In our fast forward life, we don’t have enough time to go through traditional news mediums like newspapers, television news, radio, etc. So, what the best and fastest option for updating our knowledge of things happening around the world? The answer is news apps which are helpful to kill your free time.
All the folks with busy and hectic work can now easily download news apps on their iOS and Android devices which are free of cost.
However, with numerous news apps flooding the market, it is important to pick the one that appeal to your interest and satisfies your reading needs.
To help you select your favourite, here is the list of the best free news apps available on both iOS and Android.
1. The Guardian
The Guardian App is a free news app (also comes in a subscription plan) available on both android and iOS platforms. You can access award-winning journalism from all categories like sport, economics, politics, finance, and business news.
Not just news reading, readers can also access audios, videos, and podcasts using this app.
App Features
- Real-time news alerts
- Customized news feed
- Offline reading mode is also available
- The premium versions come with additional features like daily crosswords
Rating: 4.8/5
Installs : 5,000,000+
2. AP News
Real-time news updates from the Associated Press, a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by American newspaper and broadcast members. All the news info available in this news are from trustworthy international and local sources.
This app supports both English and Spanish languages. It is one of the best free news apps available on the internet.
App Features
- Personalized news feed and news alerts
- Curated content hubs
- Award-winning articles and photographs from every corner of the globe
- Read international and local stories at the same-time
Rating: 4.8/5
Installs : 1,000,000+
3. Pocket
Previously known as Read It Later, the Pocket app is the best option if you are searching for a news app in which you can curate your own news spaces.
Here you can save the link to interesting news articles, videos, or audios from any other platforms so that you can take a look at them whenever possible.
App Features
- Customizable display
- Read in offline also
- Best of the web- lists all best contents across the web in one place
- In the free version, you can add highlights per article, but in premium, there is no limit
Rating: 4.7/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
4. Podcast Addict
With over 1 million downloads Podcast Addict is the number one podcast available today. You can manage various podcasts, live streams, YouTube, RSS news-feeds using this application.
It comes with advanced searching tools that allow you to search for your favorite podcasts from millions. You will be notified in an instant when a new favorite podcast episode is released.
App Features
- Automatically updates, downloads, and deletes podcasts
- Customizable
- Cloud backup
- Built-in audio effects
Rating: 4.7/5
Installs : 1,000,000+
Download : Android
5. The New York Times
The NYTimes app updates the user with the latest events and cultural stories from 50 bureaus around the globe. Its interactive design and ease of use make it more appealing to users.
You can personalize your sections list by adding your favorites. It also comes with augmented reality and 360º videos for a better reading experience.
App Features
- Real-time news alerts
- Save favorite articles for offline reading
- Integration with other sharing platforms like social media
- Supports podcasts and audio series
- Night mode reading
Rating: 4.6/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
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6. theScore
This is a great app if you are a sports fan. It gives you personalized real-time updates like scores and standings on your favorite games NFL, NCAA Football, NBA, etc. in one place.
theScore also uncovers amazing sports stories, including success stories, controversies, etc. that all sports fans around the world are looking for.
App Features
- Hot Games
- Key stat headlines
- A fast recap of the previous games
- Chat with fans with similar interests
Rating: 4.6/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
7. Reddit
Want to stay updated with the latest news on your favorite categories? Reddit is basically a social news aggregation platform. Here the users can create content like news, funny experiences, stories, or can casually talk about any topic that comes under each community.
You can also earn fake points called ‘Karma’ when your posts get upvoted by persons with similar interests.
App Features
- Infinite content covering almost all topics under the Sun
- Night mode option
- Community group and one to one chats
- Free and open-source
Rating: 4.5/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
8. CNN News
Stay up to date with the latest news updates from the US and other corners of the world. You can access them in the form of the news articles or even in video format.
With this application in your mobile or tablet, you can watch live CNN, CNNi or HLN television any time.
