Best The Columbian alternatives: apps like The Columbian

10+ similar apps compared and reviewed

4.2 avg rating
10 free apps
Updated November 2026

The Columbian is great, but it's not the only option. Explore 10+ similar apps for iPhone and iPad, each reviewed and rated by real users. Find free alternatives, premium upgrades, and hidden gems.

Top Alternatives to The Columbian

KATU News Portland#1

KATU News Portland by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

Portland News & Weather
Editor's Choice
📡 News
4.4😞(100 ratings)
FreeAds
KATU News Portland screenshot 1
KATU News Portland screenshot 2
KATU News Portland screenshot 3
KATU News Portland screenshot 4

Stay informed with local news, live weather, and breaking stories for Portland and the Pacific Northwest. Watch live newscasts, get real-time alerts, and monitor traffic and weather forecasts.

What We Love

  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 👍 Good local news coverage
  • 👍 Fast performance (historically)
  • 👍 Well-written articles (historically)
  • 👍 Nice graphics (historically)
  • 👍 Easy navigation (historically)

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🐛 App won't open
  • 🐛 Freezes after ads
  • 🐛 Never-ending loading issues
  • 🐛 Confirmation emails not arriving
  • 🐛 AI-written articles
  • 🐛 Uninformed articles
  • 🐛 Typos and spelling errors
  • 🐛 Bias towards the right
  • 🐛 App doesn't update
  • 🐛 Issues with Wi-Fi connection
  • 🐛 Black boxes instead of articles
  • 🐛 No sound in live broadcast
  • 🐛 App only runs in portrait mode
  • 🐛 Looping advertisements
  • 🐛 Left-leaning organization (per one user)
  • 🐛 Right-wing garbage (per one user)
  • 🐛 Sinclair driven news (per one user)
  • 🐛 Trump TV (per one user)
  • 🐛 Difficult main newsfeed page
  • 🐛 Old and stale articles
  • 🐛 Dated app appearance
  • 🐛 Inconsistent content
  • 🐛 Videos don't work properly
  • 🐛 Layout not updated for newer iPhones
  • 🐛 Ads redirect to App Store
  • 🐛 Alerts don't open articles
  • 🐛 Article links freeze
  • 🐛 Stuck on tutorial screen
  • 🐛 More graphics, less information
  • 🐛 More scrolling required
  • 🐛 Lags and freezes
  • 🐛 More ads injected
  • 🐛 Slow to load
  • 🐛 Difficult to navigate
  • 🐛 Text appears vertical
  • 🐛 Not user-friendly
  • 🐛 Unfinished Alpha version
  • 🐛 Weather forecast issues
  • 🐛 App is not finished
  • 🐛 News feed with no organization
  • 🐛 Too many graphics
  • 🐛 Ruined a good thing
  • 🐛 Necessary evil
  • 🐛 Poor update
  • 🐛 Embarrassing
  • 🐛 Junk app
  • 🐛 Garbage app
  • 🐛 Useless app
  • 🐛 Defective app
  • 🐛 Annoying app
  • 🐛 Frustrating app
  • 🐛 Horrible app
  • 🐛 Terrible app
  • 🐛 Awful app
  • 🐛 Bad version
  • 🐛 Worst app
  • 🐛 Disappointment
4.5😞(4.2K ratings)
FreeAds
KOIN 6 News - Portland News screenshot 1
KOIN 6 News - Portland News screenshot 2
KOIN 6 News - Portland News screenshot 3
KOIN 6 News - Portland News screenshot 4
KOIN 6 News - Portland News screenshot 5

Stay informed with local news and weather for Portland and Vancouver. Access top stories, real-time updates, and detailed forecasts with interactive maps. Get breaking news alerts and save articles for later.

What We Love

  • 🌟 Accurate and up-to-date news coverage
  • 👍 Helpful weather information
  • 📺 Great local news team

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • 💤 Slow and unresponsive performance
  • 📢 Intrusive and excessive ads
  • 🔍 Difficulty navigating and finding content
  • 🔊 Autoplay videos with no volume control
Portland, Oregon News from KGW#3

Portland, Oregon News from KGW by Tegna Inc.

Breaking news & video
Worth Considering
📡 News
4.6😊(18K ratings)
FreeAds
Portland, Oregon News from KGW screenshot 1
Portland, Oregon News from KGW screenshot 2
Portland, Oregon News from KGW screenshot 3
Portland, Oregon News from KGW screenshot 4
Portland, Oregon News from KGW screenshot 5
Portland, Oregon News from KGW screenshot 6

Get breaking news, weather forecasts, and live video updates for the Portland, Oregon and Southwest Washington area. Receive real-time notifications, explore investigative stories, and personalize your news feed with topics that matter to you.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Fast and easy to use
  • 👍 Balanced and unbiased news coverage
  • ⭐ Excellent local news source
  • 🌟 Reliable and professional reporting
  • 💻 Convenient mobile app

Room to Improve

  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate
  • 🔁 Repetitive and outdated content
  • 📺 Too many intrusive ads
  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • 🔌 Poor performance on older devices

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4
OregonLive.com
OregonLive.com
OregonLive.com
Local News, Sports & Weather
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Get timely and reliable local news, sports, and weather updates impacting your community. Stay informed about unfolding events in your backyard, from politics and business to culture and more. Access premium content and in-depth reporting with an All Access subscription.

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The Oregonian News
The Oregonian News
The Oregonian News
by Oregonian Publishing Company LLC
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Access award-winning local news, sports, entertainment, and more from your favorite newspaper. Enjoy enhanced online-only features like bonus magazines and interactive puzzles. Subscribers get full access, while others can opt for an app-only subscription.

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6
The Daily News of Longview, WA
The Daily News of Longview, WA
The Daily News of Longview, WA
by Lee Enterprises
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Access local and regional news, sports, opinion, and entertainment. Enjoy exclusive commentary, photography, and podcasts. Subscribers get an ad-free experience with faster loading pages.

Personalized news topicsCustomizable alertsEasy swipe navigation
📡 News
(42)
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7
FOX 12 Oregon | News & Weather
FOX 12 Oregon | News & Weather
FOX 12 Oregon | News & Weather
FOX 12 Oregon & FOX 12 PLUS
Free

Stay informed with local news and live broadcasts from Portland's FOX affiliate. Get breaking news alerts, school closures, sports updates, and features from your favorite shows. Enjoy a seamless viewing experience with personalized story suggestions.

Local news headlinesLive broadcastsBreaking news alerts
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8
FOX12 Weather
FOX12 Weather
FOX12 Weather
by Gray Television Group, Inc.
Free

Get hyper-local weather information with high-resolution radar and satellite imagery. Receive severe weather alerts and detailed forecasts for your saved locations or current position.

250 meter radarFuture radarHigh resolution satellite imagery
📡 News
(3.9K)
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9
OPB News
OPB News
OPB News
by Oregon Public Broadcasting
Free

Access in-depth reporting on politics, arts, culture, and more from Oregon and southern Washington. Stream live radio, explore multimedia content, and enjoy personalized features like saved stories and push notifications.

In-depth news reportingLive radio streamingImage and video galleries
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(94)
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The Olympian: Olympia WA News
The Olympian: Olympia WA News
The Olympian: Olympia WA News
Latest local Washington State
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Stay informed with local daily news coverage, investigative reporting, and national headlines. Access live video, sports updates, and personalized content. Enjoy features like dark mode, article sharing, and puzzles.

Daily local news coverageInvestigative reportingLive video streaming
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(381)
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