Report updated Mar 26, 2026
azcentral
v8.9.0Local residents of Phoenix and Arizona who value in-depth investigative journalism, local sports coverage, and a traditional newspaper reading experience in a digital format.
What Is azcentral?
Launched Mar 11, 2014
Updated Mar 2026
What users think iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
Media Gallery
Key Features
A digital replica of the print newspaper including USA TODAY and over 200 local eNewspapers.
In-depth journalism focused on holding local government and companies accountable.
A 'For You' page that curates content based on user preferences.
Recent User Sentiment iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
“Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate quality of journalism, but report technical stability and bugs.”
What Users Love
Exceptional journalism... they report the news.
Reporting is balanced and factual.
Pain Points
Must close the app and relaunch to get it to work, every time.
This app never works the same way twice.
High confidence · 78 reviews available
App Store Performance
| Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Grossing | #54 | ▲8 |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong brand equity as a Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom.
- High-value content differentiation through the eNewspaper digital replica.
- Established, loyal local user base.
Cons
- Significant technical debt resulting in app crashes.
- Poor ad-experience management for paying subscribers.
- Inconsistent content delivery and article duplication.
Market Outlook
Growth Opportunities
- Capitalize on the local news desert trend.
- Improve retention by offering a truly ad-free tier.
- Leverage the For You feed to surface evergreen investigative content.
Market Threats
- Aggressive competition from social media and free news aggregators.
- Declining user sentiment trend impacting organic acquisition.
- Subscriber attrition risk due to technical instability.
Key Takeaways
azcentral is a divisive news app that is available. With a 4.3/5 rating from 6.6K reviews, it receives mixed feedback from users. Users particularly appreciate quality of journalism, though technical stability and bugs remains a common concern.
Best for: Local residents of Phoenix and Arizona who value in-depth investigative journalism, local sports coverage, and a traditional newspaper reading experience in a digital format.
App Details & Pricing
Model: subscription
Monetization relies on a metered paywall model, incentivizing users to subscribe for full access and exclusive digital replica content.
iOS Version
8.9.0
Android Version
8.7.1
Release Date
Mar 11, 2014
iOS Price
Free
Android Price
Free
Developer
Gannett