# Stella* vs Mlem for Lemmy

The clearest difference is rating: Mlem for Lemmy at 4.6 against Stella*'s 3.5. Mlem for Lemmy also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and review sentiment (80% vs 64%). Stella*'s advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Mlem for Lemmy holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 84 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Stella*'s written reviews are positive against 80% of Mlem for Lemmy's.

Stella* ships an update every 5 weeks, Mlem for Lemmy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stella* | Mlem for Lemmy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stella/id921372048/reviews) | **[4.6 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mlem-for-lemmy/id6450543782/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **84** |
| Positive reviews | 64.1% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 70 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [OwletLabs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/921372047) | [Eric Andrews](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759193185) |

## What reviewers say

### Stella*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stella/id921372048)

This app is a user-oriented information gathering tool that optimizes web content for easy reading on any device. It offers customizable appearance, intuitive navigation, and offline reading capabilities, allowing users to control their information sources without relying on external services.

**Highlights:** Optimized web content rendering, Customizable font sizes and themes, Intuitive and animated UI, Offline article storage, Extensible information sources, One-handed operation support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mlem for Lemmy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mlem-for-lemmy/id6450543782)

Experience the Fediverse through a native iOS app designed for seamless interaction with all major Lemmy instances. Enjoy powerful features like swipe actions, quick account switching, and extensive customization for an optimized mobile experience.

**Highlights:** Native iOS Swift development, Lemmy instance compatibility, Swipe actions, Account quick-switching, Customization options, Optimized backend

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ High quality and thoughtfully made app
- 👍 Joy to use
- 🌟 On par with Apollo for Reddit
- 🚀 Seamless Lemmy experience
- ✅ Mostly stable now

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Cannot sign up/validate username
- 🐛 Annoying bug: loses progress when switching apps
- 🐛 Bouncing back to feeds list is irritating
- 🐛 Minor bugs introduced with updates
- 🐛 Embedded content shows as links, not playable

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot validate username for account creation
- Loses progress when switching to another app while composing a post/reply
- App bounces back to the subscribed feeds list in various situations
- New bugs introduced with each update
- Embedded content (videos) only show as links

**Requested features**

- Customizability for each feed type (e.g., bold headlines)
- Larger card view option
- Compact view option
- Option to customize gestures
- Fix embedded content to be playable


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stella* free?

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

### Is Mlem for Lemmy free?

Mlem for Lemmy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Stella* or Mlem for Lemmy?

Mlem for Lemmy is rated higher. Stella* averages 3.5 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Mlem for Lemmy averages 4.6 from 84 ratings.

### Do Stella* or Mlem for Lemmy have ads?

Neither Stella* nor Mlem for Lemmy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stella* or Mlem for Lemmy?

Stella* ships an update every 5 weeks, and Mlem for Lemmy every 3 weeks. Most recently, Stella* was updated on October 14, 2026 and Mlem for Lemmy on October 20, 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.*