Head-to-head · News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions
The New York Times vs The Economist
The New York Times leads on 0 checks, The Economist 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 scoreThe New York Times · 9.4/10
The New York Times scores higher on our rubric for news and digital magazine subscriptions: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.
The New York Times is the better fit for readers wanting broad US news and a multi-product bundle. The Economist is the better fit for readers of global affairs and analysis.
- The New York Times fits best
Readers wanting broad US news and a multi-product bundle
- The Economist fits best
Readers of global affairs and analysis
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 | The New York Times 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | The Economist 9.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 9.0 |
| Ranking | #1 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions | #5 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions |
| Best for | Readers wanting broad US news and a multi-product bundle | Readers of global affairs and analysis |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Free trial length | 30 days · no card needed | 28 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Built for | Solo | Solo, Small business |
| Features The New York Times 0/5 · The Economist 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 | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Our verdict | The New York Times delivers digital journalism through NYTimes.com and its News app for iOS and Android. It is aimed at readers who want reporting and analysis across topics such as politics, health, business, culture and science, along… Read the review → |
The Economist brings its reporting and analysis on international affairs, politics, economics, business, science, technology and culture to a subscription app. It suits readers who want a single publisher’s perspective across global… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
The New York Times — where it wins
- Reporting and analysis across multiple subject areas
- Breaking-news updates, custom alerts and home-screen widgets
- All Access combines News with Games, Cooking, Wirecutter and The Athletic
Where it doesn't
- No permanent free plan
- Subscription required for paywall access
- The 30-day offer is limited to eligible new users and ends automatically
The Economist — where it wins
- Covers politics, economics, business, science, technology and culture
- Download weekly editions for offline reading
- Combine articles with podcasts, narrated stories and daily updates
Where it doesn't
- Subscription paywall; no free plan
- Listed starting price is $24.90
- Coverage is limited to The Economist's publishing
- The New York Times9.4/10 · 30-day trial
A paid news subscription with breaking alerts, audio and video, plus a broader All Access bundle.
Visit siteFull verdict → - The Economist9.0/10 · 28-day trial
A subscription for global affairs coverage across articles, audio, video and weekly editions.
Visit The EconomistFull verdict →
More comparisons
- The New York Times vs Financial Times
- The New York Times vs The Wall Street Journal
- The New York Times vs The Washington Post
- The New York Times vs The Times
- The New York Times vs EL PAÍS
- The New York Times vs The Guardian
- Financial Times vs The Economist
- The Wall Street Journal vs The Economist
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