# AppleInsider vs iDB app

The clearest difference is rating: iDB app at 3.9 against AppleInsider's 3.3. iDB app also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (64% vs 29%). AppleInsider's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AppleInsider sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and iDB app sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iDB app holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 49 and 79 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of AppleInsider's written reviews are positive against 64% of iDB app's.

AppleInsider ships an update every 8 months, iDB app every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppleInsider | iDB app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appleinsider/id578462575/reviews) | **[3.9 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idb-app/id1086682264/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 49 | **79** |
| Positive reviews | 29.4% of reviews | **64.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 19 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.7 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Crafted](https://appshunter.io/developer/578462578) | [Sebastien Page](https://appshunter.io/developer/1086682263) |

## What reviewers say

### AppleInsider

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appleinsider/id578462575)

Stay informed with the latest Apple news, rumors, and expert commentary on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Get breaking news alerts, access video reviews, and listen to podcasts. Subscribers enjoy an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Breaking news push notifications, AI YouTube video library, Weekly podcasts, Live Apple event coverage, Ad-free subscription option, Optimized for iPhone and iPad, Apple Watch experience

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| AppleInsider Subscription (1 Month) | $0.99 | one-time |
| AppleInsider Subscription (3 Months) | $2.99 | one-time |
| AppleInsider Subscription (6 Months) | $4.99 | one-time |
| AppleInsider Subscription (1 Year) | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Wide range of topics
- 👍 Informative and educational
- 👍 Excellent podcast
- 👍 Number one source for Apple news

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Cluttered and unintuitive UI
- 🐛 Crashes and loading issues
- 🔍 Ineffective search functionality
- 💰 Excessive price increase for subscription
- 🔍 New layout hides latest news

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iOS 14 and newer
- Articles not loading properly
- Widget functionality broken
- Subscription issues and lack of cancellation options

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Customizable notification settings
- Ability to mark articles as read
- App badge to show unread articles
- iPad-optimized layout


### iDB app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idb-app/id1086682264)

Stay informed with the latest Apple news, app reviews, and accessory updates. Get breaking news alerts, bookmark articles for later, and engage with a community of Apple enthusiasts. Unlock premium features like ad removal and offline reading through in-app purchases or a subscription.

**Highlights:** Latest Apple news headlines, Push notifications for important stories, Bookmark articles for later reading, Comment and share articles, Ad removal and offline reading, Community engagement

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Subscription | $8.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and fast navigation
- 👍 Clean and intuitive UI design
- 💡 Unique card-based article browsing
- 🔒 Secure login integration with 1Password

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes and freezes
- 💸 Intrusive full-screen ads
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📱 Lack of iPad support

**Reported bugs**

- Embedded videos not playing in landscape mode
- Article links sometimes redirecting to homepage

**Requested features**

- Search function for articles
- Customizable article view (list, grid, etc.)
- Push notifications for new articles
- Dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AppleInsider free?

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

### Is iDB app free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AppleInsider or iDB app?

iDB app is rated higher. AppleInsider averages 3.3 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while iDB app averages 3.9 from 79 ratings.

### Do AppleInsider or iDB app have ads?

Both AppleInsider and iDB app show ads.

### Which is updated more often, AppleInsider or iDB app?

AppleInsider ships an update every 8 months, and iDB app every 2 months. Most recently, AppleInsider was updated on October 13, 2026 and iDB app on September 25, 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.*