# SZapp vs The Standard

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SZapp at none against The Standard's 2. SZapp also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). The Standard's advantage is review sentiment (18% vs 4%). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Standard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. SZapp asks for nothing beyond the download.

SZapp ships an update every 3 weeks, The Standard every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SZapp | The Standard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 4.1% of reviews | **18.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Schoolzine Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/877468257) | [Rural Press Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527270001) |

## What reviewers say

### SZapp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/szapp/id982105479)

Stay connected with your school community. Access newsletters, documents, and receive live notifications directly from your school.

**Highlights:** Access school newsletters, View school documents, Receive live notifications, Stay connected with school community

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 New interface praised
- 🚀 Fast and easy to use (rarely mentioned)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App won't load/open
- 🐛 Constant login issues
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Notifications not working
- 🐛 Incompatible with latest iOS

**Reported bugs**

- App does not load after latest updates
- App remains on cover/home screen
- App fails to display/load content
- Absentee form is not received
- User is logged out after quitting the app

**Requested features**

- Fix app compatibility with latest iOS
- Improve login stability
- Ensure absentee forms are received
- Fix notification issues
- Allow users to stay logged in


### The Standard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-standard/id1587920434)

Stay informed with local and national news, sports results, and in-depth analysis. Access breaking news 24/7, save articles for later, and enjoy interactive puzzles. A digital replica of the daily newspaper is also available.

**Highlights:** Breaking news updates 24/7, Browse articles by topic, Save articles for later, Breaking news alerts, Digital newspaper replica, Daily interactive puzzles

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $129.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SZapp free?

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

### Is The Standard free?

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

### Do SZapp or The Standard have ads?

The Standard shows ads; SZapp does not.

### Which is updated more often, SZapp or The Standard?

SZapp ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Standard every 4 months. Most recently, SZapp was updated on September 26, 2026 and The Standard 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.*