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Category
News
Latest Version
VARY
Publish Date
03/26/2013
Requires Android
-
Offered by
SmartNews, Inc.
Website
https://www.smartnews.com/
Policy
-

App Feature

SmartNews aggregates breaking, local, and topic-based news from a wide range of trusted publishers, with customizable channels, scheduled top-story notifications, local coverage, and a fast, text-first reading mode that can open original sources when needed.

Verdict

Verdict: A fast, highly customizable news aggregator with excellent local coverage, held back by intrusive ads and occasional stability hiccups.

Who is it for

Best for:

  • Readers who want curated breaking news and strong local coverage
  • Users who prefer multiple sources and customizable topic channels
  • People who like quick, text-first reading with timely notifications

Not ideal for:

  • Anyone intolerant of frequent or intrusive ads and autoplay audio
  • Users needing bulletproof stability without crashes or freezes
  • Readers who want a single-source, magazine-like experience without curation

Real-world User Experience

Users like it:

Speedy breaking news alerts; broad source variety; balanced perspectives; easy customization of channels and topics; solid local, national, and global coverage; convenient tabs; text-first view that strips clutter; reliable daily brief notifications.

Users complain about:

Intrusive ads including full-screen, autoplay audio, and forced app-store popups; occasional crashes/freezes and performance issues on some devices; frequent updates that sometimes feel required to load articles; sporadic older or celebrity items surfacing in top stories; pop-ups disrupting reading position.

Is it Worth Paying For?

The app is free and offers IAP, but there’s no clearly advertised ad-free tier; value is strong at the free level, though heavy ads may frustrate some. Unless an ad-free option appears, there’s little reason to pay beyond optional support features.

How it Compares to Alternatives

Compared to Google News, SmartNews offers similarly broad sources with more tabbed, channel-style customization and strong local curation, while Google integrates better with Google accounts and devices. Versus Flipboard, SmartNews prioritizes speed and text-first reading over magazine visuals. Against Apple News (iOS-centric, with paid tiers), SmartNews is cross-platform and free but more ad-heavy. Feedly favors power users who want full RSS control; SmartNews suits those preferring curated discovery and minimal setup.

Summary

SmartNews: Local Breaking News delivers fast, curated headlines from reputable publishers with standout local coverage and easy customization across politics, sports, entertainment, health, and travel. Users praise its speed, breadth, balanced perspectives, and scheduled briefings, making it a reliable daily snapshot of what matters. However, intrusive advertising (including full-screen and autoplay audio) and occasional stability hiccups—plus frequent updates that sometimes feel mandatory—can detract from the experience. If you want a quick, multi-source view with strong local context and don’t mind ads, it’s a top pick. Those who need an ad-light or rock-solid app may fare better with alternatives or await an ad-free option.

Download Latest APK
Google Play
App Store

Ratings

4.0
643K+ Votes
5
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1

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