Head-to-head · News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions
The New York Times vs The Guardian
The New York Times leads on 0 checks, The Guardian on 1, and 0 are 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
- Free planonly The Guardian
The New York Times scores higher on our rubric for news and digital magazine subscriptions: 9.4 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.
The Guardian offers free plan; The New York Times doesn't.
The New York Times is the better fit for readers wanting broad US news and a multi-product bundle. The Guardian is the better fit for readers seeking free Guardian app access.
- The New York Times fits best
Readers wanting broad US news and a multi-product bundle
- The Guardian fits best
Readers seeking free Guardian app access
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Side by side
| Feature | The New York Times 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | The Guardian 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #1 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions | #8 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions |
| Best for | Readers wanting broad US news and a multi-product bundle | Readers seeking free Guardian app access |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | — | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Built for | Solo | Solo |
| Features The New York 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 | 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 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
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 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
- 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 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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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