Head-to-head · News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions
Financial Times vs The Guardian
Financial Times leads on 0 checks, The Guardian on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreFinancial Times · 9.3/10
- Free planboth
Financial Times scores higher on our rubric for news and digital magazine subscriptions: 9.3 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.
Financial Times is the better fit for global business and financial news readers. The Guardian is the better fit for readers seeking free Guardian app access.
- Financial Times fits best
Global business and financial news readers
- The Guardian fits best
Readers seeking free Guardian app access
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Side by side
| Feature | Financial Times 9.3/10 Visit ↗ | The Guardian 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.3 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #2 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions | #8 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions |
| Best for | Global business and financial news readers | Readers seeking free Guardian app access |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Support | Live chat, Phone, Email | Email, Phone, Live chat |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo |
| Features Financial Times 0/5 · The Guardian 0/5 | ||
| Publication bundle | Not published | Not published |
| Archive access | Not published | Not published |
| Audio content | Not published | Not published |
| Ad-free access | Not published | Not published |
| Gift subscription | Not published | Not published |
| Specs | ||
| Publication type | Not published | Not published |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Financial Times brings business, finance, economics, politics and culture reporting to readers through its website and reader apps. It is suited to people who want global business and financial news alongside wider coverage, rather than a… Read the review → |
The Guardian app brings the publisher’s journalism—news, investigations, opinion, sport, culture and lifestyle—to iOS and Android. It suits readers who want a single publisher’s reporting alongside audio, podcasts and puzzles, with free… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Financial Times — where it wins
- Covers business, finance, economics, politics and culture
- MyFT creates a personalised topic feed, with saved and offline reading
- Adds podcasts, video journalism, AI audio and market information
Where it doesn't
- Expanded article access requires a subscription
- FT Digital Edition is a separate app from the main FT app
- The $12.99 monthly price applies to the Digital Edition and may vary
The Guardian — where it wins
- Follow topics and writers in a personalized My Guardian feed
- Listen to article audio and Guardian podcasts in the app
- Use crosswords, word games, Sudoku and trivia in the puzzles hub
Where it doesn't
- Free access to app content is metered
- Full app content and ad-free reading require a subscription
- Offline reading is a digital supporter benefit
- Financial Times9.3/10 · Free plan
A broad news subscription with personalised reading, offline access and market coverage.
Try Financial TimesFull verdict → - The Guardian8.7/10 · Free plan
A free, metered Guardian app with audio, podcasts and puzzles; subscriptions remove limits and ads.
Visit The GuardianFull verdict →
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- The Wall Street Journal vs The Guardian
All news and digital magazine subscriptions comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update