Comparison

The Bulwark vs WIRED

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

Head to head
About

The Bulwark

Access exclusive news, analysis, and commentary from pro-democracy experts in an ad-free environment. Enjoy features like read-to-me, saved articles, personalized feeds, and audio versions of shows. Engage with a community dedicated to liberal democracy.

Highlights
  • Ad-free reading experience
  • Listen to articles on the go
  • Save articles and shows
  • Personalized 'For You' feed
  • Audio-only show versions
  • Adjustable text size and dark mode
Features
Read full description

THE BULWARK app is for Bulwark+ members and features an ad-free environment to read, watch or listen to your favorite Bulwark commentators. The app was designed with members in mind and includes features to enhance and customize your subscriber experience. Read, watch and listen when you want, how you want: • Read to me - listen to articles on the go • Save articles or shows for later • A “For You” feed where you can follow what you love • Audio-only versions of all our shows • Resize text • Switch to dark mode • Dedicated Read tab • Dedicated Watch & Listen tab Bulwark+ is powered by Substack. Use the email tied to your paid Bulwark+ profile on Substack to sign in to the app. Members get unfettered access to everything we publish and can engage with the Bulwark+ community in the comments. About Us THE BULWARK is an independent media company built on good faith, fearless journalism, and a community committed to defending liberal democracy. This is the home of Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Bill Kristol, JVL, Sam Stein, Catherine Rampell, and more. We’re supported in this effort by a community who know that the only way through is together. THE BULWARK is produced by journalists who have no interest in saying the safe thing. There’s no calculation. There are no sacred cows. No one here is playing double-bank shots. We just say the thing. Sometimes that gets us in trouble. But (mostly) it’s good trouble. We publish articles and newsletters. We create videos and podcasts. We host live events. We analyze and report on politics, elections, the economy, and more. When we don’t understand something, we find experts who do and bring them to your inbox or screen. THE BULWARK is reader-supported. Come and join us. We’ll keep you sane.

About

WIRED

Stay informed with breaking tech news, expert analysis, and in-depth reporting on science, culture, and business. Personalize your news feed, listen to narrated articles, and watch exclusive video content. Engage with the community and save stories for later.

Highlights
  • Personalized Daily Digest
  • Article narration
  • Dedicated topic channels
  • Original video content
  • Interactive livestreams
  • Save and share articles
  • Community discussions
Currently charting
Read full description

Download the WIRED app for breaking tech news, expert analysis, and the stories shaping tomorrow. WIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, WIRED tells the stories of the people, technologies, and forces transforming our world. A WIRED EXPERIENCE BUILT FOR YOU * Start your day with a personalized Daily Digest, curated around the topics and journalists that matter most to you. * Get notified the moment new stories go live that will be of greatest interest to you. * Explore dedicated channels for AI, security, science, culture, business, and more. LISTEN TO WIRED * Listen to narrated versions of WIRED articles, hands-free, on any commute. * Explore the Audio tab for curated playlists and suggestions for what to listen to next. * Listen for as long as you’d like and pick up right where you left off. WATCH AND GO DEEPER * Tune into original WIRED video in a dedicated Watch tab. * Join interactive livestreams hosted by WIRED staff and expert guests. * Watch interviews, explainers, and behind-the-story video journalism that brings WIRED’s reporting to life. SAVE, SHARE, AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION * Save articles to read later, on your schedule. * Share stories instantly with friends, colleagues, and followers. * Join the WIRED community and take part in conversations with WIRED reporters and readers in our moderated comments. From the latest breakthroughs in AI to the forces reshaping science, business, culture, and society, WIRED helps you understand not just what's happening now, but what it means for what comes next. By downloading the WIRED app, you agree to: * Our User Agreement: http://condenast.com/user-agreement * Our Class Action Waiver and Arbitration Provisions: https://www.condenast.com/user-agreement#introduction-arbitration-notice * Our Privacy Policy: https://www.condenast.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

The Bulwark4 screens
WIRED4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Bulwark at 93% against WIRED's 48%. The Bulwark also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and ads (none vs shown). WIRED's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs freemium). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and chart position 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Bulwark holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Bulwark has 3.1K ratings behind it against 56, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of The Bulwark's written reviews are positive against 48% of WIRED's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Bulwark ships an update every 6 weeks, WIRED every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
The Bulwark versus WIRED: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe BulwarkWIRED
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (3.1K ratings) — better4.4 (56 ratings)
Positive reviews92.6% of reviews — better47.6% of reviews
Number of ratings3.1K — better56
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#41 — better#44
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB75 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperCenter Enterprises, Inc.Advance Magazine Publishers Inc.

Customer experience

The Bulwark

All ratings3,120 ratings
Positive98.2%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews108 reviews
Positive92.6%
Neutral0.9%
Negative6.5%

WIRED

All ratings52 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.8%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive47.6%
Neutral19.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

The Bulwark

No in-app purchases

None

WIRED

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The Bulwark free?
The Bulwark is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WIRED free?
WIRED is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, The Bulwark or WIRED?
The Bulwark is rated higher. The Bulwark averages 4.9 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while WIRED averages 4.4 from 56 ratings.
Do The Bulwark or WIRED have ads?
WIRED shows ads; The Bulwark does not.
Which is updated more often, The Bulwark or WIRED?
The Bulwark ships an update every 6 weeks, and WIRED every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Bulwark was updated on November 9, 2026 and WIRED on November 9, 2026.
Which is more popular, The Bulwark or WIRED?
The Bulwark currently peaks at #41 in the App Store charts, and WIRED at #44. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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