# The Straits Times vs PPDB

The clearest difference is rating: PPDB at 5.0 against The Straits Times's 4.4. PPDB also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). The Straits Times's advantage is ratings volume (267 vs 2). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Straits Times sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. PPDB asks for nothing beyond the download.

PPDB holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Straits Times has 267 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The Straits Times ships an update every 3 weeks, PPDB monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Straits Times | PPDB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (267 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-straits-times/id547465441/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ppdb/id6483686113/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **267** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 19.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 311 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SPH Media Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1603779296) | [E-Government National Centre](https://appshunter.io/developer/945900968) |

## What reviewers say

### The Straits Times

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-straits-times/id547465441)

Access trusted news, trending stories, and lifestyle updates from Singapore and around the world. Enjoy smart summaries, immersive visuals, and podcasts. Subscribers gain unlimited access to exclusive content and the digital replica of the print edition.

**Highlights:** Trusted news from Singapore and beyond, Trending stories and lifestyle updates, Smart summaries and immersive visuals, Podcasts, Tailored experience with myST+, Digital replica of print edition

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ST weekly subscription | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| ST monthly subscription | $22.49 | per month |
| ST yearly subscription | $229.99 | per year |


### PPDB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ppdb/id6483686113)

Access the latest police news, public alerts, and safety tips from the Royal Brunei Police Force. Find police station locations and download selected forms for convenience.

**Highlights:** Latest police news, Public alerts and notices, Safety tips and awareness, Police station locations, Downloadable police forms

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Straits Times free?

The Straits Times is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PPDB free?

PPDB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Straits Times or PPDB?

PPDB is rated higher. The Straits Times averages 4.4 out of 5 from 267 ratings, while PPDB averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do The Straits Times or PPDB have ads?

The Straits Times shows ads; PPDB does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Straits Times or PPDB?

The Straits Times ships an update every 3 weeks, and PPDB monthly. Most recently, The Straits Times was updated on October 26, 2026 and PPDB 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.*