Comparison

AP News vs Substack

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

Head to head
About

AP News

Get breaking world and local news, along with trending headlines. This app offers a personalized news feed, custom alerts, and in-depth content hubs for major events. Access award-winning photos, videos, and articles.

Highlights
  • Breaking news updates
  • Local news coverage
  • Personalized news feed
  • Customized news alerts
  • In-depth content hubs
  • Award-winning photos and videos
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Stay informed for free with AP News. Follow breaking news and live updates, watch the latest news videos, and get timely reporting on the biggest stories in the U.S. and around the world, plus selected local news from trusted sources. With journalists in nearly 100 countries, AP News delivers award-winning, independent journalism with no paywall. KNOW WHEN IMPORTANT NEWS BREAKS Get breaking news alerts as major stories develop. Customize notifications around the topics you follow to receive updates that matter to you. START YOUR DAY INFORMED Get our weekday Morning Wire push notification, a briefing on important headlines and stories to help you start the day informed. LIVE COVERAGE OF DEVELOPING STORIES Follow major stories as events unfold with live updates from AP journalists. FOLLOW THE NEWS THAT MATTERS TO YOU Personalize AP News around topics you care about, including U.S. and world news, politics, elections, business, the economy, college and professional sports, entertainment and more. GO BEYOND THE HEADLINE Explore curated coverage hubs that bring together reporting, insight and context around major events and developing stories. SEE THE STORY Explore AP's award-winning photojournalism and watch news videos covering events in the U.S. and around the world. Watch live video streams of major news events when available. UPDATES AT A GLANCE See the latest headlines and top photos with topic and photography widgets on your iPhone and iPad's home screen. GET HEADLINES WITH SIRI Use Siri and Apple Shortcuts to get AP headlines on topics you care about. STAY CONNECTED WITH APPLE WATCH AP News supports Apple Watch, helping you stay connected to the news on the go. SPORTS YOUR WAY Stay up to date on college and professional sports news, including major games, teams and athletes. Follow the weekly AP Top 25 polls, and take part in the season - submit your Fan Poll to see how your picks stack up against thousands of other fans and join the debate. JOIN THE AP NEWS COMMUNITY Share your perspective in moderated comments and connect with other readers around stories shaping the world. PLAY, VOTE AND TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE Challenge yourself with quizzes, take part in polls and explore interactive journalism with AP Play. EXPLORE INTERACTIVE NEWS EXPERIENCES Discover interactive graphics, immersive stories and detailed election results. BOOKMARK AND SHARE Save stories and videos to revisit later, and share the news you care about with others. TODAY IN HISTORY Discover major historical events, anniversaries and notable figures connected to each day in history. READ IN ENGLISH / LEER EN ESPAÑOL Access AP journalism and timely headlines in English and Spanish. Acceda al periodismo de AP y a las noticias claves del momento en español y inglés. ACCESSIBILITY AND CUSTOMIZATION Make reading comfortable with all the customizations you need for the experience that works for you. Dark mode? Larger font sizes? Fewer photos? We’ve got it covered. TRUSTED JOURNALISM. NO PAYWALL. For nearly 180 years, The Associated Press has delivered factual, nonpartisan news worldwide. We believe journalism is a public good. AP News gives readers access to reporting from journalists in nearly 100 countries with no paywall.

About

Substack

Discover creators, ideas, and communities through videos, writing, and podcasts. Subscribe for free or upgrade to access exclusive content and connect directly with creators. Enjoy ad-free media and participate in live events.

Highlights
  • Subscribe to creators
  • Ad-free video and podcasts
  • Live streams and group chats
  • Explore independent ideas
  • Read aloud articles
Features
Read full description

Substack is a new media app that connects you with the creators, ideas, and communities you care about most. - Support the creators you love: Subscribe for free or upgrade to view original work and connect directly with your favorite writers, artists, and podcasters. - Enjoy ad-free videos and podcasts: Access short-form clips, video episodes, and read-aloud articles without interruptions. - Connect in real time: Join livestreams and live group chats, where top creators bring their biggest supporters into their world. - Explore independent ideas: Discover bold opinions and engaging views across food, sports, politics, fashion, comedy, finance, and more. How it works: 1. Download the Substack app. 2. Claim your handle. 3. Explore the feed to enjoy notes, videos, and clips from creators. 4. Subscribe to your favorites for free, tune into their livestreams and join private group chats.

