# Nextdoor vs Brainerd Dispatch

The clearest difference is rating: Nextdoor at 4.7 against Brainerd Dispatch's 3.4. Nextdoor also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (2.2M vs 5). Brainerd Dispatch's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Nextdoor holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nextdoor has 2.2M ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Nextdoor's written reviews are positive against 0% of Brainerd Dispatch's.

Nextdoor ships an update every 5 days, Brainerd Dispatch every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nextdoor | Brainerd Dispatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextdoor-neighborhood-network/id640360962/reviews)** | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainerd-dispatch/id1523288607/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2M** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **24.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 398 MB | 137 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nextdoor](https://appshunter.io/developer/567302921) | [Forum Communications Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/476437936) |

## What reviewers say

### Nextdoor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextdoor-neighborhood-network/id640360962)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Connect with your local community for real-time safety alerts, news, and recommendations. Discover events, find free items, and join groups based on your interests. Stay informed and engaged with what's happening in your neighborhood.

**Highlights:** Real-time safety alerts, Local news and events, Neighbor recommendations, Free items and giveaways, Community groups, Crisis support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤝 Helpful community
- 💼 Useful for local businesses
- 🔍 Neighborhood alerts and information
- 🛒 Convenient for buying/selling items

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Overly strict moderation
- 🗣️ Toxic community and discrimination
- 🔔 Excessive and unwanted notifications
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with personal information
- 🐞 Technical issues and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Difficulty unsubscribing from emails
- Inconsistent app performance and freezes
- Issues with posting and interacting with content

**Requested features**

- Customizable notification settings
- Improved content filtering and moderation
- Option to use a pseudonym instead of real name
- Better integration with other social platforms


### Brainerd Dispatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainerd-dispatch/id1523288607)

Access the full digital edition of your local newspaper on your mobile device. Read articles with adjustable text size, search for topics, and enjoy puzzles and comics.

**Highlights:** Read full newspaper editions, Adjustable text size, Searchable articles, Crossword puzzles and comics, Print and share articles

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nextdoor free?

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

### Is Brainerd Dispatch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nextdoor or Brainerd Dispatch?

Nextdoor is rated higher. Nextdoor averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.2M ratings, while Brainerd Dispatch averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do Nextdoor or Brainerd Dispatch have ads?

Nextdoor shows ads; Brainerd Dispatch does not.

### Which is updated more often, Nextdoor or Brainerd Dispatch?

Nextdoor ships an update every 5 days, and Brainerd Dispatch every 2 months. Most recently, Nextdoor was updated on October 27, 2026 and Brainerd Dispatch on October 19, 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.*