Head-to-head
WHIO News vs Spectrum News
WHIO News
60
Winner
Spectrum News
Spectrum News
70
Spectrum News offers a slightly more reliable and less ad-heavy experience than WHIO News, despite both apps struggling with timely updates and occasional technical issues.
Full reviews: WHIO News · Spectrum News
Both WHIO News and Spectrum News are free news apps that provide local news and weather, but WHIO News is plagued by an excessive number of ads and frequent technical glitches, while Spectrum News, though not perfect, generally offers a cleaner user experience and more consistent performance.
Head to head
WHIO News WHIO News users appreciate the ability to listen to news and watch various channels, especially for local Montgomery County and Miami Valley area updates, and severe weather coverage R8. However, many complain about old stories, lack of sports updates, and difficulty finding real-time news R3R13R18. Some also note a lack of national news coverage and specific local information like pollen counts R15.
Spectrum News Spectrum News provides detailed weather information, including dew point and interactive radar with historical and projected views R62R77. Users value daily updates and relevant local stories . However, many users criticize the app for old, un-updated stories, lack of specific local news for certain areas (like San Diego), and a perceived political bias in reporting .
WHIO News WHIO News is heavily criticized for its user interface, with users reporting an overwhelming number of ads that block content, stutter, and interrupt reading R1R4R9R13. Notifications often lead to the app but not the specific story, and auto-playing unrelated videos are common R4. Some find it difficult to navigate to other stories after clicking a live one .
Spectrum News Spectrum News generally has a simple, clean layout and is described as a 'breeze to use' by some . However, a significant number of users find the app poorly designed, requiring frequent re-logging . Others report that the app doesn't appear organized and lacks sufficient detail . Some users also wish for features like a widget and landscape view on iPad .
WHIO News WHIO News users frequently report significant performance issues, including freezing, stuttering, and stories failing to load R6R12. Videos often don't work, play with offset audio, or lead to black screens R11. The app sometimes fails to launch or reports connection errors . Alerts often don't lead to the promised story, or the weather forecasts are inaccurate R5.
Spectrum News Spectrum News also faces reliability challenges, with reports of the app crashing or freezing, especially when tapping notifications or using Picture-in-Picture mode . Users sometimes click on stories that are unavailable or find no stories to read . Connection issues, such as being unable to connect or HTTP Proxy not supported errors, are also mentioned . However, some users praise its reliability and consistent updates .
WHIO News WHIO News is free to download, but the value is significantly diminished by the overwhelming number of ads, which users feel make the app unusable and frustrating R1R4R9R13. The ads often block content, auto-play, and require long waits before accessing news or weather R1R4.
Spectrum News Spectrum News is also free to download. While some users mention 'no irritating ads' , others complain about 'multiple repeat commercials' or 'too many commercials' . Some negative reviews are related to Spectrum's broader service costs, not specifically the app, which is free . The app's value is generally seen as good for local news and weather, despite occasional performance issues R77.
Pick WHIO News if
You are primarily interested in local news for Montgomery County and the Miami Valley area in Ohio, and you are willing to tolerate a high volume of ads and frequent app glitches for that specific local coverage .
Pick Spectrum News if
You prefer a news app with a generally cleaner interface and fewer intrusive ads, and you value detailed weather information, even if it means occasional app crashes or old news stories R77.
Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, so the 'free vs paid' asymmetry is not a major factor. However, the high volume of ads in WHIO News is a significant point of friction for its free users, whereas Spectrum News users complain less about ads.
Frequently asked
Does WHIO News have too many ads?
Is Spectrum News reliable for weather forecasts?
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.
- [R3] WHIO News Update: Often you run stories that are old. Same with the weather. I suggest you update more often. Thank you.
- [R8] WHIO News I love this app: Even if I can't watch the news it will still let me listen I like that feature and I love all the channels you can watch on the app.
- [R13] WHIO News Too many ads: The WHIO app is awful. The news is old and no one seems to know how to proofread! The lack of coverage on sports has been nonexistent. There should be an easy and in your face way to access WHIO of news in real time and it is difficult to find. It seems to be easier to upload storm/weather photos than it is to report accidents etc.
- [R15] WHIO News Mrs Jacobs: Can’t find pollen counts on your apps
- [R1] WHIO News Worst news app ever: I’ve never seen a worse app on any platform. It’s nothing but ads that block what you try to see, stutter, stop you reading a story, and just generally get in the way of anything you want to do. Whio used to be my go-to. Not anymore.
- [R4] WHIO News Horrible UI/UX and News Coverage: As a mobile developer I can attest to many of the comments on the user experience front. You receive a notification, tap on it, you are brought to the app but not the story, instead ads are everywhere takes forever to load and the auto playing of unrelated content is absolutely horrible. Good luck finding the arrival of the deep link isn’t valid. Don’t waste your
- [R9] WHIO News Advertising: To advertising ads when trying to look at site
- [R5] WHIO News Ok: I only have one problem with app I get alert about something and then when I go to it it’s not there
- [R6] WHIO News Average performance app: The app often paints the screen in a stuttering manner, loading some elements, then stalling out, then loading more text and photos, if it doesn’t freeze entirely. It makes you wonder if it’s loaded with all sorts of background scripts, trackers, etc.
- [R11] WHIO News It has developed some bugs: It used to be great, but now, I can’t forward any articles on the app to anyone, and the videos don’t work half the time.
- [R12] WHIO News App: Sometimes the screen goes blank. Trouble downloading stories. Sometimes when you scroll the story you pick won’t load. Won’t let me submit the review
- [R62] Spectrum News Love this!: I like being able to see detailed weather information like the dew point and I like watching the live video feed as well.
- [R77] Spectrum News Weather Radar is Excellent: I really like your interactive radar especially the history/present time view and the projected one time forecast which in my location have proven to be remarkedly reliable. Great job!
- [