# dot.LA vs R29 by Refinery29

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | dot.LA | R29 by Refinery29 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dotla/id6482981727/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r29-by-refinery29/id6805068622/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 2 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 43 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [HouseVenture Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1713006258) | [Essence Communications Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1428985618) |

## What reviewers say

### dot.LA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dotla/id6482981727)

Stay informed about the Los Angeles tech and startup ecosystem. Access essential news, event updates, and in-depth analysis trusted by thousands of users.

**Highlights:** LA tech and startup news, Event updates, Deep dives and analysis, Trusted by 17,000+ users, Focus on the LA ecosystem

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### R29 by Refinery29

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r29-by-refinery29/id6805068622)

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.

**Highlights:** Style and beauty inspiration, Entertainment and culture updates, Wellness and relationship advice, Work and money guidance, Editor-recommended shopping, Original R29 content

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is dot.LA free?

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

### Is R29 by Refinery29 free?

R29 by Refinery29 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, dot.LA or R29 by Refinery29?

dot.LA and R29 by Refinery29 are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do dot.LA or R29 by Refinery29 have ads?

R29 by Refinery29 shows ads; dot.LA does not.

### Which is updated more often, dot.LA or R29 by Refinery29?

dot.LA ships an update every 2 months, and R29 by Refinery29 every 3 weeks. Most recently, dot.LA was updated on October 24, 2026 and R29 by Refinery29 on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*