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Head-to-head · News and Magazine Apps

Google News vs SmartNews

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Google News #2 in News and Magazine Apps 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Google News
SmartNews #8 in News and Magazine Apps 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit SmartNews

Google News leads on 0 checks, SmartNews on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGoogle News · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth

Google News scores higher on our rubric for news and magazine apps: 9.3 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

On paid publication access, Google News gives you Linked where SmartNews offers Included.

Google News is the better fit for free, personalized headlines with offline reading. SmartNews is the better fit for mobile readers who want free news and offline access.

  • Google News fits best

    Free, personalized headlines with offline reading

  • SmartNews fits best

    Mobile readers who want free news and offline access

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Google News 9.3/10 Visit ↗ SmartNews 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.6
Ranking #2 in News and Magazine Apps #8 in News and Magazine Apps
Best for Free, personalized headlines with offline reading Mobile readers who want free news and offline access
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Mobile
Platforms Web, Android, iOS iOS, Android
Support Email, Community Docs, Email
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo
Features Google News 2/3 · SmartNews 2/3
Offline reading ✓ ✓
Personalized feed ✓ ✓
RSS support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Content scope Multi-source Multi-source
Platforms web, android, ios iOS, Android
Paid publication access Linked Included
Our review
Pros
  • Personalized local, national, and world headlines in one briefing
  • Full Coverage groups reporting and perspectives around a story
  • Download articles over Wi-Fi for offline reading
  • Combines news from multiple publishers with editorial curation
  • Personalizes feeds through topic and outlet following
  • Offers local updates, translation, and offline reading
Cons
  • Some linked articles may be behind publishers’ paywalls
  • Feature availability can vary by country
  • It aggregates coverage rather than replacing publisher subscriptions
  • Available on iOS and Android, not other platforms
  • Some articles open on the publisher’s website
  • Article bookmarking is available on iOS only
Our verdict

Google News brings headlines and articles from multiple outlets into a personalized briefing for readers following local, national, and international coverage. Available on the web, Android, and iOS, it lets readers follow topics,…

Read the review →

SmartNews brings stories from national and local publishers into a mobile news app for readers who want multiple sources in one place. Its editorial curation sits alongside breaking-news updates and feed customization through topic and…

Read the review →
  1. Google NewsNews and Magazine Apps 9.3Free plan
  2. SmartNewsNews and Magazine Apps 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Google News — where it wins

    • Personalized local, national, and world headlines in one briefing
    • Full Coverage groups reporting and perspectives around a story
    • Download articles over Wi-Fi for offline reading

    Where it doesn't

    • Some linked articles may be behind publishers’ paywalls
    • Feature availability can vary by country
    • It aggregates coverage rather than replacing publisher subscriptions

  • SmartNews — where it wins

    • Combines news from multiple publishers with editorial curation
    • Personalizes feeds through topic and outlet following
    • Offers local updates, translation, and offline reading

    Where it doesn't

    • Available on iOS and Android, not other platforms
    • Some articles open on the publisher’s website
    • Article bookmarking is available on iOS only

More comparisons

All news and magazine apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update