News is a privacy-focused RSS aggregator targeting independent thinkers who prefer manual curation over algorithmic feeds. It differentiates by requiring no accounts and supporting any RSS source. However, it faces severe technical debt, specifically an 'infinite loading' bug, and high ad density. While the Android version is actively maintained (last updated April 2026), the iOS version has been stagnant since 2022.
Product velocity
Maintenance
Daily rank 🇺🇸
—
News
Sentiment
4.0
2.0M reviews
Nemesis
Google News
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
For Astute, independent thinkers who prefer to curate their own news sources rather than relying on algorithmic curation.
What does it look like?
Key features
Allows users to subscribe to any publisher that offers an RSS feed.
Full functionality available without requiring third-party account sign-ins.
Alerts users when tagged favorite feeds are updated.
How much does it cost?
The app uses an ad-supported model but positions itself as a privacy-focused utility, avoiding the data-harvesting common in modern news aggregators.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentperformanceUX improvementsShow more...
Development has significantly decelerated, with no major feature releases identified since 2017. The current cadence consists exclusively of minor stability and performance patches, the most recent being in April 2026. The app appears to be in a long-term maintenance phase with no evidence of new feature development or platform expansion for nearly a decade.
Who built it?
Savy Soda Pty
13+ apps tracked · News
iSpreadsheet™
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MILLIONAIRE TYCOON™
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Documents Pro, Download & Edit
iSpreadsheet™ : Office Sheets
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WiFi HD Wireless Disk Drive
MILLIONAIRE TYCOON™ : Free Realestate Trading Strategy Board Game
Eenies™ at War
Split Web Browser
TextEditor : Rich Text EditorUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Fresh user feedback skews mixed. Users appreciate comprehensive news coverage and ease of use, but report technical instability.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Comprehensive News Coverage
- Ease of Use
Unlock 1 more frustration theme, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for News
How's the News market?
The rivals identified
By Google
Direct scale-match on Android (1.95M reviews) with identical core value propositions of personalized aggregation and multi-source news reading.
- Utilizes 'Full Coverage' AI to provide context and timelines for developing stories—target relies on a standard chronological feed.
- Deep integration with Google Assistant and system-level news briefings that target cannot replicate as a third-party app.
- Offers a 'Lite' mode for low-bandwidth connections, specifically targeting emerging markets where this app also has high Android traction.
SmartNews: Breaking NewsContender
NewsBreak: Local News & AlertsContender
Apple NewsContender
Feedly - Smarter News ReaderContenderUnlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for News
Where is it heading?
- vVARY updated April 2026 on Android shows active maintenance of the primary platform.
- iOS version stagnant since June 2022, indicating potential platform abandonment.
- Frustrated user base reporting persistent 'infinite loading' bugs across platforms.
The SWOT
- No-account privacy model
- Open RSS support for niche sources
- Massive Android install base
- Bias transparency features (Ground News gap)
- Offline reading mode (SmartNews gap)
- AI-driven summarization (Readwise gap)
Next best moves
Resolve the 'infinite loading' bug on Android and iOS.
+ 2 more prioritized movesFeature gaps
AI-driven context and timelines (Google News) +3
Since the last report: The app has transitioned into a maintenance-heavy state with significant technical debt and platform abandonment on iOS, leading to a decline in user sentiment.
Bottom line
If I were the PM, I would immediately pivot from feature expansion to technical stabilization, as the 'infinite loading' bug is eroding a decade of brand equity. The app's anti-algorithm positioning is a powerful niche, but it cannot survive if the basic utility of reading news is blocked by performance debt and intrusive ads.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 3 market threats, 2 more prioritized moves and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeReport last updated