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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Washington Post vs The Economist

Washington Post 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner The Economist
The Economist 4.9★ · Free + IAP 75

The Economist offers superior global news and analysis with better audio features, while the Washington Post provides strong domestic reporting but struggles with app stability and perceived editorial shifts.

Full reviews: Washington Post · The Economist

The Economist is favored for its in-depth, unbiased global journalism and robust audio features like CarPlay support, despite some app bugs. The Washington Post, while praised for its investigative reporting, faces criticism over app functionality, perceived political bias shifts, and content changes under its current ownership.

Head to head

Journalism Quality & Bias edge: The EconomistR2R3R6R7
Washington Post Washington Post users are divided on its journalistic quality and perceived bias. Many praise its dedication to truth and investigative stories R2R11, particularly its science and medical reporting . However, a significant number of recent reviews criticize a perceived shift towards being 'center right' or 'mindless cheerleader for Trump' R3R7R10. Some also feel the paper has declined in content and lost its 'reporting edge' since Bezos's ownership R6R10.
The Economist The Economist is largely praised for its credible, objective, in-depth, and data-driven global journalism R77. Users appreciate its focus on analysis and well-rounded views on complex global issues . However, some recent reviews express concern about a perceived 'liberal left bias' or 'progressive ideology' drift R73R78R79, with some finding its US political coverage predictable .
App Performance & Reliability tieR1R4R5R17
Washington Post The Washington Post app receives mixed reviews on performance. Some users find it speedy and quick to load R5 and easy to navigate R17. However, many report significant issues, including the app not working on older iPad OS versions R1, requiring repeated subscriber verification R4, and general lag . Some users also report an inability to interact with comments .
The Economist The Economist app is frequently criticized for its poor performance and bugs. Common complaints include the app being 'clunky' and 'hard to use' , downloaded issues failing to play offline R67R106R112, frequent crashes on iPads , slow loading times , and articles randomly returning to the list . Users also report issues with notifications not opening the correct article , and general laggy scrolling .
Features & User Experience edge: The EconomistR12R14R21R27
Washington Post Washington Post users appreciate the ability to listen to articles R14 and the AI summary of reader comments R12. However, there are requests for more control over AI voice readers R14 and a way to turn off numerous embedded links that are accidentally tapped while scrolling . Some users also miss robust local news and sports coverage R27 and a better comic section R21.
The Economist The Economist app has recently added CarPlay support, which is highly praised by users for listening to articles while driving R65R68. An audio timer has also been added . However, many users are highly critical of the switch to AI narration, finding the voices terrible and distracting . There are also requests for playback speed controls R65, a better way to manage the listening queue , improved search functionality , and better notification customization . Users also desire a comments section and a more intuitive way to navigate between sections of the weekly edition .
Price & Value tieR4R10R11R19
Washington Post Washington Post users generally consider the subscription 'well worth the money' for the journalism R11. However, some express frustration with the app making it difficult to prove subscription status R4 and some free users desire access to top stories . The perceived decline in quality and content under Bezos's ownership leads some long-time subscribers to question its value and cancel R10R19.
The Economist The Economist content is considered 'worth paying for' and users are generally satisfied with the value of their subscription for the insights and news . However, some users report issues setting up the app after paying for a subscription or transferring corporate subscriptions . There are also complaints about 'false advertising' regarding paywalls and being unable to read gifted articles .
Pick Washington Post if

You prioritize strong domestic US reporting and appreciate some AI features like comment summaries, and you are not sensitive to perceived shifts in editorial stance R2R12.

Pick The Economist if

You seek in-depth, data-driven global news and analysis with robust audio features like CarPlay support, and you are willing to overlook some app performance issues and the use of AI narration R65R68R77.

Evidence note: Many Washington Post reviews focus on editorial content and perceived political bias rather than app-specific features, making direct app comparisons sometimes challenging. The Economist reviews, while also discussing content bias, provide more specific feedback on app functionality and audio features.

Frequently asked

Does The Economist app support CarPlay?
Yes, The Economist app has added CarPlay support, which users appreciate for listening to articles while driving R65R68.
Are there issues with offline access for The Economist app?
Yes, several users report that even after downloading issues, The Economist app often requires an internet connection to display articles or play audio, defeating the purpose of offline access R67R106R112.
Does the Washington Post app have an AI voice reader?
Yes, the Washington Post app allows users to listen to articles with AI-generated voices, though some users wish for the ability to select a specific voice rather than having one randomly assigned R14.
Do users report political bias in The Economist?
Yes, some users feel The Economist has drifted towards a 'liberal left bias' or 'progressive ideology' in recent years, though others still praise its objective journalism R73R77R78R79.

