Head-to-head · News and Magazine Apps
Yahoo News vs SmartNews
Yahoo 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 scoreYahoo News · 9.0/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresSmartNews · 2 of 3
Yahoo News scores higher on our rubric for news and magazine apps: 9.0 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #8.
On paid publication access, Yahoo News gives you Linked where SmartNews offers Included.
Yahoo News is the better fit for free personalized news across multiple publishers. SmartNews is the better fit for mobile readers who want free news and offline access.
- Yahoo News fits best
Free personalized news across multiple publishers
- SmartNews fits best
Mobile readers who want free news and offline access
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Side by side
| Feature | Yahoo News 9.0/10 Visit ↗ | SmartNews 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.0 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #4 in News and Magazine Apps | #8 in News and Magazine Apps |
| Best for | Free personalized news across multiple publishers | 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, iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Support | Docs, Email | |
| Built for | Solo | Solo |
| Features Yahoo News 1/3 · SmartNews 2/3 | ||
| Offline reading | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Personalized feed | ✓ | ✓ |
| RSS support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Content scope | Multi-source | Multi-source |
| Platforms | web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Paid publication access | Linked | Included |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Yahoo News brings articles from multiple publishers into a personalized news-reading feed, with access on the web, iOS, and Android. It suits readers who want to follow topics and publications in one place rather than visit each publisher… 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 → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Yahoo News — where it wins
- Personalizes a feed using interests and preferences
- Includes breaking-news alerts, search, and saved articles
- Adds AI audio digests and article takeaways on mobile
Where it doesn't
- Linked stories may require a publisher subscription
- Feed-management and workflow features are limited
- Available on web, iOS, and Android only
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
- Yahoo News9.0/10 · Free plan
A free, personalized multi-publisher feed with alerts, search, saved stories, and AI features.
Visit Yahoo NewsFull verdict → - SmartNews8.6/10 · Free plan
A free mobile news reader with curated stories, customizable feeds, and offline access.
Visit SmartNewsFull verdict →
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All news and magazine apps comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update