# The Observer: News & podcasts — UK news, lifestyle & puzzles > Independent UK news, podcasts, puzzles, and cultural content from The Observer. (iPhone/iPad app by Tortoise.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-observer-news-and-podcasts/id1441428990 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Tortoise](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441428989) - Category: Magazines & Newspapers, News - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.70/5 from 211 App Store ratings · 137 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 101 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2019-01-12 - Data updated: 2026-09-01 - Monetization: subscription - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-observer-news-and-podcasts/id1441428990/reviews.md ## What is The Observer? The Observer: Independent journalism that matters The Observer has been challenging power, explaining the modern world and celebrating arts, culture, food and the things that make life worth living since 1791. Our subscriber-only app brings together The Observer’s award-winning journalism, the complete weekly print edition, exclusive digital stories, ad-free podcasts, puzzles, recipes and more, all in one place. Download The Observer app to enjoy: UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE OBSERVER Read our journalism every day of the week, with in-depth reporting, investigations, analysis and comment on politics, world affairs, climate, culture, ideas, food, travel and more. EXCLUSIVE DAILY STORIES Discover digital stories published exclusively for subscribers, with journalism from observer.co.uk and the weekly newspaper. THE COMPLETE PRINT EDITION Read the full Observer newspaper every Sunday on your phone or tablet, including the Observer Magazine and New Review. Browse every page in our digital edition and enjoy the experience of the Sunday newspaper wherever you are. EXCLUSIVE, AD-FREE PODCASTS Listen to award-winning podcasts, investigations and original audio series without advertising. Hear major series including We Call Her Emma and Foundling, as well as behind-the-headlines conversations and reporting from Observer journalists. Subscribers can also access exclusive and ad-free Observer audio through their preferred podcast app. PUZZLES FOR EVERY DAY Take a break with a growing selection of digital puzzles, from accessible daily challenges to The Observer’s famously demanding cryptic crossword. The Observer published the world’s first cryptic crossword more than a century ago. Our app continues that tradition with puzzles designed to test, entertain and delight. OUR NEW CULTURE CLUB Observer subscribers receive unlimited access to Culture Club, with a wide range of cultural benefits and exclusive offers. Enjoy access to special offers, experiences and events, including events in our newsroom featuring famous authors and conversations with leading cultural figures. RECIPES FROM NIGEL SLATER AND OUR FOOD TEAM Find trusted recipes from Nigel Slater and The Observer’s food writers, presented in an easy-to-follow format that is simple to use while you cook. EXCLUSIVE NEWSLETTERS Stay close to the subjects that matter to you with subscriber newsletters from leading Observer writers. Receive insight and analysis from voices including Rachel Sylvester on Westminster, Ben Zaranko on economics, Rory Smith on football, Patricia Clarke on artificial intelligence, and more. DARK MODE Read comfortably at any time of day with a night-reading-friendly dark mode throughout the app. INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM, SINCE 1791 For more than two centuries, The Observer has looked beyond the headlines: holding power to account, investigating the stories that matter and finding joy in culture, food, ideas and everyday life. Download The Observer app today and enjoy everything your subscription has to offer. Terms of Use https://observer.co.uk/policy/terms Editorial Guidelines https://observer.co.uk/news/about-us/article/the-observers-editorial-guidelines Privacy Policy https://observer.co.uk/policy/privacy Apple Standard EULA https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ ## Key features - Unlimited access to award-winning reporting - Exclusive podcasts and audio journalism - Smart newsletters with sharp analysis - Cryptic crosswords and daily puzzles - Observer events and book clubs - PDF view of the Sunday print edition ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Annual Digital Membership | $113.99 | per year | | Monthly Digital Membership | $6.99 | per month | | The Observer | $149.99 | per year | | The Observer | $149.99 | per year | | The Observer | $14.99 | per month | ## Chart rankings - #192 in Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store) ## What do users think of The Observer? