Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

CNN vs AP News

CNN 4.8★ · Free + IAP 45
Winner AP News
AP News 4.6★ · Free to download 70

AP News is the better choice for users seeking a free, less ad-intrusive news experience with a focus on objective reporting, while CNN is better for those who prioritize CNN's specific content and are willing to pay for a subscription despite significant app performance issues.

Full reviews: CNN · AP News

AP News offers a generally more reliable and less paywall-heavy experience for users seeking objective news, despite some ad and notification issues. CNN, while offering timely coverage, is plagued by numerous bugs, frequent paywalls, and a confusing subscription model that often fails to deliver expected benefits.

Head to head

Features & Content edge: AP NewsR2R8R9R16
CNN CNN provides timely news coverage and keeps users informed about world events R2. However, many users are frustrated by the app's content delivery, specifically the lack of live TV streaming for subscribers , an overreliance on video content , and push notifications for subscriber-only content that free users cannot access . Widgets, a key feature for many, are frequently reported as broken or blank R8R9R16R18.
AP News AP News is praised for its high-quality, objective, and extensive reporting, making it a go-to for unbiased news . Users appreciate its breaking news and election results coverage . However, some find the local news coverage lacking, often showing sports news instead of actual local events . There are also requests for better organization of news subjects and an identifier for video articles .
Ease of Use & Reliability edge: AP NewsR3R4R8R9
CNN CNN users report significant issues with app stability and functionality, including freezing while reading articles R3, articles jumping backward R3, black screens R3, and the app kicking users off R4. Streaming audio is often interrupted by phone notifications , and the app frequently fails to remember login credentials, requiring daily sign-ins or re-verification with TV providers . Many subscribers also report being unable to access paid content across multiple devices . The widget feature is widely reported as broken or blank R8R9R16R18.
AP News AP News generally works well most of the time , but users experience issues such as slow loading times for the app and articles . Some articles remain in the app for weeks on iPad . Notification filters are often broken, leading to irrelevant alerts . There are also complaints about a scrolling dead zone created by photos and accessibility issues with voiceover . The app also logs users out after updates .
Price & Value edge: AP NewsR4R6R7R13
CNN CNN's value proposition is a major point of contention. Many users are frustrated by frequent paywalls, limiting free article access R7R13R19R34. Subscribers complain about paying for a service that still includes ads R6 and doesn't offer the expected live TV programming . The annual fee has also reportedly increased significantly R4. Users question the value when similar news is available for free elsewhere R13.
AP News AP News is free to download and use, which is a significant advantage over paid competitors . However, the app's free nature comes with a heavy ad load. Users frequently complain about intrusive ads, particularly from Expedia, which are highly sensitive and redirect them out of the app when trying to scroll R69R73R81R82. This significantly detracts from the user experience.
Support & Moderation tieR4R5R28R39
CNN One CNN user reported a positive experience with customer support, where an AI system helped them email for help and their account issues were quickly resolved R5. However, other users express frustration with ongoing, unresolved bugs despite updates R4R28 and the inability to access features like saved stories R39.
AP News AP News has received criticism for heavy censorship in its comments section, with users reporting deactivation of accounts for certain viewpoints . The addition of comments without an option to turn them off is seen as unprofessional and has led some users to delete the app . Users also note a lack of responsiveness from developers regarding persistent bugs like the 'Today in History' feature being stuck .
Pick CNN if

you are a dedicated CNN viewer who wants to access their specific content and are willing to navigate significant app bugs and paywalls, or if you appreciate their stance on social issues .

Pick AP News if

you prioritize free access to generally objective news reporting, value breaking news alerts, and are willing to tolerate frequent, intrusive ads .

Evidence note: Recent reviews for CNN are heavily skewed negative, particularly regarding paywalls and app functionality, which contrasts with its higher lifetime rating. AP News also has recent negative reviews, primarily concerning ads and notification issues, but its core content is still highly valued.

