Google News alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Google News: can't add arbitrary RSS feeds, and opaque algorithmic ranking. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Google News, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Apple News currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Apple News	Free plan + paid	No	iOS, macOS	4 of 4	66.5

1. Apple NewsTop pick
Best for: Apple users who want curated news and access to many paywalled magazines in one subscription
Free plan + paidiOS, macOS
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Google News
Curated by editors as well as algorithms, with no Google account involved.
Pros
Free app built into Apple devices
News+ unlocks 500+ publications in one subscription
Family sharing included with News+
Audio stories and puzzles
Cons
Apple devices only
Can't add your own RSS feeds
Availability and publications vary by country
Visit Apple News Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Apple News a good Google News alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
News+ price
$12.99/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
1 month
Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Publications
500+ with News+
Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Family sharing
Included
Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Google News alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Google News alternative for most people

Apple News

Curated by editors as well as algorithms, with no Google account involved.

Best Google News alternative for a free option

Flipboard

Magazine-style curation by topic, with editor-picked newsletters.

Best Google News alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Ground News

Shows bias ratings and blindspots for each story.

Best Google News alternative for Mac

Apple News

Curated by editors as well as algorithms, with no Google account involved.

Best Google News alternative for iPhone and Android

Feedly

Pick your own sources and add Google News keyword feeds alongside them.

Best Google News alternative for working in the browser

Inoreader

Full control over sources, plus Google News alerts as feeds.

Google News alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Google News?

Apple News ranks first right now. Curated by editors as well as algorithms, with no Google account involved. Ground News and Flipboard follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Google News?

Yes. Apple News (free plan + paid), Ground News (free plan + paid), Flipboard (free) and Feedly (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Google News?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Google News?

The complaints we hear most: can't add arbitrary RSS feeds; opaque algorithmic ranking; personalisation uses your Google activity.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Google News, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.