# NewsGuard - News Trust Ratings — user reviews > 61 indexed App Store user reviews of NewsGuard by NewsGuard Technologies. Inc., rated 2.70/5 from 85 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsguard-news-trust-ratings/id1485417785/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsguard-news-trust-ratings/id1485417785.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 32 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 45 ## What do users think of NewsGuard? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Transparency in methodology - 💡 Useful tool against fake news - 💡 Helps research news sources - 💡 Provides detailed site evaluations - 💡 Accurate media watchdog - 💡 Consistent ratings across channels - 💡 Helpful for homework assignments **Cons** - 😞 Accused of bias (left/right) - 😞 Mandatory subscription required - 😞 Login/sign-in issues - 😞 App not working/opening - 😞 Inconsistent browser compatibility - 😞 Poor user interface/experience - 😞 Lacks transparency on paid ratings - 😞 Free trial requires credit card - 😞 Not all news sources listed - 😞 Deceptive pricing/subscription model - 😞 Developers not square with facts **Commonly reported bugs** - App won't open - Login issues / cannot log in - Subscription glitches / demands payment despite subscription - Extension not compatible with browser - No results for any site - OAuth logins broken - Sign in impossible - Search box filled with slow typing name, cannot dislodge - Safari share option flickery - App no longer appears to open or work on Safari **Most requested features** - Keep app updated with policy/leadership changes - Review Morningstar.com - Make it easier to judge service without paying - Improve iOS app share option - Support desktop extensions on iOS - Follow system-wide dark/light mode - Show rating in search results ## Newest reviews (15 of 61) ### 4/5 — Important tool against fake news *2024-11-19, version 2.0.2* Ignore the reviews from angry people who claim NewsGuard is biased. NewsGuard uses the same methodology to rate every site. Try it out and see for yourself. ### 3/5 — I want to believe!!! *2024-06-16, version 2.0.2* The newsguard press release says it is free on Microsoft Edge. I d/l Edge and tried to get the extension. When I get to proper page the Blue Button “Get” is faded out because it is NOT compatible with my browser - even though I am on the Edge browser. So I feel stupid. Not even Co-Pilot can help. I would like to have this extension but Iwant to try it out without a credit card. I thought the Edge offer was a great way to do this. But it doesn’t work. Oh well, I’ll continue the way I was before - always sceptical of what I’m reading ### 4/5 — Where is the Safari Extension? *2023-09-24, version 2.0.2* Where is the Safari Extension? ### 2/5 — solo a pagamento, occhio a non iscriversi da subito. *2023-06-15, version 2.0* chiede iscrizione con account a scelta, poi subito pagamento o free trial, ma per dire di no è in piccolo "maybe later" ### 1/5 — I can’t log in! *2023-02-24, version 2.0* It is impossible for me to log in to NewsGuard and verify news sites, even though I signed up for an account and started a subscription. Whenever I enter my credentials, it keeps demanding that I subscribe to use the app, even though I ALREADY have a subscription. When I try to renew my purchase, it glitches. If I have to pay a subscription, I should be paying for something that works. At least Media Bias Fact Check is available free of charge. ### 1/5 — App won’t open. *2023-02-17, version 2.0* I signed up on the subscription page and when I sign in I get sent right back to the subscription page. Is this thing broken? ### 1/5 — What bull! *2023-02-01, version 2.0* Well almost fooled me! I wouldn’t pay a penny for this ridiculous app. News guard, who is guarding you? Apparently no one. After purchasing this app and using it for a bit, I noticed that they not only lean left, they are in bed with the left!! I watch both CNN and FOX news, as I agree that fox is wrong here and there, CNN has been not only wrong many times, but has suppressed important news purposely and keeps doing so to protect its elite backers. I give news guard a score of 20/100 shame on you!! Your a wolf in sheep’s clothing. ### 1/5 — Censorship in disguise *2022-12-30, version 1.4.0* Newsguard have decided that they are going to be the fact-checkers of the Internet. As such they rate news sources based on their own biases. This app facilitates that censorship. ### 1/5 — The irony *2022-08-18, version 1.4.0* An app that rates the legitimacy of news sources, but openly admits that news sources can pay for rating boosts? Strike one. An app that refuses to acknowledge fake news put out by its top paying sources, but assigns poor ratings on new sources for reporting things that later turned out to be indisputably true? Strike two. Giving