Frequently asked

Does CNN require a subscription to read articles?
Yes, CNN limits the number of free articles you can read before requiring a paid subscription, which many users find frustrating R7R13R19R34.
Are there ads in the CNN app even with a paid subscription?
Yes, some CNN subscribers report still seeing ads even after purchasing a subscription, which leads to disappointment and questions about the benefit of paying R6.
Does AP News have intrusive ads?
Yes, AP News users frequently complain about large, highly sensitive ads, particularly from Expedia, that often redirect them out of the app when they try to scroll through articles R69R73R81R82.
Are the widgets for CNN reliable?
No, many CNN users report that the app's widgets are frequently broken, showing up as blank boxes or not displaying content, even after updates R8R9R16R18.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] CNN 5/5 · US CNN: CNN provides timely news coverage and keeps me informed about important events happening around the world.
  2. [R8] CNN 5/5 · US Widget stopped working: I used the widget to check the breaking news and daily headlines and now I have to open the app. The widget is just a blank display now
  3. [R9] CNN 3/5 · US Good App - Widgets Don’t Work: With the latest app update, I’ve noticed that any widgets I add from this app just show up as blank boxes. They never load any content. Hoping that CNN will fix this bug soon.
  4. [R16] CNN 1/5 · US Widget totally broken: The widget doesn’t work at all on iOS 26.
  5. [R3] CNN 3/5 · US Disappointed: Since purchasing a subscription, the app now freezes while reading articles requiring me to restart the app in order to read articles; jumps backward while scrolling through articles; and goes to a black screen partway through an article which sometimes can be cleared by going backwards, but not always, and then trying to scroll forward again. I expected to have at least as good of
  6. [R4] CNN 1/5 · US Pay for CNN is malfunctioning: I paid the annual fee of $29.99 but I keep getting kicked off the app. Please fix it! UPDATE: 2 years later, I continue to be kicked off the app. Fix it, please. Also, fee rose to $69.99 this year!
  7. [R6] CNN 3/5 · US Paid subscription still has ads????: Thought I was subscribing to not have to deal with ads, the way subscribing at the most expensive level gets you with most other streaming services. What’s the benefit??
  8. [R7] CNN 2/5 · US Deleting app: Every time I try to read an article newsworthy it says I reached my free limit. DELETED!!!
  9. [R13] CNN 1/5 · US Pay to read: I have to pay monthly to read news that I can get from other sites and apps for free? Easy pass and delete for me.
  10. [R5] CNN 5/5 · US Great response: I had given the 3 stars this morning when all of the sudden I was getting a message telling me to Subscribe when my subscription was good until next May. I could not get it to work on either iPad or iPhone. The AI system provided a way to email for help. They responded quickly and were able to unlock my account. Thank you for all your help.
  11. [R28] CNN 1/5 · US Widget: You guys just did a update but forgot to fix the widget
  12. [R39] CNN 3/5 · GB Settings doesn’t work: On balance, I enjoy the app. But if I click on “settings”, none of the options within settings work. So, I can’t access saved stories for example; If I try to click on any options within settings nothing happens.
  13. [R19] CNN 1/5 · US Used to be free news reading: This app used to be free to read articles but I guess they don’t get enough ad revenue. I use to use it with Fox News to get balanced reporting, but now I’ll use Fox only (which I trust better anyway).
  14. [R34] CNN 1/5 · US Reading limit.. horrible: I think it’s horrible that CNN limits the amount of stories you can view. Capitalism at it’s worse. You have sponsors and now subscribers but you still have to limit how many stories we can view. Stupid
  15. [R69] AP News 3/5 · US Expedia ads: Recently lots of large Expedia ads embedded into articles that that are so highly touch-sensitive, it is *impossible* to scroll without accidentally clicking on them. Really irritating! Please please stop.
  16. [R73] AP News 2/5 · US Click sensitivity on ads: Click sensitivity on ads, particularly for Expedia, is absolutely ridiculous. I’m constantly opening safari tabs while trying to scroll. App is borderline unusable because of this.
  17. [R81] AP News 3/5 · US Ok coverage, bad ad interface: Can’t seem to scroll past an ad if you click/tap on it, it just continues to take you to the advertiser. Done.
  18. [R82] AP News 1/5 · US Trash ads force you out of the app: You can click anywhere but when you do, suddenly you’re being forced off the app and into your web browser to the ad that was shown 3/4 of the way down. I’m about to delete this trash. Used to read BBC before they did this. I’m on the cusp of deleting this app too. I’ll go straight to RT news online. At least then I’ll get a bias that’s not liberal leaning.
  19. [R18] CNN 3/5 · US Widget Stopped Working: Since the recent update, the cnn widget stopped working. It shows blank headlines, but if I click the widget it takes me to the main page of the CNN app. I have tried deleting and reinstalling the app, same with the widget, checked all settings, logged in to CNN from the app, but still nothing works widget wise. What’s up CNN?

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store