# The Norman Transcript vs WSJ Print Edition

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WSJ Print Edition at none against The Norman Transcript's 1. WSJ Print Edition also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (13K vs 140). The Norman Transcript's advantage is iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Norman Transcript sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. WSJ Print Edition asks for nothing beyond the download.

WSJ Print Edition holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WSJ Print Edition has 13K ratings behind it against 140, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of The Norman Transcript's written reviews are positive against 92% of WSJ Print Edition's.

The Norman Transcript ships an update every 5 months, WSJ Print Edition every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Norman Transcript | WSJ Print Edition |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-norman-transcript/id924947333/reviews) | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wsj-print-edition/id1509844788/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 140 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 80.5% of reviews | **91.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#93** |
| Size | 37 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [CNHI LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422875061) | [Dow Jones & Company, Inc., publisher of The Wall Street Journal.](https://appshunter.io/developer/311822186) |

## What reviewers say

### The Norman Transcript

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-norman-transcript/id924947333)

Access local news, commentary, photos, and videos from your community. Download daily editions for offline reading and stay updated with breaking news, sports, and weather.

**Highlights:** Offline reading of daily editions, Breaking news alerts, Local sports coverage, Photo and video galleries, Print edition layout view, Local weather and events, Social sharing of content

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Today's ePaper | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📰 Newspaper style format
- ⬆️ Easy to zoom and increase font size
- 👍 Works well
- 📰 Love reading printed news
- 📰 Great app for local news

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 No ad inserts (grocery ads needed)
- 🐛 Blank pages if not read in one sitting
- 🐛 Downloads with errors (50% of time)
- 🐛 Pages are fuzzy and unreadable
- ⚖️ Paper leans too much to the left

**Reported bugs**

- Blank pages if not read in one sitting
- Downloads with errors
- Pages are fuzzy and unreadable
- Bank video pops up and interrupts app incessantly
- Will not keep me logged in

**Requested features**

- Grocery ads needed
- Return to using more opinions from national news
- Wish for paper copy Monday and Tuesday
- Fix paper view snapping bug
- Fix setting not holding between app closes


### WSJ Print Edition

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wsj-print-edition/id1509844788)

**Currently charting:** #93 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Access a digital replica of the print newspaper, ensuring uninterrupted delivery and an online experience that mirrors the physical edition. This app provides a convenient way to read the latest news from The Wall Street Journal.

**Highlights:** Digital newspaper replica, Print experience online, Uninterrupted delivery, Access for members

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Intuitive layout
- 🔍 Comprehensive coverage
- 🌟 Great app for reading WSJ
- 📱 Convenient digital format

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional stability issues
- ⏱️ Slow page loading
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate
- 🔍 Lack of customization options
- 💰 Expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when switching between pages
- Login issues and frequent sign-outs
- Inconsistent performance on different devices
- Formatting errors in article content

**Requested features**

- Offline reading mode
- Improved search functionality
- Ability to save articles for later
- More intuitive navigation
- Customizable layout and settings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Norman Transcript free?

The Norman Transcript is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is WSJ Print Edition free?

WSJ Print Edition is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Norman Transcript or WSJ Print Edition?

WSJ Print Edition is rated higher. The Norman Transcript averages 4.5 out of 5 from 140 ratings, while WSJ Print Edition averages 4.8 from 13K ratings.

### Do The Norman Transcript or WSJ Print Edition have ads?

The Norman Transcript shows ads; WSJ Print Edition does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Norman Transcript or WSJ Print Edition?

The Norman Transcript ships an update every 5 months, and WSJ Print Edition every 4 months. Most recently, The Norman Transcript was updated on November 1, 2026 and WSJ Print Edition on November 12, 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.*