The Times of Israel vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against The Times of Israel's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Core Identity
DeveloperRGB Media LtdGannettGannettGannettGannett
CategoryNewsNewsNewsMagazines & NewspapersNews
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, Android
Store Metrics
Rating2.8 / 54.3 / 54.3 / 54.1 / 54.3 / 5
Ratings Count131479453592411
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateSep 2, 2015Sep 22, 2015Sep 6, 2012Aug 6, 2013May 1, 2012
Last UpdatedMar 16, 2026Mar 10, 2026Mar 10, 2026Mar 10, 2026Mar 10, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentnegative--negativemixed
Score35/100--25/10065/100
Praises
  • High-quality journalism and informative news coverage keep readers engaged with current events in Israel
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  • Local news coverage provides essential community updates for residents and former residents alike
  • Local news depth
Complaints
  • Intrusive and deceptive full-screen advertisements disrupt the reading experience and block content access
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  • Persistent login failures and authentication errors prevent access to paid digital content
  • Performance issues
Requests
  • Native tablet interface support is requested to improve readability and layout on larger screens
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  • Restoration of the traditional newspaper layout and e-edition viewing experience for readers
  • Improved UI
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Editorial authority in the Middle East news category sustains a loyal, niche-focused reader base
  • eNewspaper replica preserves traditional subscriber loyalty
  • Hyper-local content focus creates a barrier for national news aggregators
  • eNewspaper replica provides a familiar, high-value experience for legacy print subscribers.
  • Regional cultural authority sustains a loyal subscriber base
  • eNewspaper replica provides a clear transition path for print readers
  • Exclusive local reporting creates a community-specific information barrier for national competitors
Weaknesses
  • 2.8★ iOS rating reflects deep technical debt
  • Persistent login loops for paid members erode trust
  • 0.49★ rating gap between iOS and Android platforms
  • Lacks gamified retention hooks found in competitor apps
  • Static news feed lacks the live-ticker functionality found in regional competitors.
  • 2.77 Android rating indicates severe stability issues
  • Persistent login loops prevent access to paid content
  • Android-iOS rating gap of 0.8 stars indicates significant platform-specific performance friction
Pricingfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumsubscriptionfreemium
MomentumMaintenance----
Update Cadence2 versions, ~96d avg----

Compare The Times of Israel head-to-head

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AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Times of Israel, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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