🏷️ About:
SmartNews is a local news app that delivers high-quality news headlines and breaking news from top news publishers. It analyzes millions of articles every day to deliver the top trending news stories influencing the world right now. The app has been downloaded by 50+ million readers in 150+ countries and has won several awards.
- Allows users to find news outside of their immediate interests
- Does not flood users with garbage after reading one article
Read 42 Customer Service Reviews 👿🤬😡😠💢😤
4.6 out of 5
I never leave reviews
2022-05-21
by Jkwic
I really love SmartNews. I read this news every day and sometimes several times a day. I supported that it had ads as that what it takes to fund an app that doesn’t require purchase. But the ads have gotten out of control. Back to back full page ad with Hidden delete buttons that it becomes so hard to touch that you open an ad just trying to close it. And the ads are so consistent and ridiculous that you almost memorize them and hate them every time you see them because you see it so much. They pop up in the middle of reading some thing I’m really interested in and then I end up clicking 10 times just to get back where I was to finish reading an article that’s available on so many other apps. I just loved it the way that this one was designed but now it’s become a bit too much. I try to ignore the refresh that loses my place when trying to get to another article but now reading the news on SmartNews has become more work than it is pleasure. With that note I’m gonna have to say goodbye this app. I wish you well in the future and I hope that you can conform a little more to the readers and keep their interest while funding the project.
Better than most news apps but still some flaws
2022-06-22
by Nostateblues
Would definitely not recommend SmartNews. SmartNews promises to deliver unbiased credible reporting from reliable sources on both sides of the story but more often than not I will get articles from random blogs and buzzfeed articles from people who clearly have no idea what they’re talking about. In theory SmartNews is supposed to deliver you a list of credible sources from both sides of the argument so you can make your own opinion. In reality SmartNews is nothing more than a tool to filter out all news stories that don’t agree with your world view and makes it extremely easy for people to blindly build up their own worldview while refusing to acknowledge other opinions exist. Ultimately the developers are just trying to market off of the fake news era and not deliver you real news and because of that they shouldn’t get any of your time.
Edit: after continuing to use SmartNews for a few weeks, I can safely say don’t waste your time here. Half the time I don’t even get news stories popping up in my feed but random celebrity or meme things and there’s no way to tweak your results or flag articles presented to you. And the ads pop up every other article now. If you are really desperate for a news app just use the Apple one
Really?
2022-07-23
by DivaRB
Fair and balanced? It is not! Primary stories are from Huff Post, NYT, Washington Post, NBC, etc. Really? Fox News and just a handful of more conservative media is at the very very end of the list. Any use who gave SmartNews a high rating must be a very progressive liberal. Very despicable of Smart News people to try to deceive the public. SmartNews does not fairly display the stories from ALL media outlets. It just doesn’t. I tried it so I could see for myself. And I will delete SmartNews.
Note to the Smart News responder .. “if you want a more conservative view you should add add Fox News, blah blah .. “. why didn’t you program it in there to begin with, so that SmartNews would appear as you advertise it will be on your lame commercial? Why should CONSERVATIVE people have to tweak SmartNews ? It should be FAIR to begin with. You see, a very liberal person will think this is great and will continue to believe they are getting fair news. THEY ARE NOT! Shame on YOU!
I received an inadequate reply from Nathan telling me exactly what I thought he would say .. same as above. They just don’t get it. What I’m saying is that they should set up a FAIR sampling of media outlets in the first place. Instead, they are setting up LIBERAL publications, and then I have to change my selections. Why can’t you be more fair?
Content is tabloid trash.
2022-08-24
by Searcher7nine
**Update regarding the developer's response below. SmartNews does allow me to remove high level topics, none of which are "celebrity gossip". They talk about SmartNews being a news aggregator, but then say I would have to manually add different tabs from various news sources. Well, if I have to switch between numerous tabs to look through the news then it's not doing much aggregating. Seeing all my preferred news sources on one tab would be aggregating. Finally, the links to contact the developer don't work! I wanted to clarify their comments and ask for support, but was unable to. And I've tried emailing my questions to the address provided, but with no response. Downgrading my rating to one star.