a news source a poor rating claiming they used untrustworthy sources for they data, but the source they used was newsgusrd certified? Strike three. You played yourself. Good job. ### 1/5 — Don’t trust these clowns-don’t trust ANYONE *2022-03-23, version 1.3.0* This so called “FACT CHECKER” organization has now become (really was since its inception)a ALT-LEFT-Democratic propaganda machine. Don’t expect anything but opposite of the truth. ### 1/5 — Extremely Biased *2022-02-09, version 1.3.0* If you are just looking for an echo chamber and can't handle any opposing points of view, then this app is definitely for you. If you like to hear more than one side of a story, then stay far away from newsguard. As the app name suggests, they will guard you from actual news ### 1/5 — The FAKE fact check site *2022-02-02, version 1.3.0* Run by lefty looneys….. color coded cause the dumb can’t read !!!! Run by woke people from a university ! Vet your fact checkers properly because if you research this one just like Politifact …… you’ll find a history of being wrong and the facts are mostly opinions !!!! And opinions are not facts !! ### 1/5 — Recommended by DNC *2022-01-26, version 1.3.0* One main reason I do not trust it.… ### 2/5 — Can't even access without paying. *2022-01-17, version 3.3.2* (Note that Healthguard, a subset of this for just health information, is available for free.) This is listed as "Free with in-app purchases", but it's really a mandatory subscription. Downloading and installing it does nothing except put a "?" shield icon in your browser telling you to sign up (with payment). There's a preview period, but only after you pay. ### 1/5 — Unhappy lib *2022-01-16, version 1.3.0* I an an unapologetic liberal. I am also a news junky who hates media for putting profits above honesty. This behavior causes me to be skeptical of ALL for-profit news sources. I spend countless hours researching news that is questionable. I AM YOUR DREAM CUSTOMER. I would gladly pay you to provide reliable evaluations of content. BUT, I DELETED YOUR APP AFTER DOWNLOADING IT BECAUSE YOU WON’t ALLOW ME TO ASSESS YOUR SERVICE WITHOUT SEEING WHAT I’M BUYING) I don’t commit my time or money blindly. (your signup procedure takes my time, more so if I have to cancel in 2 weeks) It’s a shame that an honest company trying to stay in business while providing a valuable service may fail because of a bad business model. Trust your customers (I have never seen evaluations so bifurcated, only 1s and 5s) your market is already cynical don’t give us a silly reason to avoid you ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Doesn’t have all the news *2026-02-05, version 2.3.0* Downloaded to look up some daily news emails I read and they weren’t listed. Very disappointing. Deleted app. ### 1/5 — Bias on top of bias on top of bias *2025-03-29, version 2.3.0* I wanted to give this a fair chance. But it just gets silly as all roads take you to an extremely establishmentarian view that all “good,” cultured people with the latest and most-updated correct opinions share. This is the work of a totalitarian mind who fears opinions that differ or challenge her own. In her world, any opinion other than hers is “dis or misinformation” and threatens everything and everyone. ### 1/5 — Wannabe gatekeepers of “misinformation” *2025-03-04, version 2.3.0* Glad that Microsoft disavowed far-left Newsguard. This company has no interest in truly combatting misinformation. ### 1/5 — Worse app *2024-07-09, version 2.0.2* This app is not to be trusted; the information they provided have some programed codes that don’t give accurate information be aware that whoever is behind this app is not square with the fact they provide. ### 1/5 — Should be called the: Democrat Party Press app *2024-01-20, version 2.0.2* There’s a very good reason why Prager University is suing this organization. The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, all get top ratings. While decent news organizations although right leaning get much lower ratings. It’s obviously Clickbait for the left leaning don’t take the bait do your own research ### 1/5 — Bias on top of bias on top of bias *2023-12-29* I wanted to give this a fair chance. But it just gets silly as all roads take you to an extremely establishmentarian view that all “good,” cultured people with the latest and most-updated correct opinions share. This is the work of a totalitarian mind who fears opinions that differ or challenge her own. ### 1/5 — Almost click bait *2023-10-25, version 2.0.2* I agree with many others. I think this is a valuable service, but that’s all because I can’t review the work that has been done without registering. And the maybe later button is actually “If you don’t want to pay, bye bye” You need to make it easier for potential customers to be able to judge whether you do what you say you do. It sounds good to me but I guess I’ll never know. ### 1/5 — Pretends falsely to be neutral *2023-08-17, version 2.0.2* This app pretends to be neutral while clearly having an agenda. Acting as a « fact checker » while providing no proofs and pushing for a specific narrative is simply unethical. Shame on this organization. To add to the insult, it requires you to create an account. If this not about tracking, I wonder what this is. Avoid. Don’t let corporations tell you how to think! ### 1/5 — Non mantiene ciò che promette *2023-08-08, version 2.0* Nello screenshot promette di notificare i siti di notizie a rischio bufala; in realtà non esiste tale funzione. Soldi buttati. