Comparison

Newslaundry vs The Gist

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

Head to head
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

About

The Gist

This news app provides concise, easy-to-understand summaries of global events for students. It distills complex stories into short reads, covering a wide range of topics from politics to science and student life.

Highlights
  • 65-word story summaries
  • Breaking and trending news
  • Personalized feed
  • Filter by topic
  • Save stories with bookmarks
  • Push notifications
Features
Read full description

The Gist is a news app built by students, for students. We make the biggest stories in the world easier to understand without making them simplistic. From international affairs, politics and markets to AI, science, sport, climate and student life, The Gist gives high school students a fast, clear way to stay informed and delivers news the way busy, ambitious students actually want it: fast, clear, and never dumbed down. Every story is distilled into a headline and a tight 65 word summary, so you get the full picture in under a minute. No filler, no jargon walls, no scrolling through 1,200 words to find the point. Built for high school students at top schools worldwide, The Gist covers what's actually shaping their world: World News, National News, AI, Science & Tech, Money & Business, Sports, University Admissions, Student Life, Entertainment, Planet, Lifestyle, and more. There's also a running feed of Explainers for topics you've heard of but never quite understood, Fake News breakdowns to sharpen your radar, sharp Quotes, surprising Did You Know facts, and a Make Me Laugh section for when you need five minutes off. Key features: • 65-word cards: every story capped at 65 words, so you always know what you're getting • Breaking News and Trending: the biggest stories, front and centre • My Feed: a personalised feed built around what you actually read • Filter by Topic: jump straight to the 17 categories that matter to you • Bookmarks: save any story to come back to later • Notifications: never miss a story that matters The Gist exists because staying informed shouldn't take an hour a day. Read smarter, not longer. Smart, fast reads built for students.

Screenshots

Newslaundry4 screens
The Gist4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Gist at 100% against Newslaundry's 58%. The Gist also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Newslaundry's advantage is ratings volume (72 vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. The Gist asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Gist 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 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Newslaundry's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Gist's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Newslaundry ships an update monthly, The Gist every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Newslaundry versus The Gist: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNewslaundryThe Gist
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (72 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings72 — better3
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB88 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNews Laundry Media Private LimitedRanjit Rauniyar

Customer experience

Newslaundry

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

The Gist

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
None

The Gist

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Newslaundry free?
Newslaundry is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is The Gist free?
The Gist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Newslaundry or The Gist?
The Gist is rated higher. Newslaundry averages 4.7 out of 5 from 72 ratings, while The Gist averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Newslaundry or The Gist have ads?
Neither Newslaundry nor The Gist shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Newslaundry or The Gist?
Newslaundry ships an update monthly, and The Gist every 8 days. Most recently, Newslaundry was updated on October 30, 2026 and The Gist on October 30, 2026.

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