Original review: The layout is nice, but that's the best thing I can say about SmartNews. I like that I can see multiple news headlines on the screen at once. Other apps gave large photos or text so you can only view one or two without scrolling. But - there are way too many junk tabloid articles and over the top partisan hate pieces. I just want factual news which I might be able to achieve if SmartNews let me block certain "news" sources. But it doesn't. I'm tired of wading through all the junk.
Look here, it’s not smart news when I have to physically add stories and sources. If you had good AI, you would know what I read and don’t read, which would give you a sense of what I am interested in, instead of spamming me with all kinds of liberal political news. And here’s the kicker, you defend your system, vice taking my recommendations to make your system better. The fact you refuse to make changes tells me that 1) the system is doing what you want, or 2) you lack the maturity and business sense to operate the business you are selling.
UPDATE: Now why don’t you tell the truth? Almost all the stories are big-time left wing stories. Every once in a while you you toss in a conservative website origin story, and you call that balanced. Sometimes I would search for a conservative story and have to dig pages into searches. How about news that is not political, period? Or like I have seen quite a few liberals who think that media such as MSNBC and Huffington Post is centrists...maybe you actually believe that. Anyways, as long as you keep this business model, you will keep me away.
Tried a long time but almost all the news is extreme liberal news. There is no balance...and it certainly could not figure out I want real news, not politics.
NOW DELETED but WAS Best News Aggregator BY FAR
2022-10-26
by MLKMQ
Below is my former 5 Star Review and I am now rating this ZERO Stars and this has nothing to to with politics as some have commented In the past, you could go to the Discover Tab and add Tabs from the various content providers (AP, CNN, Fox) Inexplicably that ability has been removed for the Follow Tab, which requires 4 more clicks to read the same content You folks literally took the best laid out app I have ever seen (News or otherwise) and created an app that I had to delete Whoever came up with the idea to eliminate the ability to add Tabs for the “Following” Tab should be fired in one of the most egregious screw ups in iOS history ————————- I have tried numerous News Apps and have left each one as they were not exactly what I was looking for From Design to Content, this is exactly how I would have built it myself. I do NOT understand the reviews which state that it leans one side of the aisle or the other...just don’t pick that particular channel if you feel that way My only criticism (and it is no biggie) is on the Top Stories tab, I could do without the “For You” section. I rarely find those stories interesting and would just prefer additional “Top Stories” to continue on scrolling down that page That aside this is the perfect News App
Ad popping
2022-11-27
by Don't Even Think About It1988
SmartNews is now randomly throwing up full screen ads with hidden dismiss buttons. It’s amazing how something can go from good to junk apps with one greed based change. Ditching it, you should too. However, this review won’t make it anywhere near the top of reviews for obvious reasons. I’ve found great replacement that doesn’t force feed ads and in comparison to SmartNews, they get me the news I want to read, while still allowing me to find what I want that’s outside my immediate interest. Importantly, without then flooding me with garbage because I read one article. You can say what you don’t like, and that stuff isn’t forced down your throat either. It’s not hard to find something much better, you should look.
The developer is asking for suggestions. The suggestion is do not pop up full screen ads that are difficult to close and require user input, or worse killing SmartNews . Simple. The inline ads were (are) plentiful without this. The fact that people don’t click them except accidentally is not a cue to make them full screen and hard to close. That motivation is about $ and advertisers, which has nothing to do with delivering the news. Not the product spots masquerading as articles, the actual news.
Either you are a news app or an advertising outlet. Smart news seems to have made that choice. That’s why I, and many others are abandoning SmartNews . It’s not a hard calculus.
App should be named MSNBC2
2022-12-28
by GiveItARestAlready
Being fed up with pretty much all media outlets having a noticeable political bias and wanting to JUST k ow what happened, not someone’s analysis of it, I’ve been looking for an app that just gives the news. Let me figure out what it means. an app that I can open up, see what happened in the world today and close it. I gave SmartNews about 4 months. Every time I opened it it seemed to get worse. If there was a Trump/Republican bashing article anywhere on the net, you’ll find it on the front page here. You don’t even have to read the articles to see that everything on this site is for liberals. The titles are hilariously liberal. Don’t think I’ve seen a single article pertaining to the US government or the White House or republican that wasn’t a negative liberal opinion piece. I scrolled through about 5 minutes ago and it was ridiculous. Finally decided to delete it. This isn’t a news site. If you really just want to know what happened in the world today, this is not the site for you.
