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

Washington Post vs NYTimes

Washington Post 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner NYTimes
NYTimes 4.8★ · Free to download 70

NYTimes has a slight edge due to better app stability and user interface, despite both apps facing criticism regarding content bias and subscription friction.

Full reviews: Washington Post · NYTimes

Both Washington Post and NYTimes offer extensive news coverage, but recent updates have introduced usability issues for both. NYTimes generally provides a more stable app experience, while the Washington Post struggles with technical glitches and a perceived decline in journalistic quality.

Head to head

Journalism Quality & Bias tieR2R3R6R7
Washington Post Washington Post users are divided, with some praising its dedication to truth and investigative reporting R2, while many others express concern about a perceived decline in quality, increased political bias, and influence from owner Jeff Bezos R3R6R7.
NYTimes NYTimes users generally consider it the 'gold standard' for journalism, offering in-depth news coverage and excellent reporting . However, some users note a liberal bias in opinion pieces and occasional 'micro aggressions' towards conservatives .
App Performance & Stability edge: NYTimesR1R4R5R51
Washington Post The Washington Post app is praised for quick loading times and a small footprint R5, but users report significant issues with the app not working on older iPad OS versions R1, occasional lag R51, and difficulties with subscriber authentication R4.
NYTimes NYTimes users report the app has become slower and buggier , with frequent freezing and crashing . There are also complaints about issues with sending gift articles and accessing content with an 'All Access' account .
User Interface & Experience tieR14R17R45R46
Washington Post Washington Post users find the app generally easy to navigate R17 but dislike numerous unnecessary links embedded in articles R45. There are also requests for more control over AI voice readers R14 and issues with interacting with comments R46.
NYTimes NYTimes users are frustrated by recent updates that moved navigation controls (like the back button and save feature) from the bottom to the top of the screen, making them less accessible on taller iPhones R66R67R69. Users also desire the ability to zoom into photos and download articles for offline consumption .
Ads & Subscription Friction edge: Washington PostR4R75R76R82
Washington Post Washington Post reviews do not frequently mention in-app ads, but some users express frustration with the need to prove subscription status repeatedly R4.
NYTimes NYTimes users are highly annoyed by constant upsell prompts to upgrade subscriptions or gift articles R76R82. Paying subscribers also report being bombarded with intrusive video ads, often longer than the content itself, and other web-generated ads R75.
Features & Content Variety edge: NYTimesR3R12R14R21
Washington Post The Washington Post offers audio articles R14 and AI summaries of comments R12. However, some users note a decline in local news, sports coverage, and the quality of the Style section R3R21.
NYTimes NYTimes is praised for its games , recipes , and audio articles R107. However, some users are disappointed by the lack of an e-paper option and the automatic redirection to The Athletic app for sports articles, which often reloads the NYT app upon return . There are also complaints about fewer stories being read by automated voices R97.
Pick Washington Post if

you prioritize quick app loading and a smaller app footprint, and are less bothered by occasional subscriber authentication hurdles R5R4.

Pick NYTimes if

you value a broader range of content beyond just news, such as games and recipes, and generally find the app more stable despite recent UI changes .

Evidence note: Recent reviews for both apps show a negative skew, particularly concerning app updates and perceived editorial shifts. Many Washington Post reviews focus on journalistic integrity and Bezos's influence, rather than app features. NYTimes reviews frequently highlight UI changes and subscription friction.

Frequently asked

Do these apps offer audio articles?
Yes, both apps offer audio articles; Washington Post allows listening to articles R14, and NYTimes now offers all articles to be read aloud R107, though some users note fewer stories are read by automated voices in the NYTimes app R97.
Are there issues with ads or subscription prompts?
NYTimes users frequently complain about constant upsell prompts for upgrades or gift subscriptions, and intrusive video ads that are often longer than the content itself, even for paying subscribers R75R76R82. Washington Post users occasionally report difficulties with repeated subscriber authentication R4.
How do recent app updates affect usability?
Recent NYTimes updates have moved key navigation controls (like the back button and save feature) from the bottom to the top of the screen, which many users find less intuitive and harder to reach, especially on taller iPhones R66R67R69. The Washington Post has faced issues with its new version not working on older iPad OS versions R1.

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. [R51] Washington Post 3/5 · GB Laggy: User interface is not as hassle free and easy to navigate as the New York Times or Apple’s news app. There are lags.
  9. [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
  10. [R17] Washington Post 5/5 · US Easy to navigate: Still getting used to it …but so far I like it…
  11. [R45] Washington Post 3/5 · US Too many unnecessary links in articles: I’m sick and tired of accidentally touching the numerous links embedded in the Post’s articles while I am scrolling down. There should be a way to turn off these links to prevent this.
  12. [R46] Washington Post 2/5 · US An *APP* review: If I could teach the world to sing… When writing a review on the AppStore you are answering one question: Does the *app* work? THIS app is okay, although I am completely unable to interact with comments. I’m signed in, but I can’t even give a thumbs up to someone else’s post. Frustrating. On a personal note, there’s no such thing as unbiased news in 2026. Read widely and you’
  13. [R75] NYTimes 3/5 · US video advertising ruins experience.: I would otherwise give this app a pretty high rating, but the videos are utterly destroyed by their insistence of running a 30 second ad often in front of 10-15 second content. Want to watch that actual explosion? or the bear leaping at the guy.. spend the next half minute watching a car ad. I don’t know why they treat their video footage so poorly if they di
  14. [R76] NYTimes 1/5 · US Constant Up-Sell: Can’t believe I’m in-subscribing but the constant nagging to upgrade my subscription, then GIFT subscriptions once you’re maxed out, has gotten too completely insane. The paper of record just feels like it can’t stop shaking its readers upside down for more pocket change. Very user-hostile.
  15. [R82] NYTimes 1/5 · US Constant asking to verify or upgrade subscription: I pay for a subscription but am constantly asked to upgrade my subscription to a family plan. Also if I log in on a computer o constantly need to verify through email which is annoying.
  16. [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.
  17. [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.
  18. [R97] NYTimes 2/5 · US Read by automated voice: Far fewer stories are “read by an automated voice“ A feature I relied on a lot. Please bring it back.
  19. [R107] NYTimes 5/5 · US NYT Audio: Glad to see NYT now offers all articles to be read aloud
  20. [R66] NYTimes 3/5 · US Bring back the comments button to the bottom + Bring back pagination: Please move the comments and other toggle buttons back down to the bottom, kind of annoying for these tall iPhones to place them at the top. Also, I would LOVE the option to read in pages, just like when the first iPad version came out. Please bring it back!
  21. [R67] NYTimes 2/5 · US Why move controls to the top: I like the app but now find myself struggling to use it when the control bar on each page has been moved to the top. Most people’s thumbs done reach there. It’s not a ui improvement by any means.
  22. [R69] NYTimes 3/5 · US Bad update!: I’m not sure why the latest update changed the back arrow to the upper left from the lower left - it’s much less intuitive and super clunky. Also hiding the “save” feature in a sub menu is super annoying. Sometimes things don’t need improvement!

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