Comparison

Splainer vs Newslaundry

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Splainer

Get smart, concise, and fact-checked news once a day. This app filters through global sources to provide clear analysis and key headlines, all with a touch of humor. It's designed for curious individuals who want to stay informed without the noise.

Highlights
  • Concise daily news editions
  • 100% fact-checked content
  • Zero jargon or rants
  • Analysis of major stories
  • Global source scanning
  • Humorous delivery
Features
Read full description

One news edition, once a day. Smart, concise and 100% fact-checked news with zero jargon or rants. Splainer will totally change the way you consume the news. You’re a super-smart, curious person and love being well-informed. Your phone is buzzing with a stream of app notifications, Whatsapp forwards and tweets. It’s just relentless: the sheer volume of news. It’s incredibly loud… and, dear god, there is so much of it! Why does it have to be noisy and exhausting? It's time to declutter and spark a bit of joy! We scan and read 100+ trusted global sources so you don’t have to. We make it effortless to really understand what’s going on in the world. You get the big picture, analysis and best reporting on that one big story everyone’s talking about. Catch up on key headlines, and discover a wealth of cool-to-know, funny, smart info, reads, and videos from across the globe. All of it is served with a generous dose of cheeky humor that makes you lol! Finally, a news product that values your time, respects your intelligence, and preserves your sanity. Brighten up your morning! You can download and start reading only if you're a premium subscriber of Splainer.

About

Newslaundry

Access independent, reader-supported news through engaging formats like podcasts, documentaries, and in-depth reports. Enjoy an ad-free experience with features like offline saving and personalized notifications.

Highlights
  • Ad-free news consumption
  • In-depth media critique
  • Podcast player with advanced features
  • Subscriber-only stories and events
  • Save articles and podcasts for later
  • Personalized notifications
  • Dark mode
Features
Read full description

Newslaundry is a reader-supported, independent news media company. In an industry driven by corporate and government interests, we strongly believe in the need for an independent news model, and a free and accountable press. Through media critique, reportage, podcasts, documentaries, comics and animation, our stories bring you the latest in current affairs in innovative and engaging formats. Here are our core values: Ad-free: At Newslaundry, you get to bypass the digital clutter and go straight to the story. Focus on media: The media holds democracy to account, but what about the media itself? We believe news organisations should be accountable, including us. Our stories on the media are driven by that belief. Substance, not breaking: We believe in bringing our readers the stories behind the headlines, through thoughtfully-researched deep dives and ground reports. Community, not pageviews: Our community of subscribers is more than any metric. We have learned from their feedback and criticism and owe where we are today entirely to them. Transparency: Readers deserve transparency from their news sources. Here's what you can do on the app: Podcast player: Download, skip to chapters, playback speed, show notes, queue. Access your favorite Newslaundry podcasts with a host of features. In-app subscription: Subscribe and power our independent journalism on the app. Dark mode: Dark mode fans, we have you covered Paywall stories: Access all our subscriber-only stories and events, with a one-time login. Save for later: Save stories stories and podcast for later for offline or online Personalized notifications: You get to pick your notifications. Choose between a variety of shows, authors and sections. No ads: You know how it feel about ads so no ads, anywhere Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Services: https://www.newslaundry.com/terms-of-services Privacy Policy: https://www.newslaundry.com/privacy-payment-and-comment-policy

Screenshots

Splainer4 screens
Newslaundry4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Splainer at none against Newslaundry's 12. Splainer also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 58%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Newslaundry's advantage is ratings volume (72 vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Newslaundry sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Splainer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Splainer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Newslaundry has 72 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Splainer's written reviews are positive against 58% of Newslaundry's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Splainer versus Newslaundry: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSplainerNewslaundry
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better4.7 (72 ratings)
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews — better58.3% of reviews
Number of ratings572 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB98 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperSplainer PTE. LTD.News Laundry Media Private Limited

Customer experience

Splainer

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

Newslaundry

All ratings72 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral13.9%
Negative27.8%

In-app purchases

None

Splainer

No in-app purchases

11 purchases

Newslaundry

Subscriptions3
  • NL-TNM Joint Monthly$14.991 Month
  • Disruptor Yearly Subscription$40.991 Year
  • NL-TNM Joint Yearly$149.991 Year
One-time8
  • Yogi Who Has It All - Soldier$10.99
  • The Yogi Who Has It All Bishop$27.99
  • Disruptor 1 Year Subscription$49.99
Show 5 more
  • The Yogi Who Has It All Knight$109.99
  • The Yogi Who Has It All - Rook$219.99
  • Bulldozing Image MP King/Queen$349.99
  • The Yogi Who Has It All - King$349.99
  • The Yogi Who Has It All - GM$599.99

Questions

Is Splainer free?
Splainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Newslaundry free?
Newslaundry is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Splainer or Newslaundry?
Splainer is rated higher. Splainer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Newslaundry averages 4.7 from 72 ratings.
Do Splainer or Newslaundry have ads?
Neither Splainer nor Newslaundry shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Splainer or Newslaundry?
Splainer ships an update monthly, and Newslaundry monthly. Most recently, Splainer was updated on September 25, 2026 and Newslaundry on October 12, 2026.

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