8 months, Benalla Ensign every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The National E | Benalla Ensign |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 17 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 45 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PressReader Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/313904714) | [MCPHERSON NEWSPAPERS PROPRIETARY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483144367) |

## 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


### Benalla Ensign

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/benalla-ensign/id882072937)

Stay informed with breaking news and top stories delivered directly to your device. Access exclusive content, including daily puzzles and games, with a premium subscription.

**Highlights:** Breaking headlines, Push notifications, Digital Premium subscription, Today's Paper access, Daily Crosswords, Daily Sudoku

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Digital Premium | $5.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The National E free?

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

### Is Benalla Ensign free?

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

### Do The National E or Benalla Ensign have ads?

The National E shows ads; Benalla Ensign does not.

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

The National E ships an update every 8 months, and Benalla Ensign every 17 months. Most recently, The National E was updated on October 10, 2026 and Benalla Ensign on October 8, 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.*