The Independent
The Independent: A publisher-focused news app pairing breaking coverage with editions, audio and puzzles. Ranked #9 of 71 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions by our editors (8.6/10); pricing: Free plan; best for readers who want news, editions and puzzles in one app.
At a glance
- Editor score8.6 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forReaders who want news, editions and puzzles in one app
- Free planYes
- Facts checked4 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Combines breaking news, reporting and analysis with a daily digital edition
- Offers narrated articles, audio playlists and offline access to downloads
- Adds a personalised feed, bookmarks, puzzles, video and breaking alerts
Where it doesn't
- Subscription access is required for expanded journalism and app features
- The All Access tier is needed for the Daily Edition
- Its focus is The Independent’s journalism rather than multiple publishers
Our verdict on The Independent
The Independent brings the publisher’s breaking news, reporting and analysis together with a daily digital newspaper, audio, video and puzzles. Readers can download the app for free, register for a limited number of free articles each week and receive breaking news notifications. Its personalised feed can be tuned to interests and favourite writers, while bookmarks help save articles. This suits readers who want a single publisher’s coverage alongside ways to listen, read offline and take a puzzle break, rather than a broad bundle of publishers.
The free entry point makes it possible to explore the app, but expanded journalism and app features require a paid subscription. Standard Access includes exclusive content, a personalised newsfeed, daily puzzles and narrated articles. All Access includes those features and adds the Daily Edition digital newspaper. The published USD starting price is $11; pricing varies by region. Readers mainly interested in articles and audio may find Standard Access the closer fit, while those who want the newspaper edition should compare All Access.
The app’s mix extends beyond text: readers can download editions and queued audio for offline access, and can also use audio playlists, video clips and Independent TV. Its listed platforms are web, iOS and Android, although the category specs identify iOS and Android as supported platforms. Choose The Independent if its reporting and newspaper edition match your reading habits and you value puzzles and audio in the same app. Readers seeking coverage from several publishers, or who do not want subscription access for expanded journalism, should look elsewhere.
The Independent pricing
All 2 The Independent plans and prices →
The Independent 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 | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | independent.co.uk |
| Facts checked | 4 Oct 2026 |
Alternatives to The Independent
- 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 Independent alternatives →
Used The Independent? 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 Independent 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 Independent 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-independent/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/the-independent.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