# Bowhunter Specials vs SMSC App

The clearest difference is rating: SMSC App at 5.0 against Bowhunter Specials's 4.4. SMSC App also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 14) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 6 months). Bowhunter Specials's advantage is ratings volume (65 vs 2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bowhunter Specials sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. SMSC App asks for nothing beyond the download.

SMSC App holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bowhunter Specials has 65 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Bowhunter Specials ships an update every 6 months, SMSC App every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bowhunter Specials | SMSC App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bowhunter-specials/id582709452/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smsc-app/id1603898707/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **65** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 26 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KSE Sportsman Media, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/386234089) | [Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689636888) |

## What reviewers say

### Bowhunter Specials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bowhunter-specials/id582709452)

Access digital archives of leading bowhunting magazines, including back issues and special guides on crossbows, saddle hunting, and new gear. Enhance your hunting knowledge and gear selection with comprehensive resources.

**Highlights:** Digital back issues of Bowhunter magazine, Petersen's Bowhunting back issues archive, New Gear Guide with over 200 items, Crossbow Revolution special editions, Comprehensive saddle hunting guide, Archery Trade Show gear spotlights

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Year Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| February/March 2013 | $4.99 | one-time |
| April / May 2013 | $4.99 | one-time |
| August 2013 | $4.99 | one-time |
| September 2013 | $4.99 | one-time |
| October 2013 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Petersen's Bowhunting Nov/Dec 2013 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Petersen's Bowhunting March 2014 New Gear Guide | $4.99 | one-time |
| Petersen's Bowhunting September 2014 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Petersen's Bowhunting October 2014 | $4.99 | one-time |
| March 2016 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Nov/Dec 2023 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Tree Saddle Hunter 2024 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Tree Saddle Hunter 2023 | $7.99 | one-time |


### SMSC App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smsc-app/id1603898707)

This app provides community information for members of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Access news, events, and important updates relevant to the community.

**Highlights:** Community news, Event listings, Important updates, Member information

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bowhunter Specials free?

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

### Is SMSC App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bowhunter Specials or SMSC App?

SMSC App is rated higher. Bowhunter Specials averages 4.4 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while SMSC App averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Bowhunter Specials or SMSC App have ads?

Neither Bowhunter Specials nor SMSC App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bowhunter Specials or SMSC App?

Bowhunter Specials ships an update every 6 months, and SMSC App every 4 weeks. Most recently, Bowhunter Specials was updated on October 18, 2026 and SMSC App on October 3, 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.*