Update: Based on the developers feedback, it’s obvious that anyone who points out that this is a liberal leaning site is told to try Fox News for your conservative views. I’m not even a conservative. Just someone looking for unbiased news and this poser is telling everyone that points out their obvious bias that they’re a conservative and need to look elsewhere for their conservative views. This won’t be around long.
Fox News/The Washington Examiner?
2023-01-29
by Aardvarkian777
I enjoy SmartNews but I wish there weren’t horribly biased “news” services mixed in with reputable ones. Some “news” outlets are gossipy, completely without merit, or are laughable propaganda. I can’t control the contributors on “Top” news for instance. “TheBlaze, Popsugar, Footwear News, US! Weekly, or People” are not offering headlines that are worthy of my time, in fact, someone perusing the top headlines should rightly conclude that Meagan McCain is the most important person in the world, Brian Kilmeade is second, and Kirstie Alley is tied for third with some random “Real Housewife of Where Ever.” This makes the world look nightmarish. It’s wearing me out sifting through the garbage. I have never clicked on Fox, TheBlaze, PopSugar, Footwear News, TMZ, Vogue, Mediate, The Pluralist, or Entertainment Tonight, yet I am not seeing any diminishment in their prominent representation in the top stories of the day, in fact, I’m finding that the more you don’t click on a news source, because you find it disgusting, the more you see it. Maybe the algorithm is broken. How can I successfully navigate through the day without seeing the”Top” news stories concerning the Kardashians, Tomi Lahren, or the Bachelorette? The advice I’m getting so far is not getting the Jessica Simpson out of my “Top News.” Sad.
this app allows the user to select news by topic (business, science, entertainment, politics) or by source (CNN, Fox, Huffpost). Any one who says the stories that are presented are “too liberal” or “too conservative” need only select sources they like so they can stay in their echo chamber and never hear another opinion. Pros: wide variety of topics and sources; stories can be viewed on the Web tab or the Smart tab, which eliminates some of the ads and clutter found on the Web tab; allows the user to see news from sources they might not usually visit. Cons: recent update now allows full page pop up ads and also allows some ads to play music while viewing the selected news item with no way to turn off without exiting the page. REALLY ANNOYING, and has the effect of wanting to never buy a product advertised in this manner; most stories aren’t dated, and can hang around for days; some sites are clickbait/fake news but get tossed into the mix with reputable sites; the Local tab isn’t always local news and can show news from places on the other side of the state. Would have given four stars but the new ad policy cuts it to three.
Useful within Limits
2023-03-31
by Invisible Mikey
I live in a small town in Washington state. I use news aggregation apps to increase my access to local stories. Like many other competing apps, this one regularly confuses articles about “Washington” (the state) with ones about “Washington DC” (the nation’s capital). I have to sort through the relevant vs irrelevant items. This may be a limit common to current search engine algorithms, an inability to refine results within the same keyword.
Aside from that problem, I like the way SmartNews is able to be configured to favor a wide range of specific topics as you refine your interests. The tab arrangement facilitates rapid navigation. The ads are able to be scrolled past easily. They don’t obscure content on the home page, which is a plus.
I do not like the ambiguous “pitch” notification used under the “profile” button to try to get your email, which suggests signing in will make SmartNews work significantly better or faster. I tried it side-by-side several times with other friends who signed in while I didn’t. We got identical results with the same topics selected, whether signed in or not. That alone cost SmartNews a “star”.
Becoming more social and celebrity news source
2023-05-02
by Exmon11
When I first saw SmartNews - was pleasantly surprised on the scope of of the feeds - seemed to collect from all sources. Now it seem too many - perhaps based on trends of what people are clicking on the most from each of the “news sources”. My observation : Looking at the “Top” stories tab it appears to me 50% of the stories are not what I consider news but how some socialite lost their spouse, who is sleeping with who, how a Instagram star was refused service because they were being obnoxious... I generally do not see the value of the stories on that section which is disappointing. To me those types of stories are interesting but it is not news. I know they are eye catching but feels more like buying a family size bag of tortilla chips only finding it 1/4 full of chips and 3/4 air because the product is sold by weight and not volume... I did not want the air - I wanted to chips...
HOWEVER SmartNews does most other do not - pull from sources you don’t see on others like Google News, Apple News...etc.
I like this app and will continue to use it as my top news aggregator but will generally avoid Top tab.
