Comparison

Closer Magazine vs Bournemouth Echo

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Closer Magazine

Access the latest celebrity news, real-life stories, fitness tips, and recipes from your favorite magazine on your phone and tablet. Read new issues the day they're released and explore a back-catalogue of classic editions. Optimized for mobile viewing with adjustable text size.

Highlights
  • Read latest and back-issue editions
  • Search for stars, recipes, and designers
  • Bookmark pages
  • Optimized mobile and tablet reading
  • Adjustable text size
  • Notifications for new issues and deals
Features
Read full description

Enjoy Closer magazine on your phone and tablet, the same day it arrives in shops. Closer is your essential source of the latest showbiz and celebrity news, real life stories, fitness tips & delicious recipes. We are your secret door into the lives of the rich and famous - and now you can read it all wherever you are. Features we love: - Read the latest issues as soon as they are released and access our back-catalogue of classic editions. - Search for stars, recipes, events and designers to see everything we've written about them. - Bookmark pages to show your friends. - Read the magazine in full on mobile and tablet - Turn post notifications on to be notified when the latest issue is out or any deals we currently have running Every magazine is perfectly optimised for the small screen. Flick through the magazine or tap a story to read it in full. You can even change the size of the text. Download and check out the following: THE LATEST CELEBRITY GOSSIP Keep up with all your fave reality celebs, soap stars and more with the Closer magazine app. We give you exclusive access to the hottest gossip and breaking celeb news so you can keep your finger on the pulse! THE HOTTEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Looking for your TV fix? We bring you the latest reviews, spoilers and fan theories for all your fave soaps, TV shows and films. From EastEnders to Strictly, from Gogglebox to I’m A Celeb, we’re just as obsessed with TV as you are! FITNESS TIPS & RECIPES Closer magazine is packed full of exercise tips, healthy eating tricks, recipes, weight loss stories and more. Keep in shape, eat well and protect your health, all with Closer. EXCLUSIVE REAL-LIFE STORIES From incredible real-life stories to opinion pieces from our editors, Closer magazine covers all the issues that matter to you. With relationship and family advice, fashion trends and beauty tips, you’ll never get bored with Closer. The app is your favourite magazine - made even better! PLEASE NOTE: This app is optimised for iOS 11, 12, 13 & 14. If you're using an iPad 1 or 2, iPad Mini 1 or iPhone 5 (or before) you may struggle to run this app smoothly. Your subscription will automatically renew each billing period, and you will be charged through your iTunes account within 24-hours prior to the end of the current cycle. You can turn off auto-renew at any time from your iTunes account settings up until 24-hours before the end of the current period, but refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term. Please visit our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more information: Terms of use: https://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/app-terms-of-use-03032025 Privacy policy: https://www.bauerdatapromise.co.uk

About

Bournemouth Echo

Stay informed with local news, sports, and events from Bournemouth and Dorset. Enjoy ad-free reading, digital newspapers, interactive puzzles, and listen to articles on the go.

Highlights
  • Live news and sports updates
  • Ad-free reading experience
  • Daily digital newspapers
  • Interactive puzzles
  • Article audio player
Features
Read full description

The Bournemouth Echo has been publishing the latest news stories from Bournemouth and the surrounding areas in Dorset for over a hundred years. Over that time, we’ve learnt what our readers want and we offer comprehensive coverage of the latest news, sport and events. We’re committed to delivering quality journalism with a local focus and driving community engagement. The Bournemouth Echo app is the best way to keep up to date with all the breaking news, sports and events in Bournemouth and gives you the following great features… • Live Updates: Get the latest news, events and sport as it happens • Ad-Free Reading: No ads, no pop-ups, no distractions • Daily Digital Newspapers: Read the paper in full, cover to cover • Interactive Puzzles: Play new crosswords, sudoku and more every day • Article Audio Player: Listen to articles and create content playlists All subscriptions are auto-renewing. Payment for this subscription will be charged to your Apple account upon purchase. The subscription will auto-renew within 24 hours of the current subscription expiring, at the same rate as the initial purchase. Auto-renewing subscriptions can be managed via Account Settings allowing them to be turned off. No cancellations of the current subscription are allowed during the active subscription period. Privacy Policy - https://www.newsquest.co.uk/our-policies/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Closer Magazine4 screens
Bournemouth Echo4 screens

Verdict

The call

Closer Magazine and Bournemouth Echo are too close to call on the numbers: across 8 compared parameters — price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Closer Magazine sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Bournemouth Echo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Closer Magazine ships an update every 2 months, Bournemouth Echo every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Closer Magazine versus Bournemouth Echo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCloser MagazineBournemouth Echo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (14 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews35.7% of reviews — better28.6% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB146 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperBauer Media (Publishing)Newsquest

Customer experience

Closer Magazine

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive35.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative64.3%

Bournemouth Echo

Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative71.4%

In-app purchases

20 purchases

Closer Magazine

Subscriptions10
  • Closer UK Magazine Subscriptions$0.997 Days
  • Closer Discount Subscription 1 Month$4.491 Month
  • Free trial - 1 Month1 Month trial$6.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Closer UK Monthly Subscription14 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • 1 month - first free1 Month trial$6.991 Month
  • Closer - 50% discount monthly$6.991 Month
  • Closer UK Magazine Subscriptions$9.992 Months
  • Closer UK Magazine Subscriptions14 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Closer Discount Subscription 6 Month$28.996 Months
  • Closer UK Magazine Subscriptions1 Month trial$79.991 Year
One-time10
  • Closer Magazine 25 OCT 2016$1.99
  • Closer UK Magazine$1.99
  • Issue 1097$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Issue 1194$1.99
  • Issue 1159$1.99
  • Issue 1146$1.99
  • Issue 1139$1.99
  • Issue 1125$1.99
  • Issue 1123$1.99
  • Issue 1124$1.99
3 purchases

Bournemouth Echo

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Subscription$5.491 Month
  • 6 Month Subscription$29.996 Months
  • Annual Subscription$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Closer Magazine free?
Closer Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bournemouth Echo free?
Bournemouth Echo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Closer Magazine or Bournemouth Echo have ads?
Neither Closer Magazine nor Bournemouth Echo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Closer Magazine or Bournemouth Echo?
Closer Magazine ships an update every 2 months, and Bournemouth Echo every 4 months. Most recently, Closer Magazine was updated on September 26, 2026 and Bournemouth Echo on September 16, 2026.

Other comparisons