Best Audio News Apps

245+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated October 2026

Out of 245+ audio news apps on iOS, 20 are free and the rest sit in the paid tier. This page sorts them so you can compare both sides before you commit.

Compare top Audio News Apps (October 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1NPR: National & Local NewsNPR: National & Local NewsFree4.7β˜… (77K)YesNoNov 2026
2Noa: Listen to audio articlesNoa: Listen to audio articlesFree4.5β˜… (373)NoYesNov 2026
3BBC: World News & StoriesBBC: World News & StoriesFree4.5β˜… (88K)YesYesNov 2026
4Apple PodcastsApple PodcastsFree4.9β˜… (2.1M)YesNoNov 2026
5Aaven: News & AudioAaven: News & AudioFreeβ€”NoYesNov 2026
6Nuwzly: Audio News BriefingNuwzly: Audio News BriefingFree5.0β˜… (2)NoYesJun 2026
7Google NewsGoogle NewsFree4.6β˜… (226K)YesNoNov 2026
8Audiosume - Audio NewsAudiosume - Audio NewsFree5.0β˜… (1)NoNoOct 2026

Top Picks for Audio News

NPR: National & Local News#1

NPR: National & Local News by NPR

Podcasts. Live Radio. Music.
Editor's Choice
πŸ“‘ News
4.7😐(77K ratings)
FreeAds
#24in News
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 1
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 2
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 3
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 4
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 5
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 6

Access breaking news, in-depth stories, and personalized audio streams from public radio. Discover podcasts, enjoy live music performances, and stream radio content from across the country. Enhance your listening experience with smart features and support public media.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Great but loses track after inactivity
  • πŸš€ Excellent content
  • πŸš€ Very high quality and reliable news
  • πŸš€ Balanced and well-presented/organized news
  • πŸš€ Intuitive and easy to use
  • πŸš€ Slick and user friendly interface
  • πŸš€ Eclectic selection of interesting articles and radio shows
  • πŸš€ Comprehensive and responsive
  • πŸš€ Keeps me up to date on the world in an intelligent and critical manner

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› App used 79GB of data in two weeks
  • πŸ› Broken, freezes, and crashes frequently
  • πŸ› Poor UI with ads
  • πŸ› Too many ads
  • πŸ› Biased and unbalanced content
  • πŸ› Buggy and unreliable
  • πŸ› Glitchy and inconsistent playback
  • πŸ› Excessive data usage
  • πŸ› Cluttered and confusing interface
  • πŸ› Loses playlist and other key features
Noa: Listen to audio articles#2

Noa: Listen to audio articles by NOA News Ltd

From HBR, Economist, Bloomberg
Strong Contender
πŸ“‘ News
4.5😐(373 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Noa: Listen to audio articles screenshot 1
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Noa: Listen to audio articles screenshot 3
Noa: Listen to audio articles screenshot 4
Noa: Listen to audio articles screenshot 5
Noa: Listen to audio articles screenshot 6

Listen to insightful audio articles from top publications like HBR and Bloomberg. Enjoy human-read content while multitasking, with features like offline listening and adjustable playback speed. Access unlimited, ad-free content with a premium membership.

What We Love

  • πŸ“° Comprehensive selection of quality news sources
  • 🎧 High-quality narration and voice acting
  • ⏱️ Time-saving audio format for busy lifestyles
  • πŸ“š Well-curated article collections and series
  • 🎯 Balanced coverage across multiple perspectives
  • ⚑ Smooth and intuitive user interface
  • πŸ”„ Variety of playback speed settings
  • πŸ“± Offline listening capability
  • πŸƒ Great for commuting and exercise
  • πŸ’Ό Strong focus on business and economics content

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Frequent connectivity and streaming issues
  • πŸ› App crashes and freezes
  • πŸ” Problematic account creation and login process
  • πŸ’° Aggressive premium subscription tactics
  • πŸ“§ Unsolicited email bombardment
  • 🚫 Poor customer support responsiveness
  • πŸ“± Lack of accessibility features (text sizing)
  • 🎨 Missing dark mode option
  • πŸ”Š Intrusive notification prompts
  • ⏸️ Playback stops when phone locks or app switches
BBC: World News & Stories#3

BBC: World News & Stories by BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Breaking News, Podcasts, Video
Worth Considering
πŸ“‘ News
4.5😞(88K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#12in News
BBC: World News & Stories screenshot 1
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BBC: World News & Stories screenshot 6

Access breaking news, in-depth articles, podcasts, and videos from a trusted global network of journalists. Stream live news channels, listen to radio shows, and watch documentaries. Download content for offline listening and reading.

What We Love

  • πŸ—žοΈ Excellent news coverage
  • 🌍 Global perspective on news
  • πŸ—“οΈ Timely updates

Room to Improve

  • πŸ” Lack of customization options
  • πŸ“’ Intrusive advertising
  • πŸ› Buggy performance and crashes
  • πŸ”™ Frustrating navigation (e.g., returning to top of list)
  • πŸ€– Perceived bias in news reporting

More Audio News apps to explore

FAQ about Audio News

What are the best audio news apps for iPhone?
NPR: National & Local News tops our audio news apps ranking as of October 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 77K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes β€” 20 of the top audio news apps we rank are free to download, including NPR: National & Local News and Noa: Listen to audio articles.
NPR: National & Local News shows ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of October 2026.
We track 245+ audio news apps on the iOS App Store as of October 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.

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