Comparison

TheMercury vs BusinessTech

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

Head to head
About

TheMercury

Features
Read full description

The Mercury newspaper South Africa -- get a head start. TheMercury allows you to subscribe to four auto-renewable subscriptions: • 1 month ZAR 15.99 • 3 month ZAR 39.99 • 6 month ZAR 39.99 • 1 year ZAR 169.99 •Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase •Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24- hours before the end of the current period •Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and the cost of renewal is •You may manage your subscriptions and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the your Account Settings after purchase •No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period •Any unused portion of a free trial period, will be forfeited when you purchase an in-app subscription or if you decide to migrate to an authorized subscription from in-app. •Terms of Use: http://themercury.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/iphone/homepage.aspx#_terms •Privacy Policy: http://themercury.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/iphone/homepage.aspx#_privacy

About

BusinessTech

Features
Read full description

BusinessTech: Your Gateway to Business Insight BusinessTech is the leading source for business and finance news in South Africa, with extensive coverage on a broad range of topics pertinent to the local audience. From the latest technology, business, health and science developments to wealth and lifestyle trends, we provide thorough and relevant content tailored for the informed South African. Supported by a passionate team of journalists and marketing professionals, BusinessTech is dedicated to serving the interests of the South African business community with accuracy and depth. Key Features: Comprehensive News: Access all the latest news, detailed features, and expert opinions from BusinessTech. In-Depth Coverage: Delve into articles that cover essential business, health, science, and lifestyle topics, enriching your understanding of current affairs and industry trends. Equip yourself with knowledge. Download BusinessTech today.

Screenshots

TheMercury4 screens
BusinessTech3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BusinessTech at none against TheMercury's 4. BusinessTech also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. TheMercury sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. BusinessTech asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TheMercury ships an update every 17 months, BusinessTech every 29 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
TheMercury versus BusinessTech: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheMercuryBusinessTech
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 17 months — betterEvery 29 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB1 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperPressReader IncMyBroadband Online (Pty) Ltd

In-app purchases

4 purchases

TheMercury

Subscriptions4
  • The Mercury$1.991 Month
  • The Mercury$4.993 Months
  • The Mercury$9.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • The Mercury$20.991 Year
None

BusinessTech

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TheMercury free?
TheMercury is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BusinessTech free?
BusinessTech is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TheMercury or BusinessTech have ads?
TheMercury shows ads; BusinessTech does not.
Which is updated more often, TheMercury or BusinessTech?
TheMercury ships an update every 17 months, and BusinessTech every 29 months. Most recently, TheMercury was updated on October 9, 2026 and BusinessTech on October 8, 2026.

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