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

MarketWatch vs CNBC

MarketWatch 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner CNBC
CNBC 4.7★ · Free to download 75

CNBC offers a more comprehensive and reliable experience for financial news and market tracking, despite some technical glitches and ad complaints, while MarketWatch struggles with significant app stability and subscription issues.

Full reviews: MarketWatch · CNBC

CNBC generally provides timely financial news and market data, though users report issues with live streaming and ads. MarketWatch, while appreciated for its content by some, faces widespread complaints regarding app bugs, subscription management, and paywalls.

Head to head

Features & Content edge: CNBCR8R9R20R24
MarketWatch MarketWatch is praised for its feature stories and reliable information, with some users finding articles well-written and useful R8R9R20. However, it lacks essential features like a dark mode R9R36 and the ability to save articles R24. Some users also note limited functionality compared to other apps .
CNBC CNBC is valued for its comprehensive financial news, market data, and live coverage . Users appreciate features like Picture-in-Picture and quick updates . However, some report missing data like metals prices and 52-week highs/lows .
Ease of Use & Reliability tieR7R13R15R16
MarketWatch MarketWatch users frequently report significant app bugs, including articles not opening, watchlists not working, and login issues R13R15R16. The app is described as 'buggy' and 'complicated to use' R7. Some also find the font too small with no in-app adjustment and navigation difficult on newer iPhones .
CNBC CNBC also faces reliability issues, particularly with live streaming not loading or freezing frequently R66R73R76. Users report login problems, especially with Apple TV and cable provider integrations . However, some users find the app works smoothly for getting portfolio data .
Price & Value tieR4R10R12R25
MarketWatch MarketWatch is criticized for its paywall, with many users frustrated that most articles require a subscription R10R25. There are also complaints about false advertising regarding subscription pricing and lack of customer service for billing issues R4. Subscribers report still seeing pop-up ads R12.
CNBC CNBC is a free-to-download app, but users complain about an overload of ads, even for subscribers R75R117. The subscription cost is considered high, with some finding $29.99/month for limited access disappointing R75R117. There are also complaints about videos freezing despite paying for a subscription .
Editorial Bias tieR1R10R67R80
MarketWatch MarketWatch faces accusations of political bias, with one user claiming a consistent negative lean against Republicans and Trump R1. Another user criticizes the editorial as 'communist' R10.
CNBC CNBC also receives criticism for political bias, with users stating articles are 'biased at best, propaganda at worst' and have a 'left wing' slant R67R80R84. Some specifically mention 'anti-Trump articles' and 'fear mongering politicians' .
Pick MarketWatch if

You prioritize in-depth feature stories and are willing to navigate significant app bugs and paywalls for content that some find reliable R8R20.

Pick CNBC if

You need timely, comprehensive financial news and market data, including live streams, and are prepared to tolerate occasional technical issues and ads .

Evidence note: Many reviews for MarketWatch are short and uninformative, or relate to specific, severe bugs that may not affect all users. CNBC's reviews are more detailed, often highlighting specific features and recurring technical problems.

Frequently asked

Does MarketWatch offer a dark mode?
No, MarketWatch users frequently complain about the lack of a dark mode feature, finding it surprising in modern apps and difficult on their eyes R9R36.
Are there issues with CNBC's live streaming?
Yes, many CNBC users report persistent problems with live streaming, including videos freezing, not loading, or stopping after commercial breaks, making it frustrating to watch content R66R73R76R82.
Do MarketWatch and CNBC have political bias?
Both MarketWatch and CNBC receive user complaints about perceived political bias in their news coverage and articles R1R10R67R84.
How much does a CNBC subscription cost?
While CNBC is free to download, a subscription can cost around $29.99 per month, which some users find expensive given the continued presence of ads and limited access to certain sections R75R117.