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] Washington Post 5/5 · US The Washington Post: I really trust the news in the Post. I don’t think they lie about it!
  2. [R3] Washington Post 3/5 · US WaPo is center right now and an apologist for plutocrats and economic inequality: WaPo is center right now and an apologist for plutocrats and economic inequality. They got rid of most of their liberal writers and dropped their sports coverage. They still do some decent investigative stories.
  3. [R6] Washington Post 3/5 · US Not the same under Bezos: WaPo no longer has its reporting edge. Sad.
  4. [R7] Washington Post 1/5 · US Darkness: The Washington post is bending at the knee to trump. It is awful
  5. [R1] Washington Post 1/5 · US New version downloads, but doesn't work on older iPad OSs!!: Doesn't work on an iPad 9 with iPad OS 17.7.2. Tap the icon and it opens to a blank screen. Thought the Apple Store blocked downloading incompatible apps! Please fix this, Post! Upgrading the OS is not an option as it slows down the tablet, uses more battery life, and breaks older apps. If you can't fix it, at least let us download
  6. [R4] Washington Post 1/5 · US Good when it works: I subscribe to both the NYT and The Washington Post. When the NYT sends me an article by email, I can click on it and enter the article, including the audio. But with the Washington Post, you click on it and then they want you to prove that you’re really a subscriber. What’s your password? What’s your pets first name? It’s too much work. The Post needs to make it easier to be a
  7. [R5] Washington Post 5/5 · US WAPO speedy app loads: The app loads quickly. It does not lave a large foot print of space on the HD. Two great features.
  8. [R17] Washington Post 5/5 · US Easy to navigate: Still getting used to it …but so far I like it…
  9. [R12] Washington Post 3/5 · US A mediocre paper: I resubscribed after a couple of years. Big difference and not a good one. Cowtows to Trump, seems visibly afraid to offend him. Except for recent story on Tulsi G, paper is now like USA Today. I like the ai summary of the reader conments though. The advice column is really lame. Give it a rest already.
  10. [R14] Washington Post 5/5 · US I would like to select an AI voice reader not have WaPo randomly assign one.: I’m thankful for WaPo allowing me to listen to articles. However, we all have differing hearing levels. Certain voices can distract from the message. That’s the case in your approach to assigning AI generated voices to read articles. For me a higher pitched voice that sounds like a teenager reading a serious article di
  11. [R21] Washington Post 3/5 · US Why you got a Low Score: The Comic section. Bring back ‘Liberty Meadows’. It is the funniest and they have local reference . Good work Mr. Chao. Your ads in the comic….BoRING.
  12. [R27] Washington Post 3/5 · US Shadow paper: The newspaper is a shadow of its former self. The worst part is that the owner got rid of the parts that made it the hometown newspaper for those of us who live in the DMV - robust local news, sports, events. Many of the best journalists are gone. The Editorial Board is sub-par. I’m still a subscriber but mostly out of habit and the hope that things might change, but perhaps I’m not
  13. [R10] Washington Post 1/5 · US Sharp decline: The journalist quality of this newspaper declined steadily at first after its acquisition by Bezos then sharply in the last two years after Bezos forced management changes. Now, I still subscribe because I live in the DC area, and some good reporting is done. But the paper often is a mindless cheerleader from Trump and his oligarch pals. The newspaper should be given to a responsibl
  14. [R11] Washington Post 5/5 · US Great Journalism: While I’m not a fan of Bezos, the journalists at the WaPo are independent and do the hard work of reporting facts. Well worth the money considering how easy it is to come across garbage being published online these days. By far my favorite paper!
  15. [R19] Washington Post 1/5 · US One reason above all others to leave!: The WP Editorial Eoard is a tool to advance your owner’s style of “ elitist capitalism.” I love, capitalism, but I can’t stand greed! This paper has changed drastically since your owner has taken over. There are a lot of publications through which I can get accurate, unbiased news. I’ll be gone very soon.
  16. [R65] The Economist 5/5 · US Addition of CarPlay takes this to the next level: So happy to see CarPlay support added to the app. I love the podcasts, but this will help me get thru more of the articles. Please add playback speed controls. 1x is just too slow for me and there are a lot of articles I’d like to get to each week.
  17. [R68] The Economist 5/5 · US CarPlay Support Added 🙏: Great app for economist subscribers and now (4/26) even better with CarPlay support added. Easy to listen to subscriber content while driving and to queue up all your favorite podcasts and articles.
  18. [R67] The Economist 1/5 · US Awful. Bring back the old app: Will sometimes (but inexplicably not all the time) refuse to play downloaded articles when not connected to the internet. I listen to articles while hiking in areas that don’t have cell reception so this is a deal breaker for me. Was not a problem with the old app.
  19. [R106] The Economist 1/5 · US AI narration fails if not connected; useless on airplane: Hiking out of data coverage (or on airplane), app refused to play article even though I had all audio downloaded, because that story was “AI narrated” only. Again! Also, still dislike that sections are so badly ordered (Britain and Europe so far down the order)
  20. [R112] The Economist 1/5 · US Needs lots of improvements: Even if I’ve downloaded an issue, the app still needs Internet access. If I download issues and then go on an airplane and reopen the app, it still needs Internet access to show any articles or play any audio, defeating the entire purpose of downloading the issue for offline access. The reason appears to be a combination of bad requirements, coding, and testing. It is
  21. [R73] The Economist 1/5 · US Leftist slop reporting: This used to be my favorite magazine (started subscribing in 1995) but it has been taken over by extreme left socialist that wish for censorship, to destroy the US and to sow lies and hate around the world. try fact checking any sampling of their articles and you will be shocked at the one sided representation of events they publish. i am saddened by what it has become. sh
  22. [R77] The Economist 5/5 · US Good news source.: Unbiased news analysis
  23. [R78] The Economist 3/5 · US Liberal Left Bias: Unfortunately the publication has become a bias towards the left. It used to be in the middle but it seems the liberal publishers have influenced it to the negative.
  24. [R79] The Economist 1/5 · US Neoliberal: This companies “reporting” contains pro neoliberal status quo. Something has to change this system of no regulation capitalism cannot stay the same

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