Would give 5 but...
2023-06-02
by Upsetusernumber99
First off, to anyone complaining about it being “left leaning,” use your head for more than five seconds and control your emotions. I mean that seriously. SmartNews is customizable to allow you to choose the exact news sources you want to see, provided they are in SmartNews . Even if (not saying it is), SmartNews is “left leaning”, do what I do. Just read from sources you trust, just add the right leaning channels. Or, get a bit of balance and have both sides presented before you when you open SmartNews .. which is kinda the point of SmartNews if you’ve seen the commercials.
Anyways, I would give 5 stars if there’s a bit more customization. Customization on notifications, frequency of notifications, notifications for new stories from specific channels, etc. And, I would love a “Save for Later” feature. I often find myself opening SmartNews , scrolling through, and seeing several headlines that sound interesting but I don’t have the time or just don’t want to read them at the time. Atm I’m just saving the link to those articles in Notes. I’d much rather be able to tap a button or two that saves it within Smart News itself in a “Save for Later” tab.
A couple bugs and a suggestion
2023-07-04
by Tmanokc
I recently reset my iPad’s settings and content, and upon reinstalling this app, SmartNews ’s notifications won’t push anymore. It misses the scheduled update notification times and doesn’t display breaking news notifications. Stories aren’t even being put in the inbox. Also, for a long time, some stories featured on SmartNews are unable to display the full article text in “smart mode”, either omitting paragraphs or not being parsed at all or correctly to display the complete text featured in the original source page. Oddly, the notifications were still working properly when I upgraded my iPad from iPadOS 13.7 to 14.0 after the latter OS was released, with the most recent this app update installed.
Also, I’d like to suggest changes to the weather page to include a summary of the current weather observations (adding dew point, wind, barometric pressure, “feels like” temperature, visibility and humidity, along with sky conditions and air temperature). The current format of putting just the current temperature and sky conditions in the hourly forecast panel just doesn’t make sense, given that the weather page provides more detailed information on the forecast while only providing the bare minimum when it comes to current conditions.
I really like the simplicity of SmartNews, especially the smart view of articles that strips away all the ads and such (though it does take images with it sometimes, it’s tricky). I also like that I can set a location and get local stuff mixed in. I would love a history feature where I can see a list of articles I’ve viewed, even the last like 25 would do. I often will want to share good stuff with someone when the topic comes up later in the day or I’ve even locked my phone halfway through an article, then get a notification for another interesting story and click it, only to remember I still had that other article finish which is now gone. Just a suggestion. Overall, really dig SmartNews .
Update: starting to see what others are saying about the spam-y articles seemingly being added to the “top” feed. I’ve unsubscribed to all the general channels and only follow publications now, but my top feed still has CNN and Buzzfeed mixed in. I assumed top feed was the aggregate of what I follow and nothing else. Would much prefer that.
Favorite app
2023-09-05
by CRanger
Officially un usable. As a news junkie SmartNews has been my most used for years now. Layout is better than any other by far. Popups have rendered it garbage. Make a paid version if you need revenue, add more ads in feed. Popups are a deal breaker. I can’t even imagine they are a viable ad format given my first inclination is to shut down SmartNews once they appear. Doubt I’m alone in this. Good luck. Ya finally killed it for me. Back to my other news sources, sadly. Update: Hung in there a while more in hopes popups would go away. Got more frequent, and now an additional popup has shown up. Sad. Best news format out there. Done. DELETE Update: Came back to see if any decent changes would make app usable again. Nope. At least not in the ‘Top News’ Tab. Wish I could just delete it and stick with the other tabs I’ve created. Top News is anything but. Literally jam packed with garbage news from unknown sources. I can’t spend all my time checking validity of obscure news sources. Wish app would stick with known sources regardless of bias and leave all the suspect sources and fluff stories to a separate tab.
Update: App now allows for some customization. MUCH better in my opinion. Some news sources are just not worth my time, but to each his own. Nicely done.