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2023-06-22, version 2.0* Decide to try free trial. Doesn’t work. It said there were no results for every sight I put in. I put in NBCNEWS.com and it said “no results”. This app is not worth it. It doesn’t work ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Excellent transparency thank you! *2024-08-19, version 2.0.2* I love that Newsguard "shows its work" by telling us the criteria used and why the reviewer(s) rated each source as it did. Now if you can just keep it up to date with policy and leadership changes it will be perfect! ps please review Morningstar.com. Then you'll be perfect. ### 5/5 — The Most Accurate Media Watchdog *2023-03-11, version 2.0* I’m a freelance journalist and run every source I use through Newsguard. I’m a moderate and have no stake in which sources get higher or lower ratings. This one is by far the most fair and accurate. If you read the news, use this please! ### 5/5 — Gives results I anticipated *2022-10-18, version 1.4.0* The app does a great job of detailing each news site, states current examples of stories from the site and if they are accurate or not with linked sources to back it all up. Those complaining that this is an anti conservative app are just mad that the places they get their news are filled with false or altered stories and stay away from the truth. The app is great at debunking sites on both the left and the right, it’s just a fact that the sites to right are more often spreading false information. The app is fair, transparent and factual and they back it all up with sources and repeated requests to sites for clarification on their stories. ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2022-07-02, version 4.2.0* This is such a useful tool in a world of disinformation. It has saved me days of research. It not only tells you when the site has been spreading disinformation, it also tells you what they said and explaina the real story in depth. ### 5/5 — Accurate app *2022-03-19, version 1.3.0* If you’re complaining that your right wing sources are listed as unreliable, maybe it’s actually your sources that are the problem, not the app. ### 5/5 — Helpful Extension! *2021-10-28, version 3.2.5* NewsGuard helps me decide if I want to trust a news website. If you hover over the NewsGuard icon , you can quickly see why the site is trustworthy (or not). If you want more information, you can click through to a longer-write up that includes details like who owns and operates the website. It's also really helpful for my kids' homework assignments! ### 5/5 — Very useful and severely overdue *2021-06-05, version 1.2.1* This tool is very consistent across all of its ratings and uses multiple verification points across all channels throughout its entire platform. Has so far checked out for me in most aspects. When it is hard to go back to browsing without something you now have, that’s how you especially no it’s useful. ### 5/5 — How do you decide? *2020-11-10, version 1.0.3* If you’re not scrutinizing your news sources then you’re just letting any crazy person with an idea infiltrate your life. Best thing possible during a time of misinformation. ### 5/5 — I didn’t know I needed this *2020-11-04, version 1.0.3* I learned about this app from an article on the Democratic National Committee website about combating disinformation. I don’t normally pay for apps but I checked this out because the DNC recommended it. Otherwise I’d probably never have considered it because I don’t really look at much disinformation online because almost all of my information sources are quite reputable and reliable. But when NewsGuard presents you with its assessment of a news site you get as many examples as needed to solidly validate the evaluation of various journalistic practices, information about ownership, investors, management structure, the history of the site, whatever is relevant to how the quantitative ratings were arrived at. Every piece of information is backed up with a link to its source ### 5/5 — Sign in impossibe *2020-07-28, version 1.0.3* Every offered way was tried. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*