The Guardian
The Guardian: A free, metered Guardian app with audio, podcasts and puzzles; subscriptions remove limits and ads. Ranked #8 of 71 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions by our editors (8.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for readers seeking free Guardian app access.
At a glance
- Editor score8.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forReaders seeking free Guardian app access
- Free planYes
- Facts checked4 Oct 2026
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
Our verdict on The Guardian
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 ad-supported access to metered app content. Readers can shape a My Guardian feed around topics, writers and interests, and receive notifications for selected stories and updates.
The app combines several ways to follow its journalism rather than focusing only on article reading. Text-to-speech playback makes articles listenable, while a dedicated tab collects Guardian podcasts. Its puzzles hub includes crosswords, word games, Sudoku and trivia. That mix may appeal to readers who want regular Guardian content in different formats; it remains centered on the publisher rather than offering a broader collection of publications.
The free tier has limits, while an app subscription provides full app content and ad-free reading. Offline reading is a digital supporter benefit, so readers who need that feature should account for the subscription distinction. Choose the app if Guardian journalism and its companion audio and puzzles are the main draw, and if a metered free option is enough to start. Readers seeking unlimited access without a subscription, or content from multiple publishers in one service, should look elsewhere.
The Guardian pricing
The Guardian fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Publication type | Not verified |
| Publication bundle | Not verified |
| Archive access | Not verified |
| Audio content | Not verified |
| Ad-free access | Not verified |
| Gift subscription | Not verified |
| Deployment | Mobile |
| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Phone, Live chat |
| Built for | Solo (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | theguardian.com |
| Facts checked | 4 Oct 2026 |
Alternatives to The Guardian
- The New York TimesA paid news subscription with breaking alerts, audio and video, plus a broader All Access bundle.9.4
- Financial TimesA broad news subscription with personalised reading, offline access and market coverage.9.3
- The Wall Street JournalA subscription news service pairing WSJ journalism with personalized feeds and market tools.9.2
See all The Guardian alternatives →
The Guardian vs the competition
- The Guardian vs The New York Times
- The Guardian vs Financial Times
- The Guardian vs The Wall Street Journal
- The Guardian vs The Washington Post
- The Guardian vs The Economist
- The Guardian vs The Times
Compare The Guardian with any tool side by side →
Used The Guardian? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used The Guardian for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
The Guardian is listed in our News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/the-guardian/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/the-guardian.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update