Free vs Paid Daily News Apps: Money-Saving Review

Here at AppGrooves, we generally try to test all the major apps in a category, but there are so many news apps that for this one, we tried to collect a wide range of different apps, but please be aware there is a lot more out there. For testing, we chose some free apps, some with paid subscriptions, some single-source apps, and some aggregators. We were trying to answer two questions: what are the best apps? And do you need to pay for them?

In determining which apps were best, I considered how much content was offered, how well it was laid out, how easy the app was to browse, whether you could personalize the content, if video or audio options were available, and how much advertising there was.

I selected a single-source app as the number one because it shined in all those categories, but the choice between a single-source and aggregator app is quite personal -- those who have a particular source they like and trust may want to stick to that rather than wade through many different options, while others may prefer to get a range of takes on a given subject.

The "freemium" model isn't very prevalent in news apps (although one app we tested has a premium version that is ad-free and allows you to access an audio version of news stories but otherwise has the same content). For the most part, publications use a subscription model, where you can read a certain number of articles for free each month, and after that, have to pay to access the content. So the question is not so much whether or not you need extra features as how many articles from a news source you want to read.

One final note: I evaluated these apps as apps, not on the quality of their content. If there is a particular news source that you like best, you will probably prefer that app, regardless of the app's overall quality. 

As a 24-hour news network, CNN has tons of news content, both breaking news, and analysis. The CNN app brings that wealth of information to your phone or tablet. In terms of both breadth of content and user-friendliness, the CNN app was the best of all apps tested.

The app opens on a feed for top news, which presents the major headlines of the day with links to click for further information. Generally, each topic is followed by several different articles and video clips, so you can delve into stories that interest you. 

A menu of categories (akin to the sections of a traditional newspaper) lets you quickly access what is most important to you. You can browse through the following offerings: world, politics, business, health, style, travel, sports, entertainment, and opinion. While these sections have a lot of in-depth information, you can see what CNN prioritizes -entertainment and style, for instance, do not have as much content as politics and business.

Whether you like to read, watch, or listen to your news, the CNN app has options for you. The app features short video clips, articles, and even live audio. If you subscribe to select cable providers, you can also watch CNN live right through the app. You can also view the app over your television if you have a Roku. This lets you watch video clips from the app on a bigger screen, and for cord-cutters who don't have cable, it might be a good substitute for cable news. 

I like to scan headlines in the morning and then read more later on, and the CNN app makes that easy to do so. When you bookmark articles, they are automatically stored in an easy-to-access icon on the bottom of the screen. The bookmark function saves time because you only have to browse once. 

CNN's alert functionality is also a time saver. You can customize alerts to notify you when there is new content in topics you want to follow. You can receive updates on US politics, 2020 elections, race and inequality, coronavirus, and many more. With this feature, you can stay up-to-date without checking the app frequently.

Whether you're a cable news watcher or just want a high-quality news source to read on your phone, the CNN app is a great choice. 

While the CNN app features tons of content and will definitely keep you up to date on breaking news, it is just one source, and many people like to diversify their news a bit more. They are also very focused on "hard" news -- if you want to follow entertainment, arts and culture, and other "soft" news topics, you may want to add another app to your news diet.

While CNN's multimedia features are high quality (CNN is, of course, a TV network first), both video and audio content has a lot of ads. For a quick video clip, watching an ad seems like a waste of time. That said, most people are used to ads before video content these days, so it may not feel particularly burdensome. 

If you prefer to use an aggregator app to get news from a variety of different sources, Google News is a great choice. Aggregators offer an efficient reading experience by letting you access all your favorite news sources in one place. Google News features curated news from over 50,000 sources across the internet, and also lets you customize feeds with sources and topics of your choice. 

One time-saving feature of the app is the headline tab, which displays the most important stories of the day with a few sentences of explanation and links to several articles on the subject. With this feature, you can get a quick sense of what’s going on in the world, and then dig in to what you want to learn more about when you have time. Although it consists of multiple sources, the headline view really feels like reading a newspaper. 

If you have favorite publications/websites or topics that you want to follow, you can set up a personalized feed in Google News to get it all in one place. Using the “following” button on the bottom of the screen, you can add topics, sources, and locations to your feed so you don’t miss anything. And you can discover new favorites as well. In the Newsstand section of the app, you can browse publications to find and follow new sources.

