NewsBreak
Free US local news app that builds a feed around your zip code, with alerts and community posts.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, iOS, Android
Is NewsBreak free?
Yes, free to use
Switch from NewsBreak to
All 6
Google NewsFree
Ground NewsFree plan + paid
SmartNewsFree
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About NewsBreak
NewsBreak is a free news app focused on local news in the United States. You give it a location or zip code and it collects articles from local newspapers, TV stations and other publishers about your town, alongside national headlines, then personalises the feed based on what you read. It also hosts original posts from independent contributors, who can earn money for writing about their community, which helps fill gaps where local papers have closed. Push alerts flag breaking stories, and the app has crime and police alerts, a crime map, weather, traffic, gas prices and events for your area. A website version lets you browse local news by city. The service is ad-supported. Because contributor posts sit next to professional reporting, readers should check which is which before trusting a story. It runs on iPhone, Android and the web.
Best for: US readers who mainly want news, alerts and events from their own town or neighbourhood.
Pros and cons
What works
- Strong focus on local US news by zip code
- Crime alerts, weather, traffic and events in one place
- Free to read, on the web as well as mobile
- Independent contributors cover places with few local papers
Why people leave
- Mostly useful inside the US
- Ad-supported feed
- Contributor posts mix with professional reporting, so source quality varies
NewsBreak vs Google News, Ground News and SmartNews
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | NewsBreak | Google News | Ground News | SmartNews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Verified price | — | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | Yes | Free app |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension | iOS, Android |
Top NewsBreak alternatives
See all 6- 1Google News79.8
Free headlines with a local section and Full Coverage, without user-submitted posts.
- 2Ground News71.3
Shows how outlets across the spectrum cover each story, including local stories.
- 3SmartNews68.8
Free news app with a local tab plus a slider for coverage from both political sides.
- 4
Flipboard65.0Magazine-style news app where you follow topics and publications, with less clickbait local feed filler.
- 5
Apple News61.8Curated news built into Apple devices, with optional paid access to big papers.
Why people left NewsBreak
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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NewsBreak: common questions
What is NewsBreak?
NewsBreak: Free US local news app that builds a feed around your zip code, with alerts and community posts. Best for US readers who mainly want news, alerts and events from their own town or neighbourhood. Available for Web, iOS and Android.
Is NewsBreak free?
Yes, NewsBreak is free to use.
Is NewsBreak open source?
No, NewsBreak is not open source.
What platforms does NewsBreak run on?
NewsBreak is available for Web, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to NewsBreak?
The highest-ranked NewsBreak alternatives right now are Google News, Ground News and SmartNews. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
NewsBreak vs Google News: what's the difference?
Both NewsBreak and Google News are free to use. Both run on Web, iOS and Android.