# The Banner: Maryland News — Covering Baltimore & beyond

> Local news and community information for the Baltimore region. (iPhone/iPad app by The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-banner-maryland-news/id1638749573 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism](https://appshunter.io/developer/1638749575)
- Category: News
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 7,483 App Store ratings · 77 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 87 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2022-10-10
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: subscription
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-banner-maryland-news/id1638749573/reviews.md

## What is The Banner?

The Banner is here to strengthen our local communities. From politics to arts, food, sports, and events, be the first to know about what’s going on in the Baltimore region, Montgomery County, Prince George's County and beyond. 

Download The Banner app to get: 

• Breaking local news notifications
• Personalized news feed with For You
• Watch short-form vertical videos in the Watch tab
• Share and bookmark stories in the app

Subscribers also get access to: 

• Unlimited local news and premium articles 
• Unlimited newsletters and notifications 
• Free guest subscription to share 
• Share and bookmark stories in the app 
• Listen to articles on the go

Why read The Banner? 

• From here, for here: Like you, we live here. And we know this region is so much more than what's often shown. We're giving you the full story.
• Nonprofit, not corporate: We're not here to make money off the news. We're here to give you better local news—and we put every dollar into that mission.
• Always the whole story: We do more than deliver breaking news. Our reporters go further, taking the time to understand the story behind the story.

Group and enterprise access is also available. 

Read more about our subscription terms and policies at https://www.thebanner.com/terms-sale/.

## Key features

- Breaking local news notifications
- Dark mode browsing
- Unlimited premium articles
- Article-to-audio playback
- Share and bookmark stories

## What do users think of The Banner?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Excellent news reporting
- 👍 Balanced and fair coverage
- 👍 Transparent and honest journalism
- 👍 Refreshing local news source
- 👍 High-quality writing and editing
- 👍 Serious investigative journalism
- 👍 Cooperation with WYPR
- 👍 Convenient app experience

**Cons**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🐛 Overly sensitive screen interactions
- 🐛 Excessive ads in articles
- 🐛 Font is difficult to read
- 🐛 Nonfunctional app for some users

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- App crashes when using ad blocker
- Subscription issues and login problems

**Most requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More neighborhood news coverage
- Improved app stability and performance

## Recent user reviews (10 of 77)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-banner-maryland-news/id1638749573/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Title font so big it runs out of room

*2026-07-15, version 4.1.0*

Please adjust title font so we can read the whole thing. Thx.

### 5/5 — Grateful for this 4th pillar

*2026-06-21, version 3.7.13*

Thank you for providing unbiased and well written investigative reporting. The other paper has become yet another tool of the right.

### 5/5 — Local Prince George’s

*2026-06-15, version 3.7.13*

So happy to have local news!

### 5/5 — Best News Coverage in Maryland

*2026-05-25, version 3.7.13*

The Banner is my go-to place for MD News. Excellent writers, a good mix of fun and serious stories, great online content- the Banner has it all. In the age of Corporate Media consolidation, supporting local News has never been more important and more rewarding.

### 5/5 — Excellent local coverage

*2026-03-31*

Gives me news at a level that is often overlooked by larger outlets. The news comes from right around the corner. Outstanding! Thank you

### 4/5 — More Washington County News

*2026-03-31, version 3.7.5*

This is a good paper but I would like to see more coverage of the Washington and Frederick County areas if possible.

### 4/5 — Good, but missing a way to favorite articles

*2026-03-27*

Could also use a way for subscribers to download articles. If you’re gonna have 7 or 8 articles doing in-depth reporting on different aspects of the same topic spanning several months that’s great journalism but how am I supposed to keep track of all that?

### 5/5 — Accurate

*2026-02-28*

I was a Sun reader for years until it was taken over by the far right. I had to find a paper and a news organization that would give accurate information in Maryland and the Banner is that news organization.

### 2/5 — Shady Billing Practices, Customer Service is a chatbot

*2026-01-26*

I had a rate increase without notice so I canceled the service and immediately reached out to the customer service email address provided in the app. The names on the header and body of the emailed ticket responses don’t match. Instead of providing answers, I am getting copy/paste bot responses offering me discounts on a semi annual and annual subscription option. It’s disappointing that a publication serving the state cannot employ or engage its citizens in regards their customer service department.

### 3/5 — Search and web links

*2025-11-26, version 3.7.4*

Love the banner so much, but damn… being on instagram or email and seeing an article I want to read, clicking on it and it not open ing the article in the app is one thing. But even when I search the app with the title verbatim and don’t even find articles related to a similar topic is a complete failure. I would use the app so much more if I could move from web or social media links to the app seamlessly. 3 stars for the banner 0 for the app

## Frequently asked questions about The Banner

### What kind of news does The Banner cover?

The Banner covers a wide range of local news for the Baltimore region and beyond. This includes politics, arts, food, sports, and community events. They aim to provide the full story behind the news, going beyond just breaking updates.

### What are the benefits of subscribing to The Banner?

Subscribers gain access to unlimited local news and premium articles, as well as unlimited newsletters and notifications. They also receive a free guest subscription to share, the ability to share and bookmark stories, and can listen to articles on the go.

### Is The Banner app free to use?

While the app offers some basic features, full access to unlimited local news and premium content requires a subscription. Group and enterprise access options are also available.

### What devices is The Banner app compatible with?

The provided description does not specify device compatibility. However, it is a mobile application, suggesting it is designed for smartphones and tablets.

### What makes The Banner different from other news sources?

The Banner emphasizes its local roots, stating that they live in the region they cover and aim to tell the full story. As a nonprofit organization, they focus on delivering better local news rather than corporate profit, reinvesting funds into their mission.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.3.0 — 2026-08-24

Adjust your text size
You asked for easier reading, and it's here. Head to Settings to adjust the text size across the app. Pick the size that works best for you.

### 4.2.0 — 2026-08-03

Bug fixes and general performance improvements

### 4.1.0 — 2026-07-08

Meet the New & Improved Banner App
We've updated the design of The Banner app to make staying on top of local news easier and more enjoyable than ever.

What's new:
• Listen — Upgraded narration and playlists for news on the go.
• Watch Tab — Short-form vertical videos. Swipe up to stay informed in 90 seconds or less.
• Search — Enjoy better results and shortcuts to key features.
• For You — Easier than ever to personalize your feed with topics, sections, and authors.

### 4.0.0 — 2026-06-25

Meet the New & Improved Banner App
We've updated the design of The Banner app to make staying on top of local news easier and more enjoyable than ever.
What's new:
Listen — Upgraded narration and playlists for news on the go.
Watch Tab — Short-form vertical videos. Swipe up to stay informed in 90 seconds or less.
Search — Enjoy better results and shortcuts to key features.
For You — Easier than ever to personalize your feed with topics, sections, and authors.

### 3.7.13 — 2026-05-11

Bug fixes and performance improvements

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*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 2026-08-26.*