The Hamilton Spectator
Up-to-date Hamilton area news
How much does The Hamilton Spectator cost?
Prices are current as of 7 Oct 2026.
2 subscriptions from $14.99
In the United States, The Hamilton Spectator has 2 subscriptions priced $14.99 – 49.99.
| Subscription | Period | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible Digital Access | Monthly | $14.99 |
| Annual Digital Access | Annual | $49.99 |
10+ alternatives to The Hamilton Spectator
| The Hamilton Spectator |   CP24: Toronto's Breaking News |   The Globe and Mail |   Globe2Go Print Replica Edition |   Canada Press |   Waterloo Region Record epaper |   Canada's National Observer |   CFL News Hub |   Canada National & World News |   London Free Press |   BTPM Watch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating / 5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 2.6 |
| Reviews | 1.2K | 76K | 70K | 25K | 1.2K | 710 | 661 | 578 | 381 | 140 | 61 |
| Released | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 | 2010 | 2014 | 2016 | 2024 | 2023 | 2017 | 2011 | 2016 |
| Monthly price | $14.99 | — | $24.99 | — | $0.99 | — | — | — | — | $9.99 | — |
| Annual price | $49.99 | — | $229.99 | — | $5.99 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
The going rate for each plan in United States, in its own currency, shaded from the cheapest price on the row to the dearest. Plans fewer than four in ten of the priced apps sell are left out.
The Hamilton Spectator reviews
4.5 out of 5, based on 1,179 reviews.
What people like
- Excellent local news coverage from hard workers
- Really nice and clean app design
- Great for quickly checking local headlines
What they complain about
- Keeps crashing and won't load properly
- Forces sign-ins even when already logged in
- Hard to find basic sections like obituaries
- Articles repeat or stay up for days
Spec
This is a really nice app
Too difficult to access all parts of the news
I’d like to be able to access all parts of the paper, but it’s difficult. And then some stories are listed for weeks on end and others show up multiple times. I feel like if I had the physical paper I’d be seeing a lot more news.
Not as good as Toronto Star app
Same company, different app layout. I’d like to be able to look up pages as I can with the Star. Alternatively, I must take a photo of the item, crop it to share. Please update the app so I can read it like I do the paper version.
Spec
Everything is repeated multiple times. Old news stays on for days. It should be setup more in a newspaper format. Not enjoyable at all.
Well laid out and easy to read
This left wing newspaper is informative and has interesting local news.
Left leaning!
The Spec would be a great local paper if it wasn’t run like a “Left Wing” rag. Articles and comments all the time knocking the Tories. If there was an alternative I would cancel my Spec subscription tomorrow.
Poor replacement for browser version
Not even close to the access provided by the browser version. Misses direct access to Home and Obituaries for example. Some needs to update this code.
Need more options for notifications
I have both the CBC and The Spec app and I almost never open The Spec app cause I don’t get any notifications about new stories.
Glitches with new update
I don't mind the layout of the updated Hamilton Spectator app; I just have a few issues with its functionality. I believe the biggest problem is that I am no longer able to share news articles like I used to, unless this function is hidden somewhere which isn't very good either. I like the new sections, but I just find it difficult to scroll through them as the previews of the articles move too fast if you choose to swipe as opposed to clicking on the arrows. Overall, I like the updated look, but hopefully those two issues could be addressed in a future update.
Spec: 5 stars
wonderful local news coverage. hard-working reporters and editors. a valuable asset in difficult times, when journalism matters massively. thank you to all for … again … your hard work and diligence. 🙏 one quibble: while i respect and admire susan clairmont’s work *very* much, i do not think editors should permit her to use last names for the Bad Guys while using first names for the Good Guys. the value-laden inconsistency is at odds with straight-up news (and crime) reporting. i know SC is not doing straight-up reporting in the way, say, fallon hewitt is, but still, it’s too heart-on-sleeve for me and i suspect for some other readers too.
Not free as described
Can’t read the articles, the app indicates free to read, but it isn’t.
