# Observer & Eccentric vs The Packer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Packer at 100% against Observer & Eccentric's 38%. The Packer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). Observer & Eccentric's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Observer & Eccentric sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. The Packer asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Packer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 99 and 89 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Observer & Eccentric's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Packer's.

Observer & Eccentric ships an update monthly, The Packer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Observer & Eccentric | The Packer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (99 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-and-eccentric/id900203119/reviews) | **[4.8 (89 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-packer/id1179040071/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **99** | 89 |
| Positive reviews | 38.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 185 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [USA TODAY Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/404843797) | [Farm Journal, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/467156809) |

## What reviewers say

### Observer & Eccentric

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-and-eccentric/id900203119)

Stay informed with local news, in-depth journalism, and engaging multimedia content. Get real-time alerts for breaking news, sports scores, and weather. Customize your reading experience and access content offline.

**Highlights:** In-depth journalism, Local news coverage, Photography and videos, Real-time notifications, Customizable reading experience, Offline reading

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Digital Rate | $9.99 | per month |
| O&E Digital Subscription | $16.99 | per month |
| Annual Digital Subscription | $69.99 | per year |


### The Packer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-packer/id1179040071)

This app is the premier source for news, information, and analysis in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. It has been providing weekly reports on the produce industry since 1893.

**Highlights:** Industry news, In-depth analysis, Produce market information, Historical industry reporting, Weekly updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Observer & Eccentric free?

Observer & Eccentric is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Packer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Observer & Eccentric or The Packer?

The Packer is rated higher. Observer & Eccentric averages 4.6 out of 5 from 99 ratings, while The Packer averages 4.8 from 89 ratings.

### Do Observer & Eccentric or The Packer have ads?

Both Observer & Eccentric and The Packer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Observer & Eccentric or The Packer?

Observer & Eccentric ships an update monthly, and The Packer every 2 months. Most recently, Observer & Eccentric was updated on November 6, 2026 and The Packer on November 2, 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.*