Fantastic Function and Fav App but iPhone Capacity Issues
2023-10-07
by Zan Wilson
I love the news I get; frequently from cities I didn’t even realize it was tracking for me! Far superior to anything else I’ve ever seen I might be getting addicted this; I spend more time than I think I ‘should’ reading really interesting stuff that’s relevant to me. It’s not a five because it seems to ‘consume’ my iPhone 7 (with max memory)! Here’s what I mean: 1) Frequent pauses/freezes that can last quite a while. Some correct themselves with time, others don’t seem to. 2) Frequently I can’t open iPhone Notes to store an article. It just freezes! This is almost to the point rarely try anymore. But my memory is so bad what’s the point of reading all of this if a can’t save a link to it for later? 3) I was informed by the iPhone that my battery is going bad. However, SmartNews seems to consume tons of power. If I stop using it for a day my ‘power issues’ seem to disappear. If I need a newer/faster iPhone for SmartNews just let me know. If that’s not the issue, any suggestions? Alex PS - I’d like to store direct links to some of the news - is there an easy way to do this? Another suggestion: when I’m done reading an article option to remove from list or retain for a while (I may wish to forward to a friend ...... when it’s daylight again - ha, perhaps I am addicted!
App Continuously Freezing up
2023-11-07
by Talonhawk101
When I first started using SmartNews , the fact that it equally showed all sides of the equation. Left-right-Qs-nut cases etcetera. However, lately SmartNews has started to freeze up after a few minutes of use. Sometimes it will unfreeze, but mostly it stays frozen until SmartNews closes itself or in frustration I say screw this and and close SmartNews myself. The same has happened to my girlfriend who introduced me to SmartNews , so I know it’s not my phone which is btw a brand new. Both she and I have removed SmartNews multiple time and re-installed it to the same results. Don’t get me wrong the info on SmartNews is very informative and sometimes hilarious when SmartNews is working. But it’s freezing up more than it works. Especially when you get to the middle that one really interesting article and boom frozen. The article might be there when it comes on but mostly it’s not. Just wanted you to know.
A faithful but frustrated fan
Love!!!
2023-12-09
by ColeyDets
I love reading the news - but I hate news with an agenda. Before this app, I had my local Fox News app, which is about as non-bipartisan as you can get. The reason I love this app is because it gives me ALL the news...all sides, from literally all media outlets. I can go to the local tab (includes everything from the local Fox plus much more) or see what’s happening in our government, or the world, or to look at funny memes and animal pic compilations. I love how it’s not all doom-and-gloom news, they include the feel-good news, too! It’s amazing!!! I would highly recommend SmartNews to anyone, 10-stars, big thumbs up 👍👍👍👍👍👍
P.S. I LOVE the recently read feature!!! 👏👏👏
Edit: I looked over some other reviewers and I’m completely floored that people would say SmartNews has an agenda!! Every article is from its original source, so it’s clear where the article came from. If you get triggered by one side or the other, then go into your settings and adjust the scale so that you get what you want 🙂👍
I have been (inundated)as of late, been looking for another platform to get my daily news needs met as I am informe and very interested in social issues in my neighborhood and my country on a daily basis,until recently, “I noticed that as I was reading or might I say(trying )to read a (interesting (ed op)I was repeatedly interrupted by the annoying commercials that you have allowed companies to interject into your forum,as I have to lost track an at times interest in what I have an interest in reading,then I must stop and look for that very small (x) and then try and tap on it with my large thumbs,because I don’t always carry a (stylus all times, well that being said I began looking for an alternative for(you)I’m not interested in commercials while I am reading,it is bad enough when I watch television,I understand you have a need to pay bills but it help if we were at least given an option to look and or listen as opposed to feeling like a (captive in your program,I do like your format as I can go to top and pick and change topics at will, but the commercials just pop up so fast that I get (frustrated,and start looking for another venue..Thank you James in (Sacramento.
The Era of dumb apps continues
2024-11-18
by Wxwyz
After reading an article and going back to main screen, the application reloads the articles and jumps you to the top. Thanks for losing my spot for two new articles that are actually days old and I’ve already seen, you think. Then begin to scroll through the articles again to try to find where you previously were. With no help at all from SmartNews , this will happen over and over. So you open up the settings believing the creators would give you the ability to prevent such a thing, applications used to provide customizations for almost everything, surely there is a way to prevent this madness. Unfortunately, you only find a couple of unhelpful options and details about SmartNews and/or how to leave a review. The creators appear to know exactly what we want, so I suppose there is no need to let us configure anything.
If you’re thinking, all the other iOS news apps do the same thing, you’d be exactly right. Now you know SmartNews does it too and will hopefully save you time from trying SmartNews thinking you’re going to get something better. Which I guarantee is what they want you to think based off their unique name.
