# The Mining Journal vs Observer & Eccentric

The clearest difference is rating: Observer & Eccentric at 4.6 against The Mining Journal's 1.0. Observer & Eccentric also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 31 months) and ratings volume (99 vs 2). The Mining Journal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Observer & Eccentric sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. The Mining Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Observer & Eccentric holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Observer & Eccentric has 99 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of The Mining Journal's written reviews are positive against 38% of Observer & Eccentric's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

The Mining Journal ships an update every 31 months, Observer & Eccentric monthly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Mining Journal | Observer & Eccentric |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-mining-journal/id561952966/reviews) | **[4.6 (99 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-and-eccentric/id900203119/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **99** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 38.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 31 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 185 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ogden Newspapers, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/490515349) | [USA TODAY Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/404843797) |

## What reviewers say

### The Mining Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-mining-journal/id561952966)

Access local and national news, sports, and features from the Marquette area and the North-Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Stay informed with breaking news alerts, full article search, and local classifieds like garage sales.

**Highlights:** Breaking News Alerts, Local News, Local Sports, Polls, Full Article Search, Garage Sales & Directions

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Observer & Eccentric

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-and-eccentric/id900203119)

Stay informed with local news, in-depth journalism, and engaging multimedia content. Get real-time alerts for breaking news, sports scores, and weather. Customize your reading experience and access content offline.

**Highlights:** In-depth journalism, Local news coverage, Photography and videos, Real-time notifications, Customizable reading experience, Offline reading

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Digital Rate | $9.99 | per month |
| O&E Digital Subscription | $16.99 | per month |
| Annual Digital Subscription | $69.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Mining Journal free?

The Mining Journal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Observer & Eccentric free?

Observer & Eccentric is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Mining Journal or Observer & Eccentric?

Observer & Eccentric is rated higher. The Mining Journal averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Observer & Eccentric averages 4.6 from 99 ratings.

### Do The Mining Journal or Observer & Eccentric have ads?

Observer & Eccentric shows ads; The Mining Journal does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Mining Journal or Observer & Eccentric?

The Mining Journal ships an update every 31 months, and Observer & Eccentric monthly. Most recently, The Mining Journal was updated on November 6, 2026 and Observer & Eccentric 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.*