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

FOX News vs CNN

FOX News 4.4★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner CNN
CNN 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65

CNN is the better choice for a news app, offering a more stable experience and better customer support, despite its aggressive paywall and widget issues, while FOX News is plagued by intrusive ads and significant technical problems.

Full reviews: FOX News · CNN

CNN generally provides a more reliable news app experience, though users frequently encounter paywalls and widget malfunctions. FOX News, despite being free, suffers from overwhelming and disruptive advertisements, along with numerous technical glitches that hinder usability.

Head to head

Features tieR1R5R7R8
FOX News FOX News users appreciate the news alerts and overall informativeness, with some enjoying specific personalities R8. However, many desire more control over content categories to block entertainment news, and the comment section is frequently reported as broken or missing R5R14. Live TV streaming is also a common issue R1R7R21R38.
CNN CNN users value timely news coverage and global event information . However, a significant number of users report that widgets for breaking news and headlines are not working or display blank content R68R69R76R78. Subscribers are also disappointed that the app does not offer the same live TV programming as the network, instead providing recaps or different content R91.
Ease of Use tieR2R6R13R17
FOX News Many FOX News users find the app frustrating and difficult to use due to constant freezing, requiring app restarts R2. There are frequent complaints about needing to repeatedly sign in, especially for commenting or reacting to articles R6R17. The app is also reported to heat up phones R13 and has issues with Apple Car Play .
CNN CNN users experience frequent freezing while reading articles, requiring restarts . Many find the app's audio control disruptive, as it stops background music when the app is opened . Subscribers report issues with daily validation or being kicked off the app despite having an active subscription . The inability to resume videos from where they left off is also a point of frustration .
Reliability tieR1R7R14R21
FOX News FOX News users report significant reliability issues, including the app not working, live TV authentication failures, and constant spinning wheels R1R7R21R38. The comment section is frequently broken or inaccessible R14. The app is also described as unstable, with content disappearing or jumping to the top of the feed .
CNN CNN users face reliability problems such as widgets not loading content R68R69R76R78 and the app freezing or crashing during articles . Video playback can be problematic, with clips starting halfway through, being out of sync, or crashing . Subscribers also report being unable to access content despite having paid subscriptions .
Price/Value edge: FOX NewsR9R12R15R23
FOX News FOX News is free with in-app purchases, but users are overwhelmingly frustrated by the sheer volume and intrusive nature of ads R9R15R23. Many feel the ads make the app unusable and express a willingness to pay for an ad-free version if it were reasonably priced R12.
CNN CNN offers a free tier with limited articles, but many users are frustrated by frequent paywalls that block access to most content, leading them to delete the app R67R73R94. Paid subscribers are disappointed to still encounter ads, even at higher subscription tiers, questioning the value of their payment R66R91R102R111. The annual fee for CNN has also increased, with one user noting a jump from $29.99 to $69.99 .
Support edge: CNNR1R6R7R14
FOX News FOX News reviews do not provide specific feedback on customer support, but users frequently report technical issues and lack of resolution for problems like live TV access and comment section functionality, implying a lack of effective support R1R6R7R14.
CNN CNN has received positive feedback for its customer support, with one user reporting a quick resolution to a subscription issue via email . However, many users still face persistent issues with subscriptions and app functionality that remain unresolved, suggesting inconsistent support or widespread bugs .
Pick FOX News if

you prioritize a completely free news experience and are willing to tolerate a high volume of intrusive ads and frequent technical glitches, especially if you enjoy the specific content and personalities of FOX News R8.

Pick CNN if

you prefer a news app with generally better stability and customer support, even if it means encountering frequent paywalls for articles and potential issues with widgets and live TV streaming .

Evidence note: Reviews for FOX News are heavily skewed towards negative feedback regarding ads and technical issues, while CNN reviews, though also highlighting significant technical and paywall problems, include some positive remarks about content and support.

Frequently asked

Does CNN offer a truly free experience?
No, CNN limits the number of free articles you can read, after which you must subscribe to continue accessing content R67R73R94R106.
Are there ads in the paid version of CNN?
Yes, paid subscribers to CNN still report encountering ads, with some expressing disappointment that their subscription does not remove them R66R91R102R111.
Can I watch live TV on the FOX News app?
Many FOX News users report significant issues with watching live TV on the app, often receiving 'Not Authorized' messages or experiencing constant spinning wheels, even with a cable subscription R1R7R21R38.
Do the widgets work for CNN?
Many CNN users report that the app's widgets for breaking news and headlines are not working, displaying blank boxes or failing to load content after recent updates R68R69R76R78.

