dot.LA vs R29 by Refinery29
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
dot.LA
Stay informed about the Los Angeles tech and startup ecosystem. Access essential news, event updates, and in-depth analysis trusted by thousands of users.
- LA tech and startup news
- Event updates
- Deep dives and analysis
- Trusted by 17,000+ users
- Focus on the LA ecosystem
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Join 17,000+ users who trust dot.LA to bring the most important news, events, and deep dives on the LA tech and startup scene.
R29 by Refinery29
Discover the latest trends in style, beauty, entertainment, and culture. Get original perspectives on fashion, wellness, relationships, and money. Explore editor-recommended products and insightful news.
- Style and beauty inspiration
- Entertainment and culture updates
- Wellness and relationship advice
- Work and money guidance
- Editor-recommended shopping
- Original R29 content
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Refinery29 is your way into what’s happening now and what’s worth knowing next. From the trends taking over your group chat to the conversations shaping culture, Refinery29 brings you original perspectives on style, beauty, entertainment, money, relationships, and more. We dig into why it matters, introduce you to the people and ideas moving culture forward, and help you discover what’s worth your time. Culture & Entertainment Stay close to the shows, music, celebrities, conversations, and cultural moments everyone’s talking about and discover what’s next. Fashion & Beauty Find inspiration for how you want to express yourself, from emerging trends and expert advice to editor-approved products and the latest beauty intel. Wellness & Relationships Get thoughtful, honest perspectives on your body, mind, relationships, and the realities of life today. Work & Money Navigate your ambitions and your finances with candid conversations, practical advice, and signature franchises like Money Diaries. Shopping & Discovery Find the fashion, beauty, home, and lifestyle picks R29 editors are actually talking about, trying, and recommending. News & Perspectives Understand the stories shaping your world through an R29 lens— relevant and grounded in the experiences that don’t always make the headlines. R29 Originals Find the voices, communities, and signature franchises that make R29 worth coming back to — from Money Diaries and Unbothered to horoscopes and more. Download Refinery29 and stay close to the stories, ideas, and cultural obsessions worth knowing.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: dot.LA at none against R29 by Refinery29's shown. dot.LA also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and device support (3 vs 1). R29 by Refinery29's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for dot.LA against 5.0 for R29 by Refinery29. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively.
dot.LA ships an update every 2 months, R29 by Refinery29 every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | dot.LA | R29 by Refinery29 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (5 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | HouseVenture Inc. | Essence Communications Inc |
Customer experience
dot.LA
R29 by Refinery29
In-app purchases
dot.LA
No in-app purchases
R29 by Refinery29
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is dot.LA free?
Is R29 by Refinery29 free?
Which has better reviews, dot.LA or R29 by Refinery29?
Do dot.LA or R29 by Refinery29 have ads?
Which is updated more often, dot.LA or R29 by Refinery29?
Other comparisons
