# The StarPhoenix ePaper vs Sparrow

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sparrow at none against The StarPhoenix ePaper's 2. Sparrow also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 28%). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The StarPhoenix ePaper sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Sparrow asks for nothing beyond the download.

The StarPhoenix ePaper ships an update every 9 months, Sparrow every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The StarPhoenix ePaper | Sparrow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-starphoenix-epaper/id604089222/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **16** | — |
| Positive reviews | 28.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 54 MB | 136 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Postmedia Network INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/406384675) | [Sparrow Connected Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1572006528) |

## What reviewers say

### The StarPhoenix ePaper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-starphoenix-epaper/id604089222)

Access a digital replica of the printed newspaper, featuring all original content, photos, and artwork. Browse pages like a physical paper or search and share articles online. Enjoy your daily news on any of your favorite devices, whether at home or on the go.

**Highlights:** Digital replica of printed edition, Full stories, features, and photos, Page-flipping interface, Article search functionality, Article sharing, Available on multiple devices

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Star Phoenix ePaper | $10.99 | per month |
| The StarPhoenix ePaper Single Issue | $1.99 | one-time |


### Sparrow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparrow/id991206931)

This app delivers personalized corporate communications to employees, ensuring the right information reaches the right people on their preferred devices. It offers customizable news channels, push notifications for urgent messages, and robust analytics to track content engagement and improve communication strategies.

**Highlights:** Personalized news channels, Push and priority notifications, Content consumption analytics, Real-time data and analytics dashboard, Multi-system integration, Complete publishing platform, Video support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The StarPhoenix ePaper free?

The StarPhoenix ePaper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Sparrow free?

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

### Do The StarPhoenix ePaper or Sparrow have ads?

Neither The StarPhoenix ePaper nor Sparrow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The StarPhoenix ePaper or Sparrow?

The StarPhoenix ePaper ships an update every 9 months, and Sparrow every 4 weeks. Most recently, The StarPhoenix ePaper was updated on October 29, 2026 and Sparrow on October 12, 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.*