Screenshots

AP News4 screens
Substack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AP News at none against Substack's 24. Substack's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (72% vs 44%). On price, ratings volume, 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. Substack sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. AP News asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Substack holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 359K and 560K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of AP News's written reviews are positive against 72% of Substack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AP News ships an update every 3 weeks, Substack weekly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
AP News versus Substack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAP NewsSubstack
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (359K ratings)4.9 (560K ratings) — better
Positive reviews43.9% of reviews72.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings359K560K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#27#4 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size114 MB236 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperThe Associated PressSubstack, Inc.

Customer experience

AP News

All ratings359,188 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral3.9%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews1,871 reviews
Positive43.9%
Neutral10.8%
Negative45.2%

Substack

All ratings559,654 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews4,910 reviews
Positive72.5%
Neutral6.7%
Negative20.8%

User reviews

AP News

From 359K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Unbiased and factual reporting
  • 📰 Comprehensive news coverage
  • ⚖️ Balanced and objective journalism

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🔍 Difficulty finding specific articles
  • 🔄 Resets to top of feed after reading articles
  • 🔌 Interrupts background audio playback

Substack

From 560K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Stable and functional app
  • 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 👍 Variety of great content
  • 👍 Supports independent writers
  • 👍 Refreshing alternative to mainstream media

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
  • 🐛 Difficult to manage subscriptions
  • 🐛 Inconsistent user experience between app and website
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection
  • 💤 Slow performance and loading times

Bugs and requests

AP News

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues and inability to reset password
  • Topics list not saving user preferences
  • Inconsistent behavior when opening from notifications

Requested features

4 requests
  • Customizable notification settings
  • Ability to save article reading progress
  • Option to increase text size for readability
  • Dark mode for better low-light viewing

Substack

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues and inability to sign in
  • Inconsistent behavior when archiving/deleting posts
  • Playback issues with audio content
  • Incompatibility with older devices or operating systems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add search functionality within app
  • Improve notification management
  • Allow customization of font size and style
  • Implement ability to mark articles as read/unread
  • Add option to collapse/expand comment threads

In-app purchases

None

AP News

No in-app purchases

18 purchases

Substack

Subscriptions18
  • Hung Up (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • The Dworkin Report (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Popular Information (Monthly)$5.991 Month
Show 15 more
  • Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Isolation Journals (Monthly)$5.991 Month
  • Ettingermentum (monthly)$5.991 Month
  • What To Cook (Monthly)$5.991 Month
  • The Present Age (Monthly)$6.991 Month
  • The Message Box (Monthly)$7.991 Month
  • House Inhabit (Monthly)$8.991 Month
  • Noahpinion (Monthly)$9.991 Month
  • Slow Boring (Monthly)$9.991 Month
  • Razib Khan (Monthly)$10.991 Month
  • House of Strauss (Monthly)$11.991 Month
  • The Dworkin Report (Annual)$49.991 Year
  • Annual$59.991 Year
  • Isolation Journals (Annual)$59.991 Year
  • Slow Boring (Annual)$99.991 Year

Questions

Is AP News free?
AP News is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Substack free?
Substack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AP News or Substack?
Substack is rated higher. AP News averages 4.6 out of 5 from 359K ratings, while Substack averages 4.9 from 560K ratings.
Do AP News or Substack have ads?
AP News shows ads; Substack does not.
Which is updated more often, AP News or Substack?
AP News ships an update every 3 weeks, and Substack weekly. Most recently, AP News was updated on October 29, 2026 and Substack on October 29, 2026.
Which is more popular, AP News or Substack?
AP News currently peaks at #27 in the App Store charts, and Substack at #4. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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