The news sources in Google News are a combination of free and paid, so while you can see headlines from the New York Times and other paywalled sources, you will only be able to read as many free articles as the publication allows. However, there are often similar stories from other sources. And if you do subscribe to a publication, you can access it within the Google News app by entering your password. Following a paywalled publication on the app is also a good way to find out if you want to subscribe -- if you consistently want to read past your monthly allotment, it might be time to subscribe.

The Google News app is well-designed, presenting a lot of information in a clear and navigable way. It is easier to browse than to search, so it's better for getting an overview of all that's going on in the world than digging deep on a specific topic, although there is plenty of substantive content available on the app.

While it’s certainly possible to stay informed without paying for news, many of the oldest and most trusted newspapers keep their digital versions behind a paywall. These publications often have some of the most in-depth reporting and analysis available, as well as extensive culture sections. If you tend to burn through the free articles these sources offer each month; you may want to subscribe. 

If you subscribe to the Washington Post for $9.99 per month, you can enjoy the paper on one of the best looking and user-friendly news apps out there. That rate is for the monthly all-access digital subscription, which includes unlimited web and app access. At $100, the annual subscription offers a better rate but gives you less flexibility if you find you don't read or like the content as much as you expected. 

There is also a premium digital subscription ($15/month or $150/year). In addition to the web and app access, this package comes with a bonus subscription and 30-day passes to share with friends, as well as some ebooks by Post reporters. Unless you really want to share the Washington Post with friends, this seems like an unnecessary expense. 

The app is laid out intuitively, with top stories scrollable on the main page and sections and topics (i.e., transfer of power, coronavirus, race and reckoning, etc.) easily accessible on a horizontal menu at the top. Breaking stories pop up in red at the top of the screen. I found the white text on the black background easy on the eyes.

As you browse, you can bookmark articles to save. These are accessible from the bottom of the screen. This can save time because you don't have to go searching for something you saw but didn't have time to read. Since so many people browse news sites during spare moments and may not have time to read a long or complicated article, bookmarking things to read later is an efficient way to use those spare moments. 

The Post’s notifications were the most customizable and least intrusive of any app I tested. You can sign up for alerts in a variety of categories and are told when you sign up how frequently alerts occur. This made them genuinely useful and can help users save time by notifying them of the most important developments in their areas of interest.

A final feature of the app is one that I initially didn’t understand the use of but came to really appreciate: the print edition view. It’s just what it sounds like — an exact digital replica of the paper that print subscribers receive. All of the articles are available elsewhere on the app, and although you can read the headlines clearly, the text is too small to be a comfortable read on a phone. However, when you click on the articles, you link to the normal digital version. 

So what’s the point? I liked it because it made me feel like the news had an end. On the Post app and all the other news apps I tested, you can refresh all day long, waiting for new stories. With the print edition, you can read it “cover to cover,” and then you’re done until the next day. It feels like a time before 24-hour news, and I found that reduced my stress levels. It also saves time if you can really stick to just reading the paper and not taking moments throughout the day to check on constantly updating news site.

While national and world news is easy to find, many people are just as interested in what's going on close to home. And if you don't live in major cities, it can be difficult to find local news on apps. News Break is an aggregator app that spotlights the local while also featuring national news and other major stories. 

The app opens on a "For You" feed that combines local news, major national and world headlines, and updates from any topics and sources you follow (which you can add via a button at the bottom of the screen). Your local news is included in the "For You" stream, but it also has its own tab, so you can look at it on its own. 

There are also curated feeds for a variety of topics, including science, entertainment, sports, health, and many more. I personally appreciated the section devoted to animals because I knew I could access cute content as a break from some of the more stressful aspects of headline news.

One unique highlight is the app's collection of local deals. These local classifieds help you save money by spotlighting local deals as well as items for sale in your community. Job hunters will appreciate the local job listings, and there are also postings for local events, so you can keep up with what's going on in your community. 

In addition to the many local and national news sources available on the app, News Break also has a creators' program, which features contributions from independent local content creators. Who knows your hometown better than its residents? The creators' program lets your neighbors tell you what’s going on, as well as offering content from various experts in hobbies, entertainment, and other topics.

