# TopicPulse vs Upstate Today

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TopicPulse at 100% against Upstate Today's 0%. TopicPulse also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Upstate Today's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Upstate Today holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of TopicPulse's written reviews are positive against 0% of Upstate Today's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TopicPulse ships an update every 3 months, Upstate Today every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TopicPulse | Upstate Today |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topicpulse/id900072667/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstate-today/id6453218089/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 35 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Futuri Media, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/587468269) | [EDWARDS PUBLICATIONS INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/663042431) |

## 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


### Upstate Today

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstate-today/id6453218089)

Access award-winning local and state news, in-depth investigations, and comprehensive sports coverage for western South Carolina. Subscribers gain exclusive access to additional media and information beyond the printed newspaper.

**Highlights:** Local and state news, Investigative journalism, Sports coverage, Clemson University sports, Subscriber-exclusive content, Additional media and photos

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TopicPulse free?

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

### Is Upstate Today free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TopicPulse or Upstate Today?

Upstate Today is rated higher. TopicPulse averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Upstate Today averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do TopicPulse or Upstate Today have ads?

Upstate Today shows ads; TopicPulse does not.

### Which is updated more often, TopicPulse or Upstate Today?

TopicPulse ships an update every 3 months, and Upstate Today every 2 months. Most recently, TopicPulse was updated on October 10, 2026 and Upstate Today on September 25, 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.*