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Best Local News Alternatives Apps

0+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated June 2026

If you already know AP News, this is the deeper bench. 0+ local news alternatives apps for iPhone, all reviewed and ranked by user rating, recency, and download trend as of June 2026.

Compare top Local News Alternatives Apps (June 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1AP NewsAP NewsFree4.6★ (359K)YesNoSep 2026
2SmartNews: Breaking NewsSmartNews: Breaking NewsFree4.6★ (929K)YesYesSep 2026
3AL.comAL.comFree4.5★ (16K)YesYesSep 2026
4Apple NewsApple NewsFree4.6★ (1.6M)YesYesSep 2026
5USA TODAY: US & Breaking NewsUSA TODAY: US & Breaking NewsFree4.5★ (242K)YesYesSep 2026
6FOX LOCAL: Live News & WeatherFOX LOCAL: Live News & WeatherFree4.7★ (17K)YesNoSep 2026
7cleveland.comcleveland.comFree4.5★ (11K)YesYesSep 2026
8The Baltimore SunThe Baltimore SunFree4.5★ (5.8K)YesYesSep 2026

Top Picks for Local News Alternatives

AP News#1

AP News by The Associated Press

Breaking World & Local News
Editor's Choice
📡 News
4.6😐(359K ratings)
FreeAds
#21in News
AP News screenshot 1
AP News screenshot 2
AP News screenshot 3
AP News screenshot 4
AP News screenshot 5
AP News screenshot 6

Get breaking world and local news, along with trending headlines. This app offers a personalized news feed, custom alerts, and in-depth content hubs for major events. Access award-winning photos, videos, and articles.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Unbiased and factual reporting
  • 📰 Comprehensive news coverage
  • ⚖️ Balanced and objective journalism

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🔍 Difficulty finding specific articles
  • 🔄 Resets to top of feed after reading articles
  • 🔌 Interrupts background audio playback
SmartNews: Breaking News#2

SmartNews: Breaking News by SmartNews, Inc.

Read in English or Spanish
Strong Contender
📡 News
4.6😐(929K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#20in News
SmartNews: Breaking News screenshot 1
SmartNews: Breaking News screenshot 2
SmartNews: Breaking News screenshot 3
SmartNews: Breaking News screenshot 4

Access curated news from top publishers, tailored to your interests. Discover breaking stories, local updates, and in-depth coverage on politics, entertainment, sports, and health. Stay informed with quality journalism and personalized content.

What We Love

  • 💯 Excellent news app
  • 🌐 Wide variety of news sources
  • 🔍 Customizable news feed
  • 📰 Comprehensive news coverage
  • 🔖 Useful feature to save articles for later
  • 🧠 Smart news curation

Room to Improve

  • 📢 Excessive and intrusive ads
  • 🤖 Biased or unreliable news sources
  • 🔄 Frequent app freezes and crashes
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🔍 Lack of customization and filtering options
  • 📌 Inability to remove unwanted news sources
AL.com#3

AL.com by al.com

Local News, Sports & Weather
Worth Considering
📡 News
4.5😞(16K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#94in News
AL.com screenshot 1
AL.com screenshot 2
AL.com screenshot 3
AL.com screenshot 4
AL.com screenshot 5

Get timely and reliable local news, sports, and weather updates directly impacting your community. Stay informed about unfolding events in your backyard, from politics and business to culture and more. Access essential information from a trusted source, anytime and anywhere.

What We Love

  • 💡 Great overall news source
  • 🚀 Timely and informative news coverage
  • 👍 Diverse content and topics

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • 🔋 Performance issues, slow loading
  • 💬 Biased and one-sided reporting
  • 📢 Intrusive and disruptive ads

More Local News Alternatives apps to explore

FAQ about Local News Alternatives

What are the best local news alternatives apps for iPhone?
AP News tops our local news alternatives apps ranking as of June 2026, with a 4.6-star average from 359K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top local news alternatives apps we rank are free to download, including AP News and SmartNews: Breaking News.
AP News shows ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of June 2026.
This app delivers breaking world and local news, trending headlines, and in-depth coverage of major world events. It features award-winning photos, videos, and articles from around the globe.
You can personalize your news experience through a feed with developing stories from your followed topics and customized news alerts tailored to your interests. The app also offers curated content hubs for deeper insights.