# TopicPulse vs Times Record News

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TopicPulse at 100% against Times Record News's 47%. TopicPulse also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). Times Record News's advantage is ratings volume (326 vs 3) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Times Record News sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. TopicPulse asks for nothing beyond the download.

TopicPulse holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Times Record News has 326 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of TopicPulse's written reviews are positive against 47% of Times Record News's.

TopicPulse ships an update every 3 months, Times Record News monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TopicPulse | Times Record News |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topicpulse/id900072667/reviews)** | [4.3 (326 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/times-record-news/id1119333677/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **326** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 46.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#185** |
| Size | 35 MB | 185 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Futuri Media, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/587468269) | [USA TODAY Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/404843797) |

## What reviewers say

### TopicPulse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topicpulse/id900072667)

This news application uses SmartSearch technology to provide full story intelligence and idea starters. Users can bookmark favorite stories and explore trending topics.

**Highlights:** SmartSearch technology, Full story intelligence, Idea Starters, Bookmarking favorite stories, Trending topics exploration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Times Record News

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/times-record-news/id1119333677)

**Currently charting:** #185 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access local news, in-depth journalism, and engaging multimedia content. Receive real-time alerts for breaking news, sports, and weather. Customize your reading experience and enjoy a digital replica of the print edition.

**Highlights:** In-depth local journalism, Breaking news alerts, Sports coverage, Customizable reading experience, Offline reading, eNewspaper access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Digital Rate | $9.99 | per month |
| Times Record News Digital Subscription | $16.99 | per month |
| Times Record News Annual Digital Subscription | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 👍 Convenient access to local news
- 👍 App works
- 👍 News is now new
- 👍 Good information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Subscription not working
- 🐛 Cannot leave feedback on stories
- 🐛 E-edition not readable on older iPads
- 🐛 Cannot sign in
- 🐛 Cannot access E newspaper

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues: 'subscribers only' despite being subscribed
- Blank page when trying to leave feedback
- E-edition not compatible with older iPads
- Login issues: kicked off when traveling, cannot sign in
- Cannot access E newspaper

**Requested features**

- Allow feedback on stories
- Improve E-edition compatibility with older devices
- Include articles from New York Times and Washington Post
- Add more comics
- Improve obituary listing and linking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TopicPulse free?

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

### Is Times Record News free?

Times Record News is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TopicPulse or Times Record News?

TopicPulse is rated higher. TopicPulse averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Times Record News averages 4.3 from 326 ratings.

### Do TopicPulse or Times Record News have ads?

Times Record News shows ads; TopicPulse does not.

### Which is updated more often, TopicPulse or Times Record News?

TopicPulse ships an update every 3 months, and Times Record News monthly. Most recently, TopicPulse was updated on November 1, 2026 and Times Record News on November 6, 2026.

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