# TheMercury vs Interesting Engineering

The clearest difference is update cadence: Interesting Engineering at every 2 weeks against TheMercury's every 17 months. Interesting Engineering also leads on chart position (#187 vs unranked). TheMercury's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TheMercury sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Interesting Engineering sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TheMercury ships an update every 17 months, Interesting Engineering every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TheMercury | Interesting Engineering |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.8 (131 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interesting-engineering-news/id6742738331/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **131** |
| Positive reviews | — | 70.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#187** |
| Size | 50 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [PressReader Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/313904714) | [IE Media, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1799661857) |

## What reviewers say

### TheMercury

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/themercury/id723961632)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Mercury | $1.99 | per month |
| The Mercury | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| The Mercury | $9.99 | per 6 months |
| The Mercury | $20.99 | per year |


### Interesting Engineering

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interesting-engineering-news/id6742738331)

**Currently charting:** #187 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Stay informed on the latest breakthroughs in science, technology, AI, space, and engineering. This app provides expert reporting and in-depth analysis of discoveries and emerging technologies shaping our future. Access articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive content through a subscription.

**Highlights:** Latest science and technology news, Breakthroughs in AI and robotics, Space exploration and aerospace updates, Physics and quantum technology research, Energy and climate innovation, Engineering and invention highlights

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Plan | $16.99 | per 3 months |
| IE+ 3 day Trial Yearly Subscription | $41.99 | per year |
| IE+ Yearly Special Offer | $41.99 | per year |
| Annually Plan | $41.99 | per year |
| Annually Plan | $41.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TheMercury free?

TheMercury is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Interesting Engineering free?

Interesting Engineering is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do TheMercury or Interesting Engineering have ads?

Both TheMercury and Interesting Engineering show ads.

### Which is updated more often, TheMercury or Interesting Engineering?

TheMercury ships an update every 17 months, and Interesting Engineering every 2 weeks. Most recently, TheMercury was updated on November 6, 2026 and Interesting Engineering on November 8, 2026.

---

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