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. [R8] MarketWatch 5/5 · US Market watch is good reading: App has some great feature stories that are enjoyable to read
  2. [R9] MarketWatch 3/5 · US Decent: I generally like the app. Most articles are written well. Some are useful. I find them much better than others. My main complaint is that the app doesn’t allow for a Dark Mode. In this day and age, not having a Dark Mode is surprising.
  3. [R20] MarketWatch 5/5 · US Reliable information: I can always count on the MarketWatch to get my reliable information to plan my trading day!
  4. [R24] MarketWatch 3/5 · US Save option: I love market watch I just wish in the app you could save articles.
  5. [R7] MarketWatch 1/5 · US Complicada de usar: Complicada de Usar
  6. [R13] MarketWatch 1/5 · US Bug: Since the last update, ca no longer click on the Comments link on iOS devices, either iPhone or iPad.
  7. [R15] MarketWatch 3/5 · US Will not open: When I receive MW emails, the articles have stopped automatically opening; rather I have to log in with each one.
  8. [R16] MarketWatch 1/5 · US Nothing but problems: I signed up and have nothing but problems. Used google to open my account. Paid for the market watch/barrons subscription. Tried opening article.. they won’t open. Tried to set my watch list won’t work. Tried to email customer service recieved an error message! I have screen shots… I want a refund!
  9. [R4] MarketWatch 1/5 · US False Advertising: I subscribed to MarketWatch under the pretense that I would be charged $3.99/month for the first 12 months of my subscription and then subsequently charged $19.99/month following the 12 month period. I resubscribed and was charged $19.99 and there is no customer service or information provided. This behavior is predatory and false advertising.
  10. [R10] MarketWatch 1/5 · US I Hate the Wall Street Journal: Totally communist editorial and non-business news. Also, they tease you with part of an article then ask you to pay an exorbitant fee for a subscription. Are you kidding me?
  11. [R12] MarketWatch 3/5 · US Jack: Way too many pop up advertisements for subscribers.
  12. [R25] MarketWatch 1/5 · US Why charge for reading??: Plenty of sources to go to for the same information for free
  13. [R1] MarketWatch 1/5 · US Poor journalism: Always always has a negative lean against Trump and Republicans and their economy. There’s a way you can print the news then there’s a way you can slant it and these people do it constantly to the left. They suck. It’s no secret that Rupert Murdoch and Trump have issues with each other. The same thing is existing with Bloomberg News. I’m 81 years old and where I’ve watched this co
  14. [R67] CNBC 2/5 · US Articles are biased at best, propaganda at worst.: I look at the quotes, whoever writes the articles are left wing activists that are too biased. I don’t watch CNBC anymore because of the bias and lies.
  15. [R80] CNBC 4/5 · GB client support: private affiliate seeking security clearances on communities and families violates email privacy
  16. [R36] MarketWatch 3/5 · US Desperately need dark mode: My eyes are getting blind
  17. [R66] CNBC 3/5 · US Live stream on iPad stopped working: I’m so frustrated I cannot stream cnbc on my iPad. I constantly remove and reinstall but doesn’t help. Worked fine before the split.
  18. [R73] CNBC 1/5 · US Videos Freeze: I don’t understand for the life of me how this is a five star rated app. This app is absolutely horrible and has gotten worse since Versant bought out the company. The videos freeze about 20% into it. The charts are incredibly amateur and lag the videos take so long to come out after they’ve been played. Do better this is garbage.
  19. [R76] CNBC 1/5 · US Livestream never loads: I hardly ever leave reviews and almost never leave negative reviews but this app has been so frustrating. I have to refresh it 30+ times to get the livestream to even load and sometimes it just never does and I can't watch that morning. Then sometimes I have to go through the same process after stops working after a commercial break. No one has time for that. I know it's sp
  20. [R82] CNBC 1/5 · US Content great app still stinks: The live stream feature is still not working. I’ve used this app for years. Everything was great but months ago, it will not let you connect through your cable provider. When you hit the button, the wheel just spins and spins for hours. I was hoping after this last update it would be fixed but to no avail.
  21. [R84] CNBC 3/5 · US Political bias: Steve Less-man’s Political bias is Disgusting! And a real dis-service to your viewers. Still wrong on tariffs, still wrong on inflation,still wrong on everything due to TDS. Andrew is a child with child views of the world. Sara and Joe are both thoughtful and reasonable and clearly the adults in the room.
  22. [R75] CNBC 3/5 · US Good Investment Information: I enjoy listening to the information shared but i gave it a 3 because there are to many commercials for the high price subscription.
  23. [R117] CNBC 3/5 · GB Good but thanks: This app is a perfect app for business news. However when it comes to subscription, it’s not cheap. It when you pay for subscription, you have certain expectations. Things like Picture in Picture, doesn’t work well on IOS, PAID SUBSCRIPTION os only consist of live CNBC channel and doesn’t give access to entertainment section of the app. come on, $29.99 a month only give you ac

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