JOKE OF A SITE
2024-11-18
by Joke101010101
Biased left wing rag! Couldn’t even get past one topic that gave the story from the middle. UPDATE: your response to my review leaves me with a chuckle. The point of your site is to provide unbiased reporting to the people that have chosen to download SmartNews...UNBIASED! Get it? To have me add or update Fox News et all is ludicrous... 1. I could download their apps. 2. You assume those are conservative sites. 3. You assume I’m looking for a ‘ slant’ to my news. All of which are wrong and ignorant. I’m looking for the news! Plain and simple. YOUR SITE FAILS WHAT YOU ACTUALLY ADVERTISE. I don’t care what your opinion or the opinion of who you paste and copy from is. I want the news straight and to the point. EXAMPLE? Sure... your NFL coverage of the kneeling during the anthem. 100% in line with liberal ideology. You’re nothing more than a cut and paste app. Much like the Patch sites. This is a loser of an app! A fraud! A lie! I’ll gladly let everyone I know not to waste the 10 seconds it takes to download your plagiarized cut and paste crap. Not worth the time or effort. Reviewing you however was more than worth it. You’ve been called out for the charlatan that you are. You can’t even get a simple business model right.
Biased POC
2024-11-18
by Nashville One
this app is another very biased supermarket tabloid. 50% of what they publish is pretty meaningless and irrelevant. Of the remaining 50%, 75% to 80% is pro lib dems. They republish mostly articles that are negative against Conservative Republicans. Booo Hisss
After following the instructions I received from the Apple Store, I added the more conservative sources that I believe are far more accurate and trustworthy than all the other Fake News sources. I recommend you put instructions when one first downloads your App so you know how to set it up. I gave you 3 stars until I can evaluate the articles that you select from these other sources.
I am returning to my original ONE STAR rating and am deleting SmartNews from all of my devices. Just like the rest of the msm, you are biased. You reprint 80% Lib stuff, 10% other meaningless celebrity crap, and, although I added all of the more accurate, reasonable, truthful conservative news channels, as you suggested, the last 10% is filled with the most negative articles you can find in the “conservative” channels. You are just full of crap and I am advising all of my family, friends, and social media followers to delete SmartNews also. Good bye.
Smart News, Bias Notifications
2024-11-18
by Purplepunch12321
I downloaded SmartNews because I heard good things about it. Let’s face the facts here MSN is dominated and ruled by liberal bias. You can scream and shout and say otherwise but don’t let that cognitive dissonance get in the way, it is. Conservative/Republican MSM is Fox News and A.M. radio. Thats it.
I have to admit, when I first downloaded SmartNews, The homepage was almost split with different news sources. I’d say 40-60 split with liberal news still dominate. But fair. I really enjoy the food and wine pages and some of the entertainment. It’s good to see the contrast for political stories as well.
The issue is with the push notifications. Why am I constantly getting news sources pushed to me that are anti-GOP, anti-Trump, and bias news favoring the left? I mean Jesus Christ...I got a couple notifications from sources like Huffington post...they’re nothing more than a glorified blog with bias points of views and zero fact. I like the notifications on my iPhone and watch. But I’m turning them off. I’ve never seen one pro conservative news story pushed to me. There is still a bias here and it’s obvious.
It’s unfortunate that with an ever-increasing number of sources of info, there is a huge uptick in sources that exist solely to further a particular agenda. (Such sources are not limited to one side of the political spectrum or the other.) It would be HUGELY helpful to be able to create filters to screen out stories from particular sources or even by particular non-reputable “journalists.” It’s frustrating to open an article based on a seemingly noteworthy topic only to find after reading a few sentences or paragraphs that it’s not “news” at all. Having all of this misinformation clutters SmartNews and wastes the reader’s time, making this app (and occasionally the reader) less smart.
It’s such a well-designed app that I’ve continued to use it in the hope that such filters would be included in updates. I’ve now all but abandoned that hope and will unfortunately have to explore alternatives that may be less well designed but more efficient in culling—and allowing me to cull—the available news items.
Good variety but with a strong left lean
2024-11-18
by J663
There is enough variety to see a interesting amount of news and information pieces but a larger portion of liberal left material ( I consider myself a pragmatic).Unfortunately, If you want to find a large amount of race baiting and police malfeasance it is overwhelmingly here. I usually stay away from opening these agenda stories.
