Comparison

Reuters vs Substack

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

Head to head
About

Reuters

Access global news and market updates with a sleek, personalized experience. Customize your feed, save articles, and receive breaking alerts. Enjoy a rich media library of videos and podcasts.

Highlights
  • Personalized news feed
  • Breaking markets updates
  • Customizable push notifications
  • Rich media library (videos, podcasts)
  • Sleek, intuitive interface
  • Save articles for later
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the Reuters News App! Stay informed with the latest global news and personalize your experience with our comprehensive features, all designed with your feedback in mind. Whether you're in a subscription country or enjoying access through our free registration process, we’re committed to delivering fast, reliable news from around the globe. Modern Design • Enjoy a sleek, intuitive interface with enhanced readability, featuring “Today,” your new hub for news. Enhanced Article Experience • Immerse yourself in news stories with a visually engaging layout, interactive graphics, and related content. My News • Customize your Reuters experience with a personalized feed based on your interests. Save articles to read later and easily manage your preferences. Breaking Markets Updates • Keep track of the latest market trends with our detailed Markets section. Create a personalized Watchlist and follow companies for breaking news. Media Hub • Explore our rich library of videos, podcasts, and photo galleries, including our popular podcast, Reuters Econ World. Customizable Push Notifications • Stay updated with personalized breaking news alerts and opt-in to podcast notifications. Support Quality Journalism • Subscriptions help us invest in broader coverage, deeper investigations, more innovative products, and exclusive subscriber experiences. Users in other countries will continue to receive access through our free registration process. We Value Your Feedback! • Leave us a review or contact Reuters Customer Support. Thank you for being part of our journey. Happy reading! ACCESS: The Reuters app is free to download. In order to gain full access to the Reuters app, you will need to sign-in / register and complete the subscription process within the app. Subscriptions are not available in certain territories. For these territories, users will continue to receive access via our free registration process. SUBSCRIPTION AND AUTOMATIC RENEWALS: Your subscription plan renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged by Apple at confirmation of your subscription purchase. Your account will be charged (in advance) automatically for renewal at the applicable price and at the selected frequency (whether monthly, annually or another period) within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage your subscription and disable auto-renewal by accessing your Apple Account Settings after purchase (at least 24 hours before the end of your current billing period). Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. TERMS & CONDITIONS: In addition to the applicable Apple subscription terms and conditions (including the auto-renewal terms above), by downloading the Reuters app, you agree to: - Reuters Terms and Conditions: https://www.reuters.com/info-pages/terms-of-use/. - Reuters Privacy Statement: https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/privacy-statement.html. - Reuters Cookie Policy: https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/privacy-statement.html#cookies. - Do Not Sell: https://privacyportal-cdn.onetrust.com/dsarwebform/dbf5ae8a-0a6a-4f4b-b527-7f94d0de6bbc/5dc91c0f-f1b7-4b6e-9d42-76043adaf72d.html

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

Reuters4 screens
Substack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Substack at none against Reuters's shown. Substack also leads on review sentiment (73% vs 41%) and ratings volume (562K vs 9K). Reuters's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. Reuters sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month and Substack sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 — 4.8 for Reuters against 4.9 for Substack. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Substack has 562K ratings behind it against 9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Reuters's written reviews are positive against 73% of Substack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reuters ships an update every 2 weeks, Substack weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Reuters versus Substack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReutersSubstack
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (9K ratings)4.9 (562K ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.2% of reviews72.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9K562K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#18#4 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB236 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperThomson Reuters Enterprise Centre GmbHSubstack, Inc.

Customer experience

Reuters

All ratings8,945 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews1,019 reviews
Positive41.2%
Neutral10.8%
Negative48.0%

Substack

All ratings559,654 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews4,961 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative20.6%

Bugs and requests

Reuters

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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

2 purchases

Reuters

Subscriptions2
  • Reuters Subscription$4.001 Month
  • Reuters Subscription$45.001 Year
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 Reuters free?
Reuters is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Substack free?
Substack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Reuters or Substack?
Substack is rated higher. Reuters averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9K ratings, while Substack averages 4.9 from 562K ratings.
Do Reuters or Substack have ads?
Reuters shows ads; Substack does not.
Which is updated more often, Reuters or Substack?
Reuters ships an update every 2 weeks, and Substack weekly. Most recently, Reuters was updated on November 1, 2026 and Substack on October 31, 2026.
Which is more popular, Reuters or Substack?
Reuters currently peaks at #18 in the App Store charts, and Substack at #4. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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