# CGTN vs NewsOnAir

The clearest difference is rating: CGTN at 4.4 against NewsOnAir's 3.7. CGTN also leads on device support (5 vs 3) and ratings volume (394 vs 128). NewsOnAir's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CGTN holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 394 and 128 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of CGTN's written reviews are positive against 56% of NewsOnAir's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CGTN ships an update every 5 weeks, NewsOnAir monthly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CGTN | NewsOnAir |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (394 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cgtn/id922456579/reviews)** | [3.7 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsonair/id1450030867/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **394** | 128 |
| Positive reviews | 54.2% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 137 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [China Global Television Network Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1568444017) | [All India Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1289849763) |

## What reviewers say

### CGTN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cgtn/id922456579)

Access global news from a unique perspective with diverse, balanced, and objective content. This app offers breaking news, in-depth stories, and livestreams in five languages, along with a rich archive of articles, audio, and video.

**Highlights:** Global news coverage, Content in 5 languages, Breaking news notifications, Rich audiovisual content, In-depth stories and features, AI and AR products

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Balanced and unbiased news coverage
- 🌐 Comprehensive global news perspective
- 🎥 High-quality video and documentary content
- 💯 Reliable and trustworthy news source
- 🌍 Diverse range of international topics covered

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Limited search and navigation functionality
- 📱 Suboptimal user experience on tablets
- 🔊 Audio and video playback problems
- 🌐 Lack of offline content access

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening certain articles
- Live TV channel playback not working
- Russian text not displaying correctly
- Landscape mode not supported on iPad
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve search and filtering capabilities
- Optimize app for tablet devices
- Implement offline content download feature
- Allow customization of notification settings


### NewsOnAir

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsonair/id1450030867)

Access news stories, podcasts, and live broadcasts from India's public service broadcaster. Enjoy regional news bulletins, special programs, and content in over 25 languages. Stream All India Radio live and watch Doordarshan programs.

**Highlights:** Latest news and current affairs, Regional news bulletins in audio, Live broadcast of All India Radio, Watch Doordarshan programs, Stories in text and podcast format, Content in over 25 languages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app to listen to AIR stations globally
- 👍 Nostalgic and connects to roots
- 👍 Flawless streaming and stable connections
- 👍 Comprehensive app with news, music, and entertainment

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🐛 Playback stops when screen is locked or app is minimized
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with latest iOS versions
- 🐛 Clumsy interface and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Radio stations not listing properly
- App crashes when scrolling through stations
- Playback issues and frequent buffering
- Compatibility problems with iOS 15 and newer versions

**Requested features**

- Add favorite/shortcut feature for frequently used stations
- Categorize stations by language in addition to state
- Introduce search functionality to find stations easily
- Add sleep timer and other user-friendly features
- Integrate with smart home devices for seamless listening


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CGTN free?

CGTN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NewsOnAir free?

NewsOnAir is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CGTN or NewsOnAir?

CGTN is rated higher. CGTN averages 4.4 out of 5 from 394 ratings, while NewsOnAir averages 3.7 from 128 ratings.

### Do CGTN or NewsOnAir have ads?

Neither CGTN nor NewsOnAir shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CGTN or NewsOnAir?

CGTN ships an update every 5 weeks, and NewsOnAir monthly. Most recently, CGTN was updated on October 29, 2026 and NewsOnAir on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*