The generic auto response talks about adding Fox as a preference. "Hi There, Thanks for your updated review! The articles in the Top channel are refreshed regularly, so at any given time you might see more liberal or more conservative news, but ultimately our algorithms are made to provide a balanced perspective. You can easily add Fox News, The Blaze, National Review, Daily Caller, or other conservative sites by going to Discover (last tab on the right), using the search bar, and adding channels. - Nate with this app"
I take all right wing and left wing news stories, from Fox, CNN, Atlantic Journal with a large grain of salt. Give me a break with that generic response! Stories from more quality sources such as Wall Street Journal would be helpful. It continues to be dominant left wing race baiting, police hating “victim victim, pay retribution “ but I think that is more indicative of the mainstream popular media. I still enjoy seeing a variety of articles and avoid clicking most of the overtly biased stories. Proceed with your smart filters on.
Wow
2024-11-18
by Samarnett14
Downloaded because I like these types of apps to read all the news soon as I opened it I could clearly see whoever does this has a hand in the liberal agenda to destroy America it’s way obvious then I read one of their cringe worthy articles and realize they really are scared most the new generation along with older hipsters and all the career students that racked up debt on pointless wemon study degrees etc. are so afraid they’re everyone else will pay for my bills and generally lazy lifestyle don’t fear trump doesn’t even need to campaign watch and see the deplorable will show up faster than you liberals can create voters bus them in from Mexico Canada it’s not even a possible outcome to loose I been over this whole country the last year just count bumper stickers from even the last election most elections even the winners voters take them off but they’re all still on even the Hillary jail ones and I’m pretty sure she has died already or went back to her hole she came from
Smart, direct, honest
2024-11-18
by Beishaolin
This is one of only 2 apps that I use for news. I prefer news that is just that: news. The feeds come from a variety of sources and one can choose what one reads. In our unhealthy news climate, there is a present danger of buckling to the insanity of fringe news from actual non-news sites that cater to a select type wishing to reinforce their agenda. SmartNews keeps the news as it is and unfiltered. For those who only want to read their own talking points back and forth in a limited circle squeezing each other off, they can probably tweak their choices to arrive at that too, but how sad. The news is about fair coverage as it is given by long established and sincere journalists.
I appreciate such a well written app and the plethora of offerings from news of all types. Please keep up the good work. Do not succumb to those tiny voices who wish to change the very definition of news.
Diane
2024-02-13
If you don’t get rid of the advertisement Toy Blast I will be finding my news elsewhere. This ad is obnoxious, loud and annoying. It will push a lot of your readers away. With this ad you have to listen to the whole thing unlike the other ad’s where after a second u can X it out. Do something about this
Elizabeth Rodriguez
2023-04-06
I love this app, I’ve been using it for a long time. Although I enjoy it, the adds and pop ups are annoying me. It didn’t use to work like this. I hope something can be done about that. I wouldn’t like to delete the app.
Carole
2022-08-03
I click on a news article and it spins and spins. looking for some other news. I really enjoyed smart news and sorry I can no longer use it. Not my phone as connection good. Wish you could fix it. Newsweek here I come.
Fred Low
2022-08-01
Nothing is loading at all
J. Wayne
2021-12-13
I would never download this or any other so-called News app because I can see what's going on all around us and I think for myself. I don't need to be told what to think I can make my own deductions. Who would have a far better world if we all kept our noses out of our phones as much as possible and didn't spend thousands of dollars on technology and instead spent our time enjoying all the beautiful things in this life and on our planet. Unfortunately I've lived long enough to realize how weak the average human mind really is.
Joe Bunda
2021-11-23
Mixed bag of news sources. Biased censoring of user comments.. lousy customer support.
Erin
2021-10-18
I’m pretty shocked by these comments. My experience heads in a complete opposite direction. I really liked this app, and looked at it everyday for about a year, but after this experience, I’m moving on.
It’s looking like this app might be owned by Conservatives (Trump supporters) who allow and foster hate speech, and discrimination as long as it fits their narrative. So unfortunate.
