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

USA TODAY vs CNN

USA TODAY 4.5★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner CNN
CNN 4.8★ · Free + IAP 70

CNN has a slight edge over USA TODAY due to its higher lifetime rating and generally more positive user feedback on content and reliability, despite both apps struggling with subscription and ad issues.

Full reviews: USA TODAY · CNN

Both USA TODAY and CNN offer news content, but CNN generally receives higher lifetime ratings and is praised for timely and informative coverage. USA TODAY struggles significantly with persistent ad display issues for paid subscribers and app functionality problems, while CNN faces criticism for its paywall limiting free content and widget functionality.

Head to head

Content and Coverage edge: CNNR2R5R8R9
USA TODAY USA TODAY users appreciate its broad, compact, and fair coverage, including state-by-state headlines and deep analysis R2R5R8R11. Some users enjoy the entertainment and sports sections, though others find the sports section disappointing or too prominent R9R18. There are also complaints about political bias and a lack of local coverage .
CNN CNN is praised for timely news coverage, keeping users informed about world events, and providing honest, in-depth reporting . Some users appreciate its balanced approach to news, especially internationally . However, some find the content too video-heavy, preferring text , and there are complaints about political bias .
Ads and Paywalls tieR3R6R10R12
USA TODAY USA TODAY users, especially paid subscribers, are highly frustrated by persistent pop-up ads, full-page ads, and scam advertisements despite paying for an 'ad-free' experience R3R6R10R12. Many feel the paid subscription is not worth it due to the overwhelming ad presence R10.
CNN CNN users frequently complain about paywalls that limit the number of free articles, making the app feel useless or like clickbait . There are also complaints about repetitive and frequent ads, especially in video content, even for subscribers .
App Functionality and Reliability tieR4R14R18R19
USA TODAY USA TODAY users report numerous functionality issues, including articles not loading, text overflowing, blank pages, videos failing to play (ads play but content doesn't), touch screen unresponsiveness, and difficulty opening the app R4R18R19. Recent updates have reportedly ruined the app for some R14R19.
CNN CNN users experience significant problems with widgets not working or displaying blank content R61R63R68R72. Other issues include the app freezing, videos crashing or starting halfway through, and audio hijacking . Some users also report a poor user experience for paid features, such as not resuming videos or difficulty finding saved stories .
Subscription Management and Support tieR3R7R16R33
USA TODAY USA TODAY subscribers frequently encounter issues with their subscriptions not being recognized, being locked out of content, or having difficulty restoring purchases R3R7R16R33. Some are charged full price despite promotional offers R33. Canceling subscriptions is also reported as difficult .
CNN CNN users also face subscription recognition problems, being locked out, or needing to re-verify their TV provider daily . There are complaints about inability to access content on multiple devices and some users report good support response for subscription issues .
Ease of Use and Interface edge: USA TODAYR1R9R11R20
USA TODAY USA TODAY is generally described as easy to navigate and well-laid out, with an appealing format R11R20. Some users appreciate features like voice activation for articles . However, there are complaints about annoying Jeopardy notifications R1 and an inefficient sports section layout R9.
CNN CNN's app design is appreciated by some , but others find the interface frustrating, especially with audio controls that stop background music . Some users desire a dark mode and better accessibility settings . The need to sign in daily is also a common frustration .
Pick USA TODAY if

You prioritize a generally easy-to-navigate interface and a broad overview of national and state news, and are willing to tolerate significant ad interruptions even with a paid subscription R11R20.

Pick CNN if

You seek timely, in-depth news coverage, especially for international events, and are prepared to pay for a subscription to bypass frequent paywalls .

Evidence note: Both apps receive a high volume of negative recent reviews, particularly concerning subscription and ad experiences, which contrasts with their higher lifetime ratings. The free-vs-paid asymmetry is evident, as many negative reviews for both apps stem from limitations or frustrations experienced by non-paying users or those who feel their paid subscription doesn't deliver the promised ad-free experience.

Frequently asked

Do USA TODAY and CNN offer ad-free experiences for subscribers?
USA TODAY subscribers frequently report that they still encounter numerous pop-up and full-page ads, including scam advertisements, despite paying for an 'ad-free' subscription R3R10R22R25. CNN also has complaints about repetitive ads, even for subscribers, though the primary frustration for CNN users is the paywall limiting free articles .
Are there issues with widgets for either app?
CNN users frequently report that their widgets are broken, showing up as blank boxes or not displaying any content, especially after recent updates R61R63R68R72. USA TODAY reviews do not mention widget issues.
Do these apps have problems with subscription recognition?
Both apps have significant issues with subscription recognition; USA TODAY subscribers often get locked out or have difficulty restoring purchases R3R7R16R33, while CNN users report needing to re-verify their TV provider daily or being unable to access content on multiple devices .