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🚀 Elegant design - 🔍 In-depth journalism - 💡 Unique 'slow news' approach - 🎧 High-quality podcasts - 👍 Thoughtful and balanced reporting **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and unstable app - 🤔 Confusing navigation and user experience - 🔍 Lack of written content in app - 🔋 Issues with audio playback and podcast functionality - 💸 Expensive subscription for limited features **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes on launch - Playback issues and audio cutting out - Navigation menus not fully visible - Inconsistent performance across devices - Account/subscription problems **Most requested features** - Landscape mode support - Improved podcast player with better controls - Ability to save and resume articles/podcasts - Easier access to full archive of content - Better integration with other podcast apps ## Recent user reviews (10 of 137) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-observer-news-and-podcasts/id1441428990/reviews.md ### 2/5 — Scroll shudder *2026-06-09* I loved the Tortoise app and branding so was excited to see what would be adopted once the Observer took ownership. There is one inescapable problem - the shuddering scroll. I'm running the latest OS on an Apple iPhone13 pro and this doesn't happen on any of my other apps. When I select the "reduce motion" toggle in settings I've noticed it remedied the problem but impairs the user experience for all other apps and interactions on my phone. Which makes me think the app scripts are buggy. Real shame as I can't enjoy the content at all. I'm not going to toggle the setting every time I want to use the app... **Developer response:** Hi - Thanks for the review. The scrolling problem was a temporary issue that we've now fixed but sorry for any disruption to your reading experience. Please give it another try and let us know on subscribers@observer.co.uk if you're still seeing any problems. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Lovely app from the wonderful newspaper, and great app support when needed. *2026-06-05* I’m loving this app which is well set out and very easy to use. A great addition to the brilliant Sunday printed paper. I use the iPhone app, and have discovered the iPad version works fine on my Apple silicon MacBook even though it is not verified for macOS. I had great support when I first loaded the iPhone app and it was failing to load news articles, podcasts or puzzles from the headline tiles. This was resolved by ensuring In-App purchases is set to Allow in iOS settings which is a small glitch I have reported. The support page link in the app store gives a page not found error but the subscribers support email address is well monitored and prompt to respond. ### 1/5 — Just a terrible app *2026-05-17, version 3.0.28* This app has me on the verge of cancelling my description. This Sunday like many others I am presented with articles that consist of jumbled words, phantom letters and the repetition of text. One supplement that looks like it’s been poorly scanned into the app and another that won’t open. Given that print readership must be minimal it is frustrating that the paper is not designed for or fully taking advantage of the tablets most of us are using. ### 2/5 — Crossword and support issues *2026-05-11, version 3.0.28* Sorry to report like this but the support link on the App Store page goes to a ‘Page not found’ Since the last update when you go to the Everyman crossword on my iPhone to resume a puzzle that you have started earlier the resume button is off the bottom of the screen and not accessible. Also: I have the app on my phone and iPad. It saves puzzle progress on one device, why not both when I am signed into the same account? ### 3/5 — IPhone app not currently working for me but great app support working hard to resolve *2026-04-27* I’ve upgraded to 3 stars because I am getting great and prompt support from the Observer app team who I hope will resolve things and get me to 5 stars. My issue is I cannot load news articles, podcasts or puzzles - the links from the headline tiles just give a blank page with a spinning loading wheel. I’ve tried reinstalling and changing my subscription password. The PDF of the printed copy is working fine. Very strange. IPhone 17 Pro Max with iOS 26.4.2. The support page link in the app store gives a page not found error but the subscribers support email address is well monitored and prompt to respond. ### 5/5 — astonishingly good! *2026-04-24* I am astonished at just how good the Observer app is. Have been using it as a subscriber for a fortnight; although I find the web page a bit irritating to navigate, the print edition option is a delight (works both landscape and portrait on iPad) and makes it possible to enjoy the aesthetic pleasure of the paper’s design. Greatly appreciate the save/ print pdf option. And having all of the supplements and the entire run of the (new ownership) back issues. Perhaps I’ve come along at the right time: if I’d known it was this good I would have subscribed earlier! ### 3/5 — Podcast Controls Stink *2026-04-23* I LOVE the content but it doesn’t save your place if you back out of the app mid-podcast. I am constantly figuring out where I left off - so frustrating! ### 2/5 — Page not found *2026-04-22, version 3.0.23* After doing the Everyman crossword weekly