TechPulse by CNET Group vs Forbes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TechPulse by CNET Group
Stay informed with the latest tech news, expert reviews, and product recommendations. Make smarter purchasing decisions with in-depth analysis and video guides. Get breaking alerts and discover the best deals on technology.
- Featured tech stories
- Latest technology news coverage
- Product review galleries
- Breaking news alerts
- Extensive product reviews
- Best product recommendations
- Product search functionality
- Video product reviews
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TechPulse helps tech enthusiasts follow trusted industry insights with a customizable, algorithm-free feed. Welcome to the new CNET app. TechPulse gathers world-class journalism from the internet’s most respected technology and lifestyle publishers. Instead of managing multiple sources or fighting unpredictable feeds, you can customize your daily dashboard to display exactly what matters to you. Stay informed with unbiased video, analysis, news and reviews curated by human experts. Main features: • Filter the publication sources you want to appear in your unified feed for easy navigation. • Make tech buying easy with lab-tested reviews from CNET and PCMag experts. • Get the latest breaking tech news from reporters who share objective takes on what you need to know. • Stay ahead of internet innovations with trending digital culture and entertainment news from Mashable. • Streamline your daily routine and unlock practical hacks and science-based productivity tips from Lifehacker. • Track disruptive professional tech breakthroughs and emerging industry trends from ZDNET. • Get the most from your tech and gadgets with CNET’s product updates and troubleshooting guides. TechPulse is built for readers who value journalistic integrity and direct sources over cluttered news streams. Backed by decades of independent editorial experience from trusted industry names, TechPulse is built for readers who value journalistic integrity and direct sources over cluttered news streams. Your feed remains transparent, accurate and free of bias. Download TechPulse today to control your technology news and explore what matters to you. Our Privacy Policy: https://www.ziffdavis.com/ztg-privacy-policy Our Terms of Use: https://www.ziffdavis.com/terms-of-use
Forbes
Access actionable business news, in-depth reporting, and market insights across entrepreneurship, investing, and technology. Stay informed with breaking news, curated content, and powerful search tools to navigate a rapidly evolving world.
- Actionable business news
- In-depth reporting
- Market-moving insights
- Breaking news alerts
- Tabbed content channels
- Enhanced search functionality
- Article saving
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Download the Forbes app for actionable business news, insights, and trusted journalism—plus daily word puzzles with Frase by Forbes™. Stay up to date on the stories that shape industries, change landscapes, and define conversations, with bold and in-depth reporting across entrepreneurship, business, investing, technology, and more. Editorial Features: Immerse yourself in market-moving insights, cutting-edge strategies, and timely analysis trusted by the world's top leaders and trailblazers shaping the global economy. • Home Feed: Access popular content, daily cover stories, and editors' picks designed to keep you updated on key news. • Breaking News: Follow live stories unfolding in real-time with infinite scroll to easily explore past news. • Tabbed Channels: Browse across dedicated content channels with a refreshed, intuitive layout. • Smarter Search: Instantly discover articles, topics, and breaking news with enhanced search tools. • Article Saving: Easily bookmark and access your favorite stories wherever you are. Puzzles & Games (Frase by Forbes™): Challenge your brain, test your wordplay skills, and unwind with engaging daily games designed for sharp minds on the go. • Dedicated Play Tab: Discover and play daily word puzzles directly from the bottom navigation bar. • Track Your Progress: Keep tabs on your completion times, scores, daily streaks, and earned medals. • Multi-Year Archive: Access a full historical calendar to catch up on and play past puzzles. For more than a century, Forbes has been the authoritative voice in business, providing the insight and analysis needed to navigate a rapidly evolving world, empowering those who shape what's next to think even bigger and better. With the Forbes app, you have the intelligence, knowledge, inspiration, and tools necessary to achieve success. By downloading the Forbes app, you accept and agree to our Terms of Service and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. Forbes Terms of Service: https://www.forbes.com/terms/ Forbes Privacy Policy: https://www.forbes.com/fdc/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Forbes at 80% against TechPulse by CNET Group's 17%. Forbes also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and chart position (#133 vs unranked). TechPulse by CNET Group's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (3.4K vs 170). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Forbes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. TechPulse by CNET Group asks for nothing beyond the download.
Forbes holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TechPulse by CNET Group has 3.4K ratings behind it against 170, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of TechPulse by CNET Group's written reviews are positive against 80% of Forbes's.
TechPulse by CNET Group ships an update monthly, Forbes every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TechPulse by CNET Group | Forbes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (3.4K ratings) | 4.8 (170 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 17.2% of reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3.4K — better | 170 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #133 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 98 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | CNET Media, Inc. | Forbes Media LLC |
Customer experience
TechPulse by CNET Group
Forbes
Bugs and requests
TechPulse by CNET Group
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes and freezes frequently
- Notifications don't lead to the correct article
- Videos fail to load consistently
- Login issues and account syncing problems
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to filter content by category
- Improved search functionality
- Better organization and navigation
- Syncing of bookmarked articles across devices
Forbes
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
TechPulse by CNET Group
No in-app purchases
Forbes
- Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
- Annual7 Days trial$89.001 Year
Questions
Is TechPulse by CNET Group free?
Is Forbes free?
Which has better reviews, TechPulse by CNET Group or Forbes?
Do TechPulse by CNET Group or Forbes have ads?
Which is updated more often, TechPulse by CNET Group or Forbes?
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