App Features
- Across-and-down navigation swipe
- Custom alert settings
- Photo galleries, and news videos
- Access CNN original series, TV programs, and movies
Rating: 4.5/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
9. BBC News
Now you can listen to the breaking live news from BBC world, whenever wherever possible. BBC is a pioneer in the news industry, with a large network of efficient and trustworthy reporters from every part of the world. The app also serves up to the expectation.
You can also listen to the live streaming of BBC World Service Radio with the help of this app.
App Features
- Personalized news feed called My News
- Find contents quickly using Search feature
- Push notifications in real-time
- Access to photo galleries, videos, and audios
- Works in offline mode too
Rating: 4.5/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
10. Financial Times
This news app primarily focuses on news related to business and economic current affairs. Financial Times is one of the best free finance news apps out there. So, if you are a business enthusiastic this app is for you.
You can access information on market data, analysis, and company news from reading business organizations.
App Features
- Offline mode is available
- myFT- a space for personalized news
- Comment your opinions on the latest news
- Markets data portfolio tracking
Rating: 4.5/5
Installs : 1,000,000+
11. Mint: Business & Stock Market News
With rich& in-depth editorial coverage Mint business app brings the best of latest news experience from anywhere. The Mint app also provides live updates of gold, silver, BSE Sensex, Nifty 0 etc.
App Features
- Notification Center to keep you updated with important, breaking news
- Full range of news categories
- Insights on Companies, Markets, Policy
- Best of The Wall Street Journal
- Personalized news feed
Rating: 4.5/5
Installs: 1,000,000+
12. Public – Indian Local Videos
Public brings you all the latest updates of your city through short news videos. Via the app the users have a medium from where they can get all the latest interesting & important videos across their city in a single place. Public App is available in multiple Indian languages.
App Features
- All-important updates of your city that you should know as a citizen
- Record and share your opinion on latest issues
- Watch all the latest updates of your city through short videos
- Notifies you of jobs and vacancies available in your city
- Report local issues and problems of your city on the public app
Rating: 4.4/5
Installs: 100,000,000+
13. Inshorts
No time to read long news articles? Don’t worry. Inshorts app will provide you with the latest news in 60 words or less. Available in English and Hindi languages, it mainly focuses on the headlines only.
This app makes sure that the reader gets the news summaries, not pubic opinions, or other less important facts. It is pretty good for learning current affairs.
App Features
- Easy search tool
- Switch between English and Hindi anytime with a single tap
- Personalized news feed- My feed
- Share news using social media, WhatsApp or email
Rating: 4.4/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
14. Way2News
Way2Newa is an Indian local news app available in 8 local languages – Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, Bangla, and Gujarati. This way you will get news updates exclusively from your district or village in real-time.
This news app mainly focuses on giving a short summarized news update, so that the reader can access all local breaking news within a short time.
App Features
- 24X7 news updates
- Also has daily horoscopes, contests, greeting quotes, etc
- Trending social media news
- Top stories from all categories from politics to sports
Rating: 4.4/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
15. Google News
Google News is another news aggregator app by Google Inc. Like other free news apps, users can get real-time updates and breaking news fro all categories.
Each news is from trusted sources and professional reporters. You can also control what kind of content to be shown in the Google Feed.
App Features
- Full Coverage feature provides a complete end to end picture of stories
- A daily brief update on five top stories
- A Headlines tab with an unfiltered view of top news articles
- 1,000 magazine titles available
Rating: 4.3/5
Installs : 1,000,000,000+
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16. The Economic Times
The Economic Times application like similar free news apps provides you with the latest updates on finance, stock market, etc with live news. You can also track the latest stock exchange rates from top players like BSE, NSE, Sensex, Nifty, NCDEX, and MCX.
This app also gives advice and information on various investment options by industry experts. They also provide personal finance ideas.
App Features
- Track your investments in the top stock market in the world
- Provides enhanced markets data
- Stay up to date even when the app is closed using screen widgets
- Share news stories via email or social media
Rating: 4.3/5
Installs : 5,000,000+
17. Microsoft News
Microsoft News the news app by the tech giant Microsoft delivers breaking live news in real-time. The in-depth news reports which are aggregated in this application is from well-trusted sources.