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] USA TODAY 5/5 · US Awesome: Great Coverage
  2. [R5] USA TODAY 5/5 · US Useful and helpful news: Compact and fair coverage of today's events. Especially enjoy the state-by-state headlnes
  3. [R8] USA TODAY 5/5 · US USA Today is where it’s at: I receive updates on breaking news. The writers do deep analysis. Sometimes links are provided for further reading!
  4. [R9] USA TODAY 3/5 · US Sports Section Dissappointing: I miss being able to select the sports league I want to follow in the sports section on the main page. Now I have to click the left side arrow through multiple leagues and individual game score to try to get to the league I want which is completely inefficient and has me looking for a new site. Please redesign.
  5. [R3] USA TODAY 3/5 · US Ad Free?: I’m so tired of having to restore my iTunes purchase of my subscription. Seriously? You can’t write the program to do that automatically? In the latest release I can’t even get the restore to actually work. Advertising everywhere. BTW, in ad free I would expect that also included removing the TIPCO advertising masquerading as sports information. Right. Get rid of this type of advertisin
  6. [R6] USA TODAY 3/5 · US Pop up ads: Pop up ads keep appearing. Should not happen with a subscription.
  7. [R10] USA TODAY 1/5 · US Paid subscription is not worth the money…: So I subscribed to USA Today service hoping for a better experience. Yes I do get to read articles marked "For Subscribers Only" but there really weren’t that many and a majority of them were not of interest to me. So there are so many ads it’s actually hard to follow the gist of the article. You read a paragraph of news and then there is a half page
  8. [R12] USA TODAY 3/5 · US Good News Source, but: Though somewhat left leaning, USA Today is a good source for news stories. Unfortunately, the app allows advertisements from known scammers offering simple cures for Alzheimer’s that doctors don’t want to tell you about. The adds attribute such amazing cures to famous physicians and TV personalities who in reality have disputed such claims. Shameful. How many people who are
  9. [R4] USA TODAY 1/5 · US Poor layout: Text overflows onto itself when reading an article preventing legibility. Known issue that publisher isn’t fixing with app.
  10. [R14] USA TODAY 4/5 · US Update ruined it: Forced me to update iPad version. Totally ruined this app with the update. Deleting.
  11. [R18] USA TODAY 3/5 · US Great news but occasional issues with the app: I like the content for USA TODAY. I can get all the NFL sports news. I think it offers the best lifestyle content with important news, but not just all politics or negative. A concern though is I’ve had a lot of issues with the app sometimes I can’t see anything at all. you just get a blank page That’s frustrating.
  12. [R19] USA TODAY 1/5 · US Touch screen only works for 5 out of 100: Since the last update when I touch the screen above an article I want to read it does not work When you get it fixed let me know then I might reload the app
  13. [R7] USA TODAY 2/5 · US Subscription: I’ve been a subscriber for 8 years or so. My subscription is always without ads. About once a year I get locked out saying this section is for subscribers only. The app recognizes me but asks to restore purchases. When I click the link it doesn’t work. This is only with my iPhone. I move to my iPad and everything seems fine.
  14. [R16] USA TODAY 1/5 · US Subscription problems: I find it difficult to enjoy your publication because it is driving me crazy trying to figure out my login/subscription info. I believe you are deducting $9.99 from my account each month (whatever happened to the 99c I was supposed to be charged?)….I have been paying the $9.99/mo but I get a message that I do not have an active subscription! I spend ,15 -30 minutes trying
  15. [R33] USA TODAY 3/5 · US Infuriating: I’ve had the app for sometime, but this takes the cake. It’s always been pretty mediocre. I have attempted to buy one of their subscription promotions twice. Both times to be charge full price even though they are really pushing this promo. The “tell us why” link won’t load. In settings the feedback link won’t work and as far as I can tell there is no way to open it a separate browse
  16. [R1] USA TODAY 1/5 · US Jeopardy notifications: I had to block all notifications to get rid of annoying Jeopardy news pop-ups
  17. [R11] USA TODAY 5/5 · US SkippyAir: Excellent coverage of news from all over the world, which includes a very expansive viewpoint as well! The format is easy to navigate, very appealing, and very informative. Definitely a first rate news company!🤓
  18. [R20] USA TODAY 5/5 · US Easy to catchup on the world overview: Well layed out since past online glitches have been worked out.
  19. [R22] USA TODAY 2/5 · US Stop with the full page pop ups without warning!: I'm a paying customer. These full page pop-ups which appear when I'm in the middle of reading an article are ridiculous! I'm going to give the devs free advice: 1) don't show pop-ups when someone is reading an article, at least wait until the go back to the aggregated headlines screen. 2) show a little countdown at the top of the screen informing t
  20. [R25] USA TODAY 1/5 · US Beware of scam advertisements: This legitimate news app includes advertisements that are scams. I realize newspapers like USA Today run on very tight budgets snd need ad revenue, but it is a disservice to their subscribers to run advertisement which, when looked into closer, appear to be scams. Very, very disappointing and a good reason to NOT renew.
  21. [R61] CNN 1/5 · US Widget totally broken: The widget doesn’t work at all on iOS 26.
  22. [R63] 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.
  23. [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
  24. [R72] 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