# Architectural Digest vs Sotheby's

The clearest difference is rating: Architectural Digest at 4.7 against Sotheby's's 3.4. Architectural Digest also leads on ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#141 vs unranked). Sotheby's's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Architectural Digest sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Sotheby's asks for nothing beyond the download.

Architectural Digest holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 432 and 95 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Architectural Digest's written reviews are positive against 24% of Sotheby's's.

Architectural Digest ships an update every 4 months, Sotheby's every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Architectural Digest | Sotheby's |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (432 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/architectural-digest/id533890256/reviews)** | [3.4 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sothebys/id1061156465/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **432** | 95 |
| Positive reviews | **28.8% of reviews** | 24.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#141** | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Advance Magazine Publishers Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/289380416) | [Sotheby's](https://appshunter.io/developer/393122746) |

## What reviewers say

### Architectural Digest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/architectural-digest/id533890256)

**Currently charting:** #141 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Explore the world's most stunning homes and get insights into architecture and interior design. Discover top talent and exclusive content from the international authority on design.

**Highlights:** Exclusive access to beautiful homes, Architecture and interior design insights, Information on art, antiques, and travel, AD100 list of top architects and designers, Complimentary articles for non-subscribers

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One Month Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Discounted Subscription Holiday 2015 | $14.99 | per year |
| One Year Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| December 2013 | $5.99 | one-time |
| April 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| June 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| July 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| December 2014 | $5.99 | one-time |
| February 2015 | $5.99 | one-time |
| March 2016 | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Inspiring content
- 🎨 Sophisticated design
- 📷 Excellent photography
- 🏠 Curated home tours

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult navigation
- 🔍 Unintuitive user interface
- 🔍 Lack of landscape mode
- 📱 Incompatibility with subscriptions
- 🔍 Confusing subscription management

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and stability issues
- Inability to download or access issues
- Subscription syncing problems across devices

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode for two-page spreads
- Improved navigation and content organization
- Seamless subscription management and linking
- Enhanced image viewing and zoom capabilities
- Accessibility features for visually impaired users


### Sotheby's

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sothebys/id1061156465)

Access extraordinary art, precious objects, wine, and jewelry from auctions worldwide. Track bids, register for auctions, and explore past and upcoming sales with expert insights.

**Highlights:** Bid in live and online auctions, Track bids and registrations, Browse open, upcoming, and past auctions, Search past and present lots, Manage profile and view purchases, Access favorite auctions and lots

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Beautiful photography and content
- 👍 Easy to navigate (for some)
- ✅ Great for browsing and viewing auctions
- 🤩 Interactive and engaging
- 🖼️ Elegant design

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Core functionality missing
- 📉 Poor user experience
- 🚫 App is useless for many
- 😵 Confusing new format
- 📱 Not compatible with older phones

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot sort auction lots
- Cannot follow, view, or bid
- App crashes on launch
- ID verification camera not focusing
- Photo upload issues

**Requested features**

- Allow sorting of auction lots
- Improve search functionality
- Enable calendar integration
- Make app landscape compatible
- Simplify personalization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Architectural Digest free?

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

### Is Sotheby's free?

Sotheby's is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Architectural Digest or Sotheby's?

Architectural Digest is rated higher. Architectural Digest averages 4.7 out of 5 from 432 ratings, while Sotheby's averages 3.4 from 95 ratings.

### Do Architectural Digest or Sotheby's have ads?

Sotheby's shows ads; Architectural Digest does not.

### Which is updated more often, Architectural Digest or Sotheby's?

Architectural Digest ships an update every 4 months, and Sotheby's every 2 weeks. Most recently, Architectural Digest was updated on October 15, 2026 and Sotheby's on October 9, 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.*