It was initially released on October 26, 2012.
App Features
- Option to move from section to section
- Dark mode for nighttime reading
- Sync preferences across the app and the Web
- 24X7 instant notifications of breaking news
Rating: 4.3/5
Installs : 1,000,000+
18. Opera News
Opera News is one of the personalized free news apps that updates you with news related to trending topics you follow. There is also instaIPS videos, and live cricket updates in this app. This app is available in almost all Indian local languages.
There two view modes. One is a timeline view, where estimated reading time for articles can be seen and the other is a magazine-like format.
App Features
- Live updates and highlights of cricket games
- Upload and share video clips from any websiteInstaclips.
- Viral video collection
- Real-time, AI-curated news
- Unique turbo engine saves up to 80% of mobile data
Rating: 4.2/5
Installs : 50,000,000+
19. Dailyhunt
It is an Indian news content aggregator with over 330 million active monthly active users. Dailyhunt application is owned by Verse Innovation.
Here the contents are available in 14+ regional languages. With a large pool of local correspondents and trusted sources, Dailyhut updates you with the latest regional trending news.
App Features
- Share and repost your favorites
- A community of users with similar interests
- Post your ideas with hashtags to get popular
- Share multimedia files and text messages
Rating: 4.2/5
Installs : 100,000,000+
20. Flipboard
Flipboard collects popular news, stories, etc on your favorite topics gathered from all around the web in one place so that you can read them whenever you want.
This app was launched in July 2010 and was created by Mike McCue and Evan Doll.
App Features
- Easy access to top 9 interests
- Read, like, and share news and stories
- A feature called Daily Edition, a collection of important stories on a daily basis
- Flipboard community members with similar interests
Rating: 4.1/5
Installs : 500,000,000+
21. Aaj Tak Live TV News
Indias’s most watched TV news channel Aaj Tak comes with a free news streaming app. You can stream live local news, breaking news, sports news, news from other states etc. with Aaj Tak.
App Features
- Watch Live TV
- Get latest News updates on Science and Technology news
- Business News
- Personalized News Notification
- India News
Rating: 4.1/5
Installs : 50,000,000+
22. SmartNews
SmartNews is also a simple but efficient news application supported in both iOS and Android systems. You can read top trending and latest news from the best and trusted news publishers around the world. Using this news curation app.
This news app was launched in2012 is a subsidiary of Tombo, Inc. a company in Tokyo, Japan.
App Features
- Smart mode for better readability
- Operates in offline mode
- Get latest news notifications
- Customizable news channels
Rating: 4.1/5
Installs : 10,000,000+
23. Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera gives you global coverage of various topics that you are interested in getting updated on. You can access top stories by trusted reporters, in addition, to live and on-demand videos.
You can also share your favorite stories via popular social networks like Facebook, Reddit, etc.
App Features
- Instant news alerts
- Special coverage real-time notifications
- Curated home screen with top stories around the globe
- Personalized news-feed
- Access to 24-hour live video and audio stream
Rating: 4.1/5
Installs : 1,000,000+
24. NDTV News
NDTV News app brings you the latest photos, videos & stories from NDTV newsrooms. Get easy access to live TV & stay connected with the latest news from India and around the world with NDTV News.
App Features
- Watch & View
- Full coverage of India and International news events
- Live Video & Live Radio
- Alerts/Notifications
- Keep up to date with the ongoing sporting events
Rating : 4.1/5
Installs : 5,000,000+
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Conclusion
Technology is something hard to escape now that we are all accustomed to using it for the smallest of our needs. People want to get everything done in a few seconds.
Speed is the mantra for today’s agile, digitally sound generation when it comes to getting updated with news and current affairs. This is where smartphone technology helps. Described above are 24 best free news apps for iOS and android that deliver news stories in a way most preferred by viewers.