Tired of signing in
The app is fine, although it keeps asking me to sign in every time I open the app???
Working again ... for now, anyway
Whatever bug or supposed 'fix' that was contributing to the app crashing appears to be solved (at least for iPhone 6 with the latest iOS 9 update). Initial startups might lag but when it works, site is as it appears on screen grabs.
Prefer Old Access
I like this view , however I preferred having access to former papers I may have missed .
Poor app
The SpecEreader is a better format with easy access to all sections
Too big
Loved your previous app. It was easy to scroll around and read the different articles that I wanted to read. This one is too in your face!
Great for news but crashes a lot
I love being able to check the local news but I find the app is not completely loading properly or keeps crashing. I have just deleted and reinstalled it so we'll see if that fixes it.
What did you do to this App?
Used to be great, changes made are terrible
Does not work on iPhone
The app appears fine on an iPhone, and breaking news can be read. However, for any article that requires a subscription it appears to be locked and says I need to sign in. Even when I am already signed in! I have reached out to the Spec, However I’ve been informed that their app does not work well on an iPhone, as their site does not work properly on Safari.
Pay to read
Was not a bad app for local stories for awhile but now have to pay to read articles, im out
Decent app, needs work
Not a bad app but really annoying that it doesn’t return you to the same place you were after reading an article.
Don’t update
Don’t update you lose the ability to read articles! Shame on you Spec
Crashes on start up....again
Great app when it works. But lately it's always crashing when you try and open it. You guys really need to get this fixed! It's a joke really. Like you enjoy messing with people! It works for a month then it crashes for weeks on end! FIX THIS APP PLEASE!
Can’t copy and paste
Still a Liberal propaganda piece
Does not work on iPad
Seems to work on iPhone, but not on iPad. Only in portrait mode and is cutoff. The other app in store that says is for iPad, once this update was released, is no longer supported. Very poor. The e paper app works but is hard to read on small screen. P.s. I have since discovered that if you open the app with iPad already in portrait mode, then it is not cut off.
App is terrible
Does not fit the screen. Unable to read a headline. Also lost the ability to read horizontal or vertical an a tablet. Fix it. Bring landscape reading back!
The Hamilton Spectator price by country
A monthly subscription costs $14.08 in Canada and $14.99 in the United States — 1.1× more for the same thing. Below is the going rate for each plan in every country that sells it — the middle price of what the app charges there, in the country's own currency with the dollar equivalent beneath it.
| Country | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | CA$19.99$14.08 | CA$64.99$45.77 |
| United States | $14.99 | $49.99 |
The Hamilton Spectator FAQ
- Is The Hamilton Spectator free?
- Yes. The app and its basic features are free, in all 2 countries it sells in. Premium features are paid: they start from $14.99 (US), across 2 subscriptions.
- How much does The Hamilton Spectator cost per month?
- Flexible Digital Access is $14.99 (US). The annual plan works out cheaper per month: $49.99 a year.
- Does The Hamilton Spectator have a free trial?
- No. None of its offers (US) come with a free trial.
- Where is The Hamilton Spectator cheapest?
- A monthly subscription costs CA$19.99 (≈$14.08) in Canada and $14.99 in the United States, its cheapest and dearest countries.
- What are the best alternatives to The Hamilton Spectator?
- CP24: Toronto's Breaking News (4.6 from 75,982 reviews), The Globe and Mail (4.5 from 70,067 reviews, premium from $24.99) and Globe2Go Print Replica Edition (4.6 from 25,126 reviews, premium from $1.99).
The Hamilton Spectator download
Last updated 7 days ago.
The Hamilton Spectator sells in 2 countries. It was released 15 years and 3 months ago, on 23 Jun 2011. It holds a 4.5 rating from 1,179 reviews.
Supports 1 language: English.
How much does The Hamilton Spectator make?
Third-party estimates for the last 30 days, worldwide — not the store's own figures, which Apple publishes for nobody.
Revenue by plan
- Monthly 85%
- Annual 15%
Revenue by country
- Canada 98%
- United States 2%