Report updated Apr 18, 2026
News
For astute, independent thinkers who prefer to curate their own news sources rather than relying on algorithmic curation.
News is an established news app that is completely free. With a 4.0/5 rating from 2M reviews, it shows polarized user reception. Users particularly appreciate comprehensive news coverage, though technical instability remains a common concern.
What is News?
Current Momentum
v10 · 1w ago
MaintenanceThe app is currently in maintenance mode, with the last major feature update occurring in 2017. Recent activity is limited to minor bug fixes and performance improvements.
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
What Are The 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?
- Completely free with no account requirements
The app uses an ad-supported model but positions itself as a privacy-focused utility, avoiding the data-harvesting common in modern news aggregators.
Who Built It?
Savy Soda Pty
Empowering mobile productivity through professional-grade document tools and immersive retro-style strategy games.
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What do users think recently?
High confidence · Latest 100 of 2M total reviews analyzed
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate comprehensive news coverage and ease of use, but report technical instability and excessive advertising.
What Users Love
What Frustrates Users
View the full user-sentiment analysis
Mood gauge, ratings & review-volume history, every praise / complaint / request, and sentiment over time.
What is the competitive landscape for News?
How's The News Market?
How does it evolve in the News market?
Rank progression
11 active rankings tracked — 30-day window
The rivals identified
The outtake for News
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- No-account privacy model
- Open RSS support for niche sources
- Massive Android install base
Critical Frictions
- Infinite loading technical bug
- Platform stagnation on iOS (last updated 2022)
- Intrusive ad implementation
Growth Levers
- Bias transparency features (Ground News gap)
- Offline reading mode (SmartNews gap)
- AI-driven summarization (Readwise gap)
Market Threats
- Google News' local granularity
- SmartNews' instant-loading technology
- Feedly's power-user AI tools
What are the next best moves?
Resolve the 'infinite loading' bug on Android and iOS.
This is the #1 high-frequency complaint in sentiment analysis and a direct cause of churn.
Optimize ad frequency and placement.
Users report ads 'blocking' the reading experience, which negates the 'beautifully arranged' value proposition.
Implement an Offline Mode.
This is a key differentiator for contender SmartNews and aligns with the 'astute professional' target audience.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- AI-driven context and timelines (Google News)
- Offline reading mode (SmartNews)
- Political bias visualization (Ground News)
- AI research assistant/summarization (Feedly/Readwise)
Key Takeaways
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.
Where Is It Heading?
Mixed Signals
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.