While News Break is a good source for local news, the app has some issues. There are many ads, which can be irritating when you are trying to access the content. I would also recommend turning off notifications if you use the app. News Break sends more notifications than the other apps I tested, and they also are frequently grisly stories that are tragic but not necessarily newsworthy -- and I prefer not to read about isolated shooting deaths while I'm just trying to do the dishes.  

The free app for National Public Radio is the most minimalist of all the apps I tested, for better or worse. After spending hours on busier apps, I definitely appreciated the app's simplicity, but it also has less content than most of the others I tested. That can help you streamline your news intake, but some folks may want an app with more robust offerings.

The home screen shows major headlines, with links to complete articles. Because NPR is radio-first, the content is a combination of articles and audio content accompanied by a transcript or article. While audio is certainly a priority, the articles on the app are clearly written, deeply reported, and often contain information not in the accompanying audio. 

For more in-depth information, the topics tab sorts news and culture content into sections. Go deep on news topics like politics, business, science, and education, and browse the app's rich collection of arts and culture reporting. You can get the latest news on books, movies, pop culture, food, and other topics, as well as browsing NPR's many music-oriented shows. 

I especially appreciated NPR's playlist functionality. You can add audio clips to a playlist and listen to all your content at once. I don't really like to listen to short clips and would rather hear everything at once (probably while folding laundry), so the playlist option fits really well into my life. 

For my podcast-and-laundry friends out there, the playlist is not all this app has to offer. You can also play NPR shows and podcasts, as well as listen to your local station live. NPR favorites like Fresh Air, All Things Considered, Code Switch, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and many more are all available to stream on-demand, both new and past episodes. You can also listen to your local station of live, commercial-free radio. Many areas have multiple stations, so you can find your favorite. 

One caveat: I liked this app a lot and will probably continue using it. I thought it was easy to use but still pretty content-rich, and I loved the audio features. However, it was by far the worst-reviewed app on this list, so your mileage may vary. For me, it was a great way to get my NPR. 

A beautifully designed aggregator that turns your favorite news sources into a magazine. You can read articles curated by Flipboard’s team and also create your own collections of sources and topics. Browsing is smooth, and the app is easy to use. This nearly made our list, but we preferred google news as an aggregator.

There's a lot to like about this app, but it is organized strangely, with multiple streams of content that are not always sorted by topic. But for people who like the app's unique magazine format and enjoy spending time curating different topics, this free app may become a favorite. 

In an earlier era of internet life, RSS feeds were popular tools for following your favorite websites in one place. In the social media age, most RSS readers have gone out of fashion and out of business. But Feedly remains, and with good reason. The clean and simple app lets you track updates on your favorite websites. It also helps you find new sources, with collections of content from various topics.

Feedly is particularly good for following tech, science, and industry news, but you can add any source you want. It doesn’t have any pre-set sources, so when you download it, you have to add any publications/websites you want to follow. For those looking for a quick way to access major headlines right off the bat, this is not the app for you. 

Feedly has a free version and a premium upgrade for $16 per month. The premium version lets you access more sources, track Google keyword alerts, and follow Twitter feeds. Probably more than most people need, but there is a free trial if you want to check it out. 

A solid app that aggregates tons of news sources and has easy-to-access local news. The basic layout is similar to News Break, with top news, local news, and various categories displayed across the top. 

However, it is quite cluttered, with lots of information packed in. It has lots of advertising as well. One nice feature is the social tab, which allows you to follow Twitter feeds in the app. This could be a useful tool for those who get a lot of news over social media. 

A free aggregator with a premium version that removes ads and allows you to listen to summaries of news stories or the full articles. The premium version offers a free trial, but only for 24 hours. However, the premium price is on the low end: $1.99 for a month, $4.99 for three months, and $15.99 for a year. Even at that price point, the additional features don't seem worth it. 

News360 collects many different news sources and is easy to use. However, compared to some other aggregators on our list, it doesn’t have much to set it apart.

One of the most respected and popular news sources, the New York Times app is worth downloading if you regularly read the paper. The app isn’t quite as user-friendly and feature-rich as the other paid subscription app we tested, so it didn’t make our list. However, it is a solid choice, particularly if you prefer the Times to other news sources. And, with a basic subscription available for $4 per month, it’s a low-cost way to access a large collection of news, reporting, and opinion. 

You can read 10 free New York Times articles per month, so if you find yourself going through those quickly and wanting more, it might be worth subscribing, particularly since there are often introductory rates for new subscribers.