Comparison

Newsweek vs Variety

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

Head to head
About

Newsweek

Access trustworthy, high-quality journalism with live coverage, in-depth analysis, podcasts, and videos. Enjoy the weekly magazine and subscribe to newsletters for daily briefings. Stay informed with breaking news notifications.

Highlights
  • Live and breaking news coverage
  • In-depth analysis of trending topics
  • Podcasts on various subjects
  • Daily briefing newsletter
  • Curated video content
  • Weekly magazine access
  • Customizable newsletter subscriptions
  • Breaking news notifications
Features
Read full description

Newsweek gives independent-minded readers the context, clarity and perspective they need to understand the world. The Newsweek app offers a premium, personalized, ad-free reading experience built for how readers follow the news today. Read trusted reporting, analysis and member-only journalism across politics, world affairs, business, culture, health, science and more — all in one cleaner, faster mobile experience. With the Newsweek app, you can: Discover the latest reporting and analysis from Newsweek Access member-only journalism in one dedicated place Personalize your experience around the topics you care about Search Newsweek coverage by topic, story or area of interest Read in a focused, ad-free experience built for members Existing Newsweek subscribers can sign in with their current credentials. New readers can start with a 14-day free trial. Download the Newsweek app and experience a new home for independent journalism. Terms & Conditions: https://www.newsweek.com/terms-service  Privacy Policy: https://www.newsweek.com/privacy-policy

About

Variety

Access authoritative and trusted entertainment business news from a global perspective. Stay informed with breaking news, award-season coverage, and insightful analysis of the film, television, theater, and tech industries.

Highlights
  • Breaking news reports
  • Award-season coverage
  • Feature spotlights
  • Industry analysis
  • Global perspective
Features
Read full description

Variety is the most authoritative and trusted source of entertainment business news, recognized and respected throughout the world. Since 1905, influential producers, executives and talent in entertainment and beyond have turned to Variety for award-winning daily breaking news reports, insightful award-season coverage, must-read feature spotlights and intelligent analysis of the industry’s most prominent players. As the leading publication covering film, television, theater and tech with a global perspective, Variety is the vital read in every entertainment capital in over 84 countries. Privacy - https://pmc.com/privacy-policy/ EULA - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Newsweek4 screens
Variety4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Newsweek at none against Variety's shown. Newsweek also leads on review sentiment (24% vs 15%). Variety's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Newsweek sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Variety sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Newsweek against 4.5 for Variety. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 1.7K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 24% of Newsweek's written reviews are positive against 15% of Variety's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Newsweek versus Variety: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNewsweekVariety
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.6K ratings) — better4.5 (1.7K ratings)
Positive reviews23.8% of reviews — better14.8% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K1.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#158#148 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB143 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperNewsweek Publishing LLCPMC

Customer experience

Newsweek

All ratings1,586 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews302 reviews
Positive23.8%
Neutral7.6%
Negative68.5%

Variety

All ratings1,717 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral3.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews81 reviews
Positive14.8%
Neutral9.9%
Negative75.3%

User reviews

Newsweek

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great journalism
  • 🚀 Curated news coverage
  • 💡 Balanced reporting with alternative views

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes
  • 🐛 Issues with downloading/accessing issues
  • 🐛 Outdated content
  • 🔒 Poor customer support
  • 👎 Buggy app updates

Variety

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Customizable newsfeed
  • 🚀 Trades on the fly!
  • 💡 Manager

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes, shows no content
  • 🐛 Buggy ads
  • 🐛 Slow and buggy
  • 🔋 Battery Drain
  • 🐛 Multimedia Always Fails

Bugs and requests

Newsweek

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App not recognizing active subscriptions
  • Inability to download/access latest issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Outdated content remaining stuck in the app

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to change font size
  • Landscape mode support
  • Offline reading mode
  • Search functionality
  • Improved navigation and issue management

Variety

Reported bugs

21 issues
  • Articles don't open
  • Can't read entire articles
  • Only the first paragraph/sentence loads
  • Articles Wont Load
  • Only the first sentence of every article is displayed
Show 16 more
  • Can't use app without notifications on
  • VIP+ Membership is useless on iPad
  • Navbar too tight on iPhone 13 mini
  • Freezes at start on iPad
  • Doesn't have OneTrust data to show Banner user interface
  • Impossible to Use
  • Site keeps crashing
  • Awfull app crashes constantly
  • 50% of the time, this app just shuts down, out of the blue
  • Incredibly slow and glitchy
  • Crashes and stutters
  • Very unstable on my iPad
  • Keeps crashing
  • Soooo slow. Problems loading pages
  • Unstable
  • Article disappears right after you open it in the app

Requested features

4 requests
  • Real Time Alerts Feature
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard
  • Ability to access magazine issues for direct subscribers

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Newsweek

Subscriptions4
  • Newsweek - 1 month1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Newsweek$3.991 Month
  • Newsweek - 1 year1 Month trial$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Newsweek1 Month trial$39.991 Year
One-time6
  • June 28 & July 5, 2010$0.99
  • August 23 & 30, 2010$0.99
  • Sept 27, 2010$0.99
Show 3 more
  • September 5, 2011$0.99
  • Newsweek January 23, 2012 issue$1.99
  • Newsweek August 27, 2012 issue$4.99
4 purchases

Variety

Subscriptions4
  • Variety Magazine$13.991 Month
  • Variety VIP$39.991 Month
  • Variety Magazine$139.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Variety VIP$399.991 Year

Questions

Is Newsweek free?
Newsweek is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Variety free?
Variety is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Newsweek or Variety?
Newsweek is rated higher. Newsweek averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Variety averages 4.5 from 1.7K ratings.
Do Newsweek or Variety have ads?
Variety shows ads; Newsweek does not.
Which is updated more often, Newsweek or Variety?
Newsweek ships an update every 4 months, and Variety every 4 months. Most recently, Newsweek was updated on November 10, 2026 and Variety on November 10, 2026.
Which is more popular, Newsweek or Variety?
Newsweek currently peaks at #158 in the App Store charts, and Variety at #148. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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