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. [R1] FOX News 1/5 · US Not working: App does not work very upsetting, the wheel keeps spinning. This is on an Apple TV. I am unable to authenticate a cable subscription. Everything else works but live tv. This is the only app that has this problem.
  2. [R5] FOX News 4/5 · US Better control: I can deal with the ads, they gotta make money. Nothing is free. However I really wish I could select categories. I would 100% block entertainment news. I could not care less about people I never heard of and their swimwear choices!
  3. [R7] FOX News 1/5 · US Can't watch Fox on app: Keeps saying provider not authorized however, I can't find the "For You" on my iPhone app to complete the steps. Very confusing
  4. [R8] FOX News 5/5 · US Fox News: Love Fox News get top news everyday first thing I do at 4 am see what’s going on The crew is funny great group of people it makes my day before I have to go to work
  5. [R2] FOX News 4/5 · US Site freeze after viewing article: Kind of annoying to have to re-open app after reading articles.
  6. [R6] FOX News 3/5 · US Problems: Lately I have to keep signing in to comment or react to comments. Comments won’t load, the emoji reactions disappear, the blocking option is missing. WTHk
  7. [R13] FOX News 1/5 · US Heats up phone like no other app: I avoid the app because my phone starts to heat up almost immediately.
  8. [R17] FOX News 2/5 · US Worst app: I find it asks me to sign in so often.Last time it said app sign not working?It is tne only app I have which does not work smoothly..And at times the speech does not synch…..I love fox but have endless problems with it
  9. [R14] FOX News 4/5 · US ..dash: I love the app but wonder why I can no longer access the Comment area/section. I miss not being able to read others opinions and, occasionally, contributing on of my own.
  10. [R21] FOX News 1/5 · US Problems: Cant watch live on tv and all kind of problems live on computer.
  11. [R9] FOX News 3/5 · US WAY too many ads: I am getting absolutely fed up with all of the ads that constantly pop up on Fox News. Not only that, but now they put an ad banner down at the bottom of the app so every time your thumb goes down there to scroll up to the next news article, it opens up another ad! So dang frustrating!!!!!
  12. [R12] FOX News 3/5 · US Need paid version: Does anyone actually click into these obnoxious ads? Accidental clicks are all that’s happening. Do you as the developers think this is effective other than people tolerating it?
  13. [R15] FOX News 1/5 · US Not a news app - it’s an ad app: If you don’t mind having ads take over the entire screen with each and every news story you click on you will be fine with this app… I am not fine with it
  14. [R23] FOX News 1/5 · US Annoying adds: Love the app, not so much the full page adds that pop up right in the middle of reading something
  15. [R67] CNN 2/5 · US Deleting app: Every time I try to read an article newsworthy it says I reached my free limit. DELETED!!!
  16. [R73] 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.
  17. [R94] 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
  18. [R106] CNN 1/5 · US Greedy: You can only read 5 articles until you have to become a paid subscriber to keep reading
  19. [R66] 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??
  20. [R91] CNN 1/5 · US Utterly Horrible: Doesn’t offer the actual news shows one finds on the CNN channel itself. Plays the same commercials 2, 3 or four times in a row, DURING THE VERY SAME COMMERCIAL BREAK!!! Then, continues to rotate commercials for HBO or CNN original programs six or seven times an hour. It’s as if they’re trying to sabotage HBO, because nothing makes me want to watch a show LESS than being force
  21. [R102] CNN 3/5 · GB Delivery of advertisements ruins this app: The forced delivery of advertisements, often the same ad over and over again, with a long delay involving a black screen during download, ruins this app. The news service is good, but the adverts make the app pretty much unusable.
  22. [R111] CNN 3/5 · GB Great channel, horrible adverts/App: In 15 minutes I have seen 7 times the same exact 14 second advert for IHG Hotels, so I had to switch channel… Otherwise like watching CNN!
  23. [R38] FOX News 4/5 · US Live TV watching: Cannot watch live TV feed. I get a Not Authorized message saying contact your provider. I have to go on Safari to foxnews.com and then I can log into Xfinity. If I go back to this app, I get the same message. I have no problem going back to Safari and watching there. IPad or iPhone, makes no difference.
  24. [R68] 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
  25. [R69] 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.
  26. [R76] CNN 1/5 · US Widget totally broken: The widget doesn’t work at all on iOS 26.
  27. [R78] 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