Report updated Mar 27, 2026
The San Francisco Chronicle
v202603.8Bay Area residents and individuals interested in San Francisco local news, politics, sports, and culture who value high-quality, trusted journalism.
What Is The San Francisco Chronicle?
Launched May 31, 2011
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 daily newspaper for a traditional reading experience
An integrated tool that converts written articles into audio for hands-free listening
Access to a suite of reimagined and brand-new interactive puzzles
Push notifications tailored to user-preferred topics and interests
Curated food reviews, restaurant lists, and exclusive local guides
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 local journalism and convenience of digital format, but report technical bugs and stability and subscription and paywall issues.”
What Users Love
The newspaper excels in professional journalism and it takes me back to the city I love
Shines a light on business and government mismanagement and fraud
The E-newspaper is fun to read, but the app portion along with the listen feature is great when you’re on the go
Very handy to have access on phone and laptop
Pain Points
I have to reboot my android tablet ever day to get the the app to work properly
The app is very very glitchy
I have a subscription but it keeps telling me I've reached my limit for articles
Just bought a digital subscription, set up the app and now I’m required to sign in again
High confidence · 99 reviews available
App Store Performance
| Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Grossing | #28 | ▲1 |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong brand authority and reputation for high-quality local journalism.
- Successful integration of value-add features like Puzzmo and Everlit audio.
- High volume of user ratings indicating a large, established user base.
Cons
- Poor technical stability, specifically regarding app crashes and media loading.
- Broken authentication flows causing friction for paying subscribers.
- Perceived reliance on clickbait, which undermines the brand promise.
Market Outlook
Growth Opportunities
- Capitalize on the local news desert trend by expanding deeper coverage.
- Improve the subscription management UI to reduce churn caused by login friction.
- Enhance the personalization engine to move beyond simple topic alerts.
Market Threats
- Aggregator apps capturing casual readers with free, bite-sized content.
- High churn rates due to technical frustration driving users to competitors.
- Negative app store reviews impacting long-term acquisition.
Key Takeaways
The San Francisco Chronicle is a divisive news app that is available. With a 4.5/5 rating from 30.3K reviews, it receives mixed feedback from users. Users particularly appreciate quality of local journalism, though technical bugs and stability remains a common concern.
Best for: Bay Area residents and individuals interested in San Francisco local news, politics, sports, and culture who value high-quality, trusted journalism.
App Details & Pricing
Model: subscription
The app uses a metered or gated content model, leveraging a free trial to convert casual readers into recurring monthly subscribers while providing added value to existing print subscribers.
iOS Version
202603.8
Android Version
202603.18
Release Date
May 31, 2011
iOS Price
Free
Android Price
Free
Developer
Hearst Newspapers