News apps have become increasingly popular lately. According to the Think with Google report, an average user spends 31 minutes a day on news apps. There are several reasons for this, including ease of access, a more personalized experience, reading news from multiple sources in a single place, and more, making news apps a preferred way to consume news.

best news apps

There are countless news apps on the market, covering a wide range of interests and preferences. It’s hard to try out all the news apps and know which one is right for you. To make it easy for you, we have tested the most popular news apps around the world and included the 15 best options for you in this list. But before that, there are a few things you should consider before choosing the best news app for you.

Best News Apps for Android and iOS

Sl No
App Name
Key Features
Platform Availability
1
Inshorts
Summarizes news under 300 words, vertical scrolling, personalized feed
Android, iOS
2
Google News
Aggregates news, personalized experience, supports 25+ languages
Android, iOS
3
Apple News
Personalized suggestions, Apple News+ for magazines/newspapers, Spotlight feature
iOS
4
Flipboard
Magazine-style articles, personal collections, wide range of topics
Android, iOS
5
Way2news
Local news in India, Supports multiple Indian languages, news from local journalists
Android, iOS
6
Reuters News
International news, personalized topics, multimedia content
Android, iOS
7
Microsoft Start
Customizable home, news/weather/sports, Bing Chat integration
Android, iOS
8
Smart News
Aggregates from various sources, personalized recommendations
Android, iOS
9
Feedly
Custom news feeds, save articles, subcribe to social media posts
Android, iOS
10
Newsbytes
News sub-cards, personalized feed, Easy to grasp format
Android
11
Twitter
Real-time updates, follow individual jounalist accounts, global trends
Android, iOS
12
Substack
Subscribe to newsletters, direct inbox updates, choose topics
Android, iOS
13
Reddit
Community-driven news, niche subreddits, Realtime discussions
Android, iOS
14
Medium
Long-form articles/essays, daily recommendations, Direct press releases
Android, iOS

Inshorts

inshorts app

Highlights:

  • Read news under 300 words.
  • Customize your news feed by selecting categories.
  • Offers smooth, engaging vertical scrolling.

Inshots is my best pick and go-to app for quick news consumption. The app summarizes news articles from various sources with AI under 300 words and displays them as a vertical feed. You can swipe up to view the latest news. The app is known for providing smooth scrolling and the best reading experience.

You can personalize your news feed by selecting the different news categories when you first set up the app or do so in the settings. The app displays the summary of the article in the home feed. You can tap “Learn more” to read the full article. You can not comment, like, or dislike the news.

You can bookmark the news to read it later. You can set up news notifications and more. Inshorts also displays Inshorts Insights, where you can see the infographic for the most popular topic. I have been using the app for more than five years now. The app is available for free on both Android and iOS.

Pros:

  • Quick news consumption with concise summaries.
  • Easy to navigate with vertical scrolling.
  • Personalized news feed based on your chosen categories.

Cons:

  • No options to comment or engage with news articles.
  • Limited to news summaries, lacking in-depth articles.

Inshorts (Android)  Inshorts (iOS)

Google News

google news app

Highlights:

  • Access news from a variety of sources.
  • Get a personalized experience based on your interests.
  • Read in over 25 languages.

Google News app aggregates news from various sources and offers personalized experiences based on your interests. You can choose to follow specific topics and read articles from different sources, follow specific publishers, or see all articles in the dedicated “Follow” tab.

Google News also includes a “Full Coverage” feature that provides comprehensive coverage of a news story by aggregating articles from different sources, videos, and tweets on the same topic.

Another highlight feature of Google News is support for multiple languages. The app supports more than 25 languages, making it the best app for people who want to read in different languages.

Pros:

  • Access to a wide range of news sources.
  • Personalized experience tailored to your interests.
  • Supports multiple languages.

Cons:

  • Can be overwhelming with multiple similar sources.
  • Some users might find the interface complex.

Google News (Android) Google News (iOS)

Apple News

apple news

Highlights:

  • Best news app if you own an Apple device.
  • Subscribe to Apple News+ for magazines and newspapers.
  • Explore in-depth coverage with the Spotlight feature.

If you own an Apple device, Apple News is the best option for you. The Apple News app is free and offers a personalized experience by suggesting relevant articles based on the user’s interests.

You can also select specific topics to receive curated collections of articles. It also comes with Apple News+, which provides additional access to hundreds of magazines and newspapers for monthly use.

In addition, the app offers the Spotlight feature, which provides users with in-depth coverage of selected topics by aggregating various sources, videos, and podcasts on the topic. Apple News is also available in multiple languages. You can save articles for later, read full-length articles, and more.

Pros:

  • Seamlessly integrates with Apple devices.
  • Access to a wide array of magazines and newspapers with Apple News+.
  • Offers in-depth coverage with the Spotlight feature.

Cons:

  • Exclusive to Apple devices, limiting accessibility.
  • Apple News+ requires a subscription for premium content.

Apple News (iOS)

Flipboard

flipboard app

Highlights:

  • Enjoy magazine-style long articles and blogs.
  • Save and organize articles into personal collections.
  • Explore a wide range of topics, from science to Bollywood.

