# BrainPOP Jr. vs NewsMaker

The clearest difference is rating: BrainPOP Jr. at 4.6 against NewsMaker's 3.6. BrainPOP Jr. also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 33%) and ratings volume (21K vs 14). NewsMaker's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BrainPOP Jr. sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and NewsMaker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BrainPOP Jr. holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrainPOP Jr. has 21K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of BrainPOP Jr.'s written reviews are positive against 33% of NewsMaker's.

BrainPOP Jr. ships an update every 6 weeks, NewsMaker every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainPOP Jr. | NewsMaker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainpop-jr/id536371867/reviews)** | [3.6 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsmaker/id933686341/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **72.3% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BrainPOP®](https://appshunter.io/developer/364894355) | [Teevers Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1419472174) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainPOP Jr.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainpop-jr/id536371867)

This app offers engaging animated movies, interactive activities, and quizzes for K-3 learners. It aims to transform passive screen time into active, enriched educational experiences with relatable characters guiding children through various subjects. The platform is designed to foster critical thinking and independent learning.

**Highlights:** Animated movies, Interactive activities, Quizzes, K-3 curriculum, Critical thinking focus, Independent learning

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BrainPOP Jr. Explorer Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Full Access Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| BrainPOP Jr. Monthly Combo | $19.99 | per month |
| Full Access Yearly | $119.00 | per year |
| BrainPOP Jr. Yearly Combo | $159.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Makes learning fun
- 👍 Engaging videos and quizzes
- 👍 Helpful for homeschooling and supplemental learning
- 👍 Informative and educational content
- 👍 Funny and entertaining

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 💰 Lack of free content
- 🐛 Crashes and technical issues
- 👎 Limited content selection

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to subscribe
- Videos not loading properly
- Quiz functionality not working

**Requested features**

- More free videos and content
- Lower subscription pricing
- Improved device compatibility
- Expanded topic coverage
- Better navigation and organization


### NewsMaker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsmaker/id933686341)

Create and share your own video news with this comprehensive tool. Features include a teleprompter, voiceover capabilities, animated intros, and virtual accessories. Collaborate with friends remotely and host your videos on a personal news channel.

**Highlights:** Teleprompter for scripts, Voiceover for videos and images, Animated trailer library, Background music overlay, Virtual accessories, Remote collaboration, Personal news channel

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-Year NewsMaker Subscription | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainPOP Jr. free?

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

### Is NewsMaker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BrainPOP Jr. or NewsMaker?

BrainPOP Jr. is rated higher. BrainPOP Jr. averages 4.6 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while NewsMaker averages 3.6 from 14 ratings.

### Do BrainPOP Jr. or NewsMaker have ads?

Neither BrainPOP Jr. nor NewsMaker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainPOP Jr. or NewsMaker?

BrainPOP Jr. ships an update every 6 weeks, and NewsMaker every 2 months. Most recently, BrainPOP Jr. was updated on November 7, 2026 and NewsMaker on November 6, 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.*