There was a person leaving AWFUL comments on LBGTQ articles, along with any story about a woman with the nerve to wear her skirt above the knee. I was pretty upset, and commented after this person about her (despicable) behavior. She was just rolling from story to story calling women “Dirty stripwhores” and telling gay men that they are “disgusting” and to “keep it in the closet”. I definitely had my say, but was very careful to not swear, or type anything that could get me in trouble. I then reported her comments.
MY comments were removed, but hers were not. In fact, hers have been there for days, and the only other comments are those that echo her views. I have screenshots of all of this.
In THREE of them she slut shames by calling women “Nasty stripwhores”. In others she’s harassing readers with “Bible scripture” about how it’s her “RIGHT as a Christian to JUDGE them”. None of these were removed. Not one. All of mine, including one where I said, “This woman deserves as much respect as you or I” were all deleted, and replaced with “Your comment has been removed” in red.
So this person can call women vulgar names, and leave cruel comments about members of the gay community, but my efforts to stand up for these people are being censored. It’s obvious who reflects the views of the team at Smart News.
There are a ton of news apps out there that work just like, if not better than, this one. No one needs to keep this app on their phone. I know I won’t.
Linda Nelson
2021-10-06
AVOID! was OK until recent "update" added unavoidable, screaming LOUD ad videos in between clicking back from a news link to main page. APP is UNUSABLE outside a room in my home wherein the noise won't disturb anyone else. Using APP in public? Forget it!
Donna Gibbons
2021-09-28
Apparently all that a news platform has to do is be factual and balanced to be automatically labeled as liberal. Talk about a bunch of snowflakes!
Angie
2021-08-24
I use to love this app but no more. When you click on a news story it does NOT take you to the news story but to 4 or 5 other stories first or to ads!!! Its garbage now!!
Iseault
2021-07-17
I used to enjoy this app, but now they are pushing harmful health narrative news, through "news" outlets like "The Washington Times" which is just a cousin of Fox. I still can't figure out how to weed out the nonsense. Thumbs down, zero stars.
Gary Stone
2021-02-15
All of a sudden I can't open my smart news
Carolyn Hogue
2021-01-27
I just uninstalled your app from my phone, because of the OBVIOUSLY biased views of the news items you publish. As a conservative Republican AND a loyal Trump supporter, I am offended by the accusations against us as promoted by your very biased, and less than factual, reporting!!!
Martha Brown
2021-01-05
I have contacted you before on how I can customize my news feed so I dont have all the liberal fake news shoved down my throat and the response was I could delete what I wasnt interested in.
However, you are only allowed to delete categories, not bias news, and since, my feed has become more liberal!!
The brainwashing will not work on me but you are doing damage to those who may think your news is legit.
You are just another hub in the wheel of progressive activism and I now know that is your objective, so my opinion wont matter.
One day when you grow up and understand what a great country we are now and see the damage you have caused ( along with the rest of the MSM) it will be to late to fix.
I am now uninstalling your app!!
Is SmartNews Safe? 🤗🙏
Yes. SmartNews: News That Matters is quiet safe to use but use with caution. This is based on our NLP (Natural language processing) analysis of over 851,613 User Reviews sourced from the Appstore and the appstore cumulative rating of 4.6/5 . Justuseapp Safety Score for SmartNews Is 23.1/100.
Is SmartNews Legit? 💯
Yes. SmartNews: News That Matters is legit, but not 100% legit to us. This conclusion was arrived at by running over 851,613 SmartNews: News That Matters User Reviews through our NLP machine learning process to determine if users believe the app is legitimate or not. Based on this, Justuseapp Legitimacy Score for SmartNews Is 40.7/100..
SmartNews: News That Matters works most of the time. If it is not working for you, we recommend you excersise some patience and retry later or Contact Support.
Payments 💸🤑💰
**Pricing data is based on average subscription prices reported by Justuseapp.com users..
Pricing Plans
Amount (USD)
Ads-free SmartNews
$3.99
Ads-free SmartNews
$4.99
How was your experience with SmartNews: News That Matters? Post a Review
Features
- Breaking News: The app provides notifications for breaking news stories.
- Trusted News: SmartNews delivers news from 300+ top US & World news publications.
- Offline News: Users can fetch trending news and read news offline.
- Customizable Channels: Users can customize their channels and browse headlines quickly.
- Awards: The app has won several awards, including Best of 2013 (Japan) by Apple and Best App of the Year, 2013 (Japan) by Google.