on the Guardian website for years, Tortoise quickly put it behind a paywall. So I reluctantly subscribed to the observer so I can continue to access the crossword but half the time when I try to access it in the app it says “page not found, sorry”. When I click the link App Support in the App Store it also goes to “page not found, sorry” in the app - really annoying please sort it out. What am I paying for! ### 3/5 — Needs some work *2026-04-11* This app needs some serious work. Firstly, why can’t the listen section remember where you were up to? If you have to stop listening part way through and come back later, it’s as if you’d never listened at all so a pain to find where you had got to. Maybe as well note which episodes you’ve listened to, like every other app does. Also if you turn the phone to landscape whilst reading an article all the text disappears. Finally the support link on the App Store goes to page not found! Content is great though. Love the investigative podcasts in particular. ### 5/5 — Great App *2026-03-08* This app is so easy to navigate. The layout allows you to read the headlines and summary and with one click to load the full article and all images. I also subscribe to the guardian digital app which is really clunky and when you do get to open the full article, the images are missing. Well done digital team at the Observer! ## Frequently asked questions about The Observer ### What kind of content does this app offer? The app provides access to award-winning journalism, including in-depth investigations and analysis on global and national politics, climate, culture, food, and travel. It also features exclusive podcasts, smart newsletters, cryptic crosswords, and a PDF view of the Sunday print edition. ### Is this app free to use? No, this app is subscriber-only. It offers unlimited access to its content, including exclusive articles, podcasts, and puzzles, which requires a subscription to The Observer. ### What are the key features of the app? Key features include unlimited access to reporting, exclusive podcasts, smart newsletters, cryptic crosswords, access to Observer events and book clubs, and a PDF view of the Sunday print edition. It aims to keep users informed, inspired, and connected. ### Who is the target audience for this app? The app is designed for readers who value independent journalism and are interested in in-depth news, cultural commentary, and engaging puzzles. It appeals to those who want to stay informed about current events and enjoy cultural content. ### What kind of puzzles are available? The app offers a range of puzzles, including the original cryptic crossword, which was the world's first. Users can find daily brain teasers to fiendishly tough cryptics, providing a moment for thought. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.1.0 — 2026-08-26 Bug fixes & improvements ### 3.0.38 — 2026-08-20 Bug fixes & improvements ### 3.0.37 — 2026-08-17 Bug fixes & improvements ### 3.0.36 — 2026-08-03 Bug fixes & improvements ### 3.0.35 — 2026-07-17 Podcasts To celebrate the release of We Call Her Emma, we’ve released new audio features including: - Pick-up-where-you-left-off: the podcast player remembers where you’re up to - Ad-free, early-access and exclusive access to podcast series via Apple Podcasts and Spotify as well as in the app Culture Club We’ve launched Culture Club, a programme of benefits for subscribers accessible through the app to allow you to access discounted tickets, events and more from our arts, culture and travel partners Newsletters We’ve launched new newsletters to sign up to from the app (and readable in the app as articles), including Rachel Sylvester on politics, Ben Zaranko on economy, Rory Smith on football, and more. ## Apps similar to The Observer | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Good Food: Recipe Finder](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/good-food-recipe-finder/id533785308) | 4.7 (804) | Free | Magazines & Newspapers | | [History Extra: Unlock the past](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/history-extra-unlock-the-past/id1608050088) | 4.7 (365) | Free | Magazines & Newspapers | | [UnHerd](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unherd/id1547403989) | 4.8 (818) | Free | Magazines & Newspapers | | [Radio Times - What to watch](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-times-what-to-watch/id6466620518) | 4.1 (8) | Free | Magazines & Newspapers | | [Engelsberg Ideas](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/engelsberg-ideas/id6756261479) | 4.9 (63) | Free | Magazines & Newspapers | | [The Garden for RHS Members](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-garden-for-rhs-members/id1619320621) | 4.8 (127) | Free | Magazines & Newspapers | ## Related topics [observer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/observer) · [observer & eccentric](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/observer-eccentric) · [toryos](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/toryos) --- *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 2026-09-01.*