Flipboard is the best option if you want to read magazines and other long blog content. The app aggregates news content from different sources on the Internet and displays a short text in the feed along with the full-length coverage. To read the full article, you can tap anywhere on the screen, and the app will redirect to the original article.

You can like, share, and add the article to your collection. You can also view articles from specific categories like science, photography, computer science, travel, music, movies, Bollywood, and more. You can also search for individual articles and follow individual publishers to get personalized suggestions in the app.

The app is free to use, You need a publisher subscription if the news is under the paywall.

Pros:

  • Attractive magazine-style layout.
  • Allows for personal collections of articles.
  • Covers a wide variety of topics and interests.

Cons:

  • Some articles might require external subscriptions.

Flipboard (Android) Flipboard (iOS)

Way2news

way2news app

Highlights:

  • Stay updated with local news in India.
  • Read news in multiple Indian languages.
  • Get news directly from local journalists.

Way2News is another popular short news app that displays news in a short format. Unlike in shots where news is summarised from other sources using AI, News in the way2news app is posted by local journalists within the location.

The app also offers video content, job alerts, entertainment, daily digital magazines, daily horoscopes and astrology, and much more. There is also a new fact-check option in the app that allows you to check the facts of news articles by sending the article to ID. Another useful feature of the app is sharing news, bookmarking articles, and much more.

Pros:

  • Supports multiple Indian languages.
  • News is posted by local journalists.

Cons:

  • Limited to users in India.

Way to News (Android) Way to News (iOS)

Reuters News

reuters news app

Highlights:

  • Trust a reliable source for international news.
  • Personalize your topics of interest.
  • Enjoy text, photos, and videos.

Reuters is the best option if you are looking for an app for international news coverage. Reuters Publication is a trusted source of news source for many people and is also known for being an exclusive news source. The app covers a wide range of topics, including international news, business, politics, technology, entertainment, and more.

The app also allows you to get personalized experiences based on your interests. You can select different topics, and the app will display the relevant articles. The app includes a variety of multimedia content such as text, photos, and videos. You can easily navigate to videos and text format

You can bookmark the article and read it later, Save the article, and select individual categories in the sidebar for personalized suggestions. The app is free to use, however few news coverages are only available for premium users.

Pros:

  • Trusted source for international news.
  • Simple, user-friendly interface.
  • Includes multimedia content like videos and photos.

Cons:

  • Lacks interactive features like comments or likes.
  • Limited personalization compared to other apps.

Reuters News (Android) Reuters News (iOS)

Microsoft Start

microsoft start news app

 

Highlights:

  • Customize your home with news, weather, and sports.
  • Access the latest news with Bing Chat integration.
  • Integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft services.

Microsoft Start is another news aggregator app similar to Google News that offers personalized news experiences. It includes a customizable home page that aggregates news, weather reports, sports scores, finance, and more.

You can browse through the different categories and select news articles from a wide variety of categories including entertainment, sports, health, lifestyle, and more.  Another new feature of the app is the Bing chat integration, where you can directly access the Bing chat and summarise news articles and more.

Pros:

  • Customizable home screen with news, weather, and more.
  • Integrates well with other Microsoft services.
  • Bing Chat for quick news updates.

Cons:

  • Can be cluttered with too many features.
  • Requires a Microsoft account for full functionality.

Microsoft Start (Android) Microsoft Start (iOS)

Smart News

smartnews app

 

Highlights:

  • Read news aggregated from various outlets.
  • Get personalized recommendations based on your habits.
  • Stay updated with both local and international news.

Smart News is a simple news aggregator app with personalized recommendations. The app gathers news from a variety of sources, including major news outlets, and displays news in one place.

Similar to other news aggregators, smart news provides personalized news recommendations by analyzing user behavior and reading habits. The app covers a wide range of new categories, including top headlines, politics, business, technology, entertainment, sports, and more.

If you tap on a single article, the app will redirect you to the full article page. From there, you can share the article with others, open the article in a dedicated browser, and more. There are no interaction features like “like” or “dislike” of the news.

Pros:

  • Aggregates news from various reliable sources.
  • Provides personalized recommendations.
  • Covers both local and international news.

Cons:

  • Less intuitive interface.

Smart News (Android) Smart News (iOS)

Feedly

feedly rss reader news app

Highlights:

  • Link your news sources for custom feeds.
  • Save articles to read later.
  • Connect with social media and other apps.

Feedly is a popular news aggregator app and RSS reader that offers more control over the news sources you want to read. You can manually add the news sources and read them all in one place. You can customize your experience, organize news, and find articles from specific topics or a particular source.

Another popular feature of the app is the read later feature, where you can bookmark the article and save it for later, integrate it with other apps like social media sites, note-taking apps, and other apps to save articles and cross-platform compatibility.

In the free version of the app, you can add up to 100 sources. You can subscribe to the Premium plan to expand the limit. The app is great, however recently I discovered feeed, offers a better user experience and is completely free to use. However, the app is only available for iOS users at the time of writing this article (May 28, 2024)

feeed rss reader app
Feeed RSS reader app.

