Newsweek vs Reason
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Reason
Access accurate and honest news, ideas, videos, and podcasts from a libertarian perspective. Personalize notifications and stream exclusive content, including documentaries and newsletters.
- Libertarian news and ideas
- Exclusive videos and documentaries
- Podcast streaming
- Personalized news notifications
- Newsletter access
- Reason Plus subscription for early magazine access
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The Reason app helps you stay on top of the news and better understand your world without all the tired left-wing or right-wing spin. You won’t find a better source for accurate and honest news, ideas, videos, and podcasts from a libertarian perspective. Turn on notifications and personalize your settings to get alerts about issues you care about. Stream new episodes of Reason podcasts: The Reason Roundtable, The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie, and The Soho Forum Debates. Click to listen to every article and build your own content playlist. Access Reason’s latest vertical videos. Watch Reason’s documentaries, video essays, and comedy videos, including Remy and Andrew Heaton. Browse Reason’s newsletters: Reason Roundup by Liz Wolfe, The Rattler by J.D. Tuccille, Free Media by Robby Soave, and more. Play Reason’s weekly crossword plus special puzzles when magazine issues publish online. Subscribe to Reason Plus for exclusive early access to new issues of Reason magazine on your phone, tablet, or computer. To join, visit reason.com/subscribe on any browser.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reason at 100% against Newsweek's 23%. Reason also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Newsweek's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 284). On price, update cadence, ads and chart position 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. Newsweek sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Reason asks for nothing beyond the download.
Reason holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Newsweek has 1.6K ratings behind it against 284, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Newsweek's written reviews are positive against 100% of Reason's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Newsweek | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (1.6K ratings) | 4.8 (284 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 23.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | 284 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #119 — better | #135 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Newsweek Publishing LLC | Reason |
Customer experience
Newsweek
Reason
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
Reason
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Newsweek
- Newsweek - 1 month1 Month trial$2.991 Month
- Newsweek$3.991 Month
- Newsweek - 1 year1 Month trial$24.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Newsweek1 Month trial$39.991 Year
- June 28 & July 5, 2010$0.99
- August 23 & 30, 2010$0.99
- Sept 27, 2010$0.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- September 5, 2011$0.99
- Newsweek January 23, 2012 issue$1.99
- Newsweek August 27, 2012 issue$4.99
Reason
No in-app purchases









