# AppleInsider vs NewsBudz

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NewsBudz at 100% against AppleInsider's 29%. NewsBudz also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.3) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). AppleInsider's advantage is update cadence (every 8 months vs every 26 months). 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 NewsBudz sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

NewsBudz holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 49 and 28 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of AppleInsider's written reviews are positive against 100% of NewsBudz's.

AppleInsider ships an update every 8 months, NewsBudz every 26 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppleInsider | NewsBudz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appleinsider/id578462575/reviews) | **[4.7 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsbudz/id1465984183/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 28 |
| Positive reviews | 29.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 months** | Every 26 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 19 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.7 | **12.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Crafted](https://appshunter.io/developer/578462578) | [GlassWave LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/391637976) |

## 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


### NewsBudz

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsbudz/id1465984183)

Stay informed with the latest cannabis and medical marijuana news. This app aggregates trending headlines and developments from over 35 sources, covering adult use, recreational, and medical applications.

**Highlights:** Aggregates news from 35+ sources, Covers adult use and recreational news, Features medical marijuana developments, Easy-to-read format, Trending headlines and developments

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $14.99 | one-time |
| Amazing Tip | $42.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AppleInsider free?

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

### Is NewsBudz free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AppleInsider or NewsBudz?

NewsBudz is rated higher. AppleInsider averages 3.3 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while NewsBudz averages 4.7 from 28 ratings.

### Do AppleInsider or NewsBudz have ads?

Both AppleInsider and NewsBudz show ads.

### Which is updated more often, AppleInsider or NewsBudz?

AppleInsider ships an update every 8 months, and NewsBudz every 26 months. Most recently, AppleInsider was updated on October 29, 2026 and NewsBudz on October 21, 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.*