Pros:

  • Customizable news feeds with linked sources.
  • Save articles for later reading.
  • Integrates with other apps like social media.

Cons:

  • Limited sources in the free version. However, you can use Feeed for unlimited sources.
  • Requires setup to add and organize feeds.

Feedly (Android) Feedly (iOS)

Newsbytes

news bytes app.jpg

Highlights:

  • Get a quick overview with news divided into sub-cards.
  • Select categories for personalized feeds.
  • Enjoy the auto-scroll timer for continuous reading.

Newsbytes is my favorite news app, available for free for both Android and iOS. The best thing I like about this app is the news coverage. It divides the news into individual sub-cards that help to quickly grasp the main points of the news and get a brief overview.

The app offers personalized news feeds based on your interests. You can select specific categories to follow on the app, including national news, international news, business, sports, entertainment, technology, and more. The app is only available for Android and covers mostly news from India.

Pros:

  • Quick overview with news cards.
  • Personalized news categories.
  • Auto-scroll timer for effortless reading.

Cons:

  • Limited to summarized news, lacking detailed articles.

Newsbytes (Android) 

Twitter

twitter app for news

Highlights:

  • Stay updated with the latest trending topics.
  • Follow individual accounts for news.
  • See global trends on the “What’s Happening” page.

Twitter is known to be the best place to keep up with the latest trends and news. You can follow individual news sources or users who post news to stay up to date. Also, the “What’s Happening” page displays the latest trends from around the world.

Pros:

  • Real-time updates on trending topics.
  • Follow specific accounts for news.
  • Global trends at your fingertips.

Cons:

  • Content reliability can vary widely.
  • Can be overwhelming with non-news content.

Substack

substack news app

Highlights:

  • Subscribe to newsletters for in-depth articles.
  • Receive updates directly in your inbox.
  • Choose topics that interest you.

Substack is not a news app. The app is primarily for publishing newsletters. By subscribing to newsletters from authors on topics that interest you, you can receive updates directly in your inbox. Note that many Substack newsletters do not contain real-time news but newsletters often have in-depth analysis and long articles. If you are someone who consumes news daily at a certain time through newsletters, Substack is the best option for you.

Pros:

  • Subscribe to in-depth newsletters.
  • Direct updates to your inbox.
  • Choose specific topics and authors you like.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for real-time news.
  • Many newsletters require a subscription.

Reddit

reddit news communities

Highlights:

  • Engage with community-driven news.
  • Subscribe to specific subreddits for niche news.
  • Join conversations and debates.

Reddit can also be a good source for the latest news and updates. There are several communities and subreddits dedicated to sharing news and current events. You can join or subscribe to any subreddit topic that interests you to get the latest updates.

Please note that Reddit is not a dedicated news app. It is a community social media platform where users participate in conversations. It is important to note that the content on Reddit is created by users and is not always reliable or accurate. You can check the “upvotes” and “downvotes” of the Reddit thread to know the users’ opinions. Reddit is the best source if you want to keep up with the latest news and updates in a particular niche and join user conversations.

Pros:

  • Community-driven news and discussions.
  • Subscribe to niche subreddits for specific interests.
  • User engagement through comments and votes.

Cons:

  • Content can be unreliable or biased.
  • Requires effort to sift through discussions for news.

Related Read: 12 Best Reddit Apps for Android and iPhone

Medium

news articles in medium app

Highlights:

  • Read long-form essays and articles.
  • Get daily recommendations with two free articles each day.

Medium can also be a good source to get the latest updates. Medium is not primarily for getting news in real-time, but individuals or organizations post long articles, essays, and personal posts there. I use Medium to keep up with the latest company announcements. The app offers two free articles daily. You can follow people or organizations and receive recommendations on the home screen.

Pros:

  • Access to long-form articles and essays.
  • Follow organizations and individuals for updates.
  • Daily recommendations with a couple of free articles.

Cons:

  • Limited free access, with many articles behind a paywall.
  • Not focused on real-time news, more on in-depth content.

FAQs on Best News Apps

loader image

Yes, every news app we have listed has breaking news notifications. You need to allow the app to send notifications. Once subscribed you can change the app notifications settings within the app, or you can customize them in the system settings

Most news apps offer text-based content. However, some news also offers other content like videos, infographics, and more that might require more data to consume. If you're concerned about data usage, you may want to check your app's settings or try using the app on Wi-Fi to reduce your data usage.

Yes, most news app comes with a built-in social media sharing option where you can share the articles on social media networks, including Twitter, Facebook, and more.

The frequency of the content update completely depends upon the individual apps. Generally, the aggregator news apps update content every minute, and individual news apps like short news and Way to News update news every time there is an update.

Yes, many news apps allow you to customize the news you see by selecting topics or sources you're interested in. Some apps also use algorithms to suggest content based on your reading habits.

Yes, many news apps offer audio or podcast versions of articles. This can be a convenient way to consume news content while you're on the go or doing other tasks.

  1. The New York Times
  2. BBC News
  3. NPR News
  4. The Washington Post
  5. Reuters News
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