AppleInsider vs Tom’s Guide
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AppleInsider
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.
- 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
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The official AppleInsider app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch serves as the most up-to-date and reliable source for all things Apple. Since 1997, AppleInsider has been the best destination for Apple-related news, rumors, reviews, expert commentary and more. And with the AppleInsider app, you can take all those news, tips, commentary, and reviews with you on the go, staying a step ahead of your friends with breaking news alerts and finger-tip access to the latest Apple news and rumors. Features: - Be the first to know about breaking news and major announcements with push notifications sent directly to your device as they happen. - Access the AI YouTube video library to view product reviews, tutorials and more. - Listen to weekly podcasts and keep current with live Apple event coverage. - Subscribers can enjoy an ad-free viewing experience for $29.99 per year with an auto-renewable, annual subscription, or $2.99 a month. - Optimized for both iPhone and iPad. - Refreshed Apple Watch experience. AppleInsider Pro subscription available: Besides one year of ad-free content for $29.99, a one-month subscription is available for $2.99. Both subscription tiers will automatically renew until canceled. AppleInsider Pro Automatic-Renewal Feature: Your AppleInsider Pro digital subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of your current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal, $29.99 per year, within 24 hours prior to the end of your current period. Current subscriptions may not be canceled during the active subscription period, but you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. For complete terms and conditions, please see our Terms of Use (http://www.appleinsider.com/terms-of-use) and Privacy Policy (http://www.appleinsider.com/privacy).
Tom’s Guide
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Tom’s Guide upgrades your life by helping you decide what technology to buy and how to get the most out of it. We've tested out all the latest products to help inform your buying decisions and work hard to surface the best deals to help you save money along the way. What to expect from the Tom’s Guide app: - Buying guides: We spend thousands of hours testing each product in our buying guides to find the best technology for every budget. - Personalize your feed: From AI to gaming, pick the topics you want to read about. - In-depth analysis: Every review we publish helps you stay equipped with the most information before making a purchase. - Maximize your tech: From finding hidden phone features to the best workout gear and exercises, we help you master your technology long after the initial buying process. - Save articles for later: tap the menu on any article to bookmark it. - Search: Use our smart search tool to find the tech you’re interested in. - Savings Squad: The Tom’s Guide Savings Squad is a crack team of tech money saving experts with the singular mission of helping you get what you want for the best price, every time. Auto-renewing subscriptions: - When you purchase a subscription payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. - Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user at auto-renewal and may be turned off by going to your Device Settings after purchase. - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. - The app may offer a free trial or introductory offer. At the end of the free trial or introductory offer period, the full price of the subscription will be charged thereafter. - For Future Publishing’s Privacy Policy please visit: https://www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy/ - For Future Publishing’s Terms of Use, please visit: https://www.futureplc.com/terms-conditions https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Tom’s Guide at every 2 weeks against AppleInsider's every 8 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. AppleInsider sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Tom’s Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
AppleInsider ships an update every 8 months, Tom’s Guide every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AppleInsider | Tom’s Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (49 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 29.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 49 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.7 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 130 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Crafted | Future plc |
Bugs and requests
AppleInsider
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes on iOS 14 and newer
- Articles not loading properly
- Widget functionality broken
- Subscription issues and lack of cancellation options
Requested features
6 requests- Dark mode option
- Customizable notification settings
- Ability to mark articles as read
- App badge to show unread articles
- iPad-optimized layout
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- Landscape mode support for videos
Tom’s Guide
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
AppleInsider
- Pro$2.991 Month
- Pro$29.991 Year
- AppleInsider Subscription (1 Month)$0.99
- AppleInsider Subscription (3 Months)$2.99
- AppleInsider Subscription (6 Months)$4.99
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- AppleInsider Subscription (1 Year)$8.99
Tom’s Guide
- Tom's Guide Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
- Tom's Guide Annual Subscription$19.991 Year
Questions
Is AppleInsider free?
Is Tom’s Guide free?
Do AppleInsider or Tom’s Guide have ads?
Which is updated more often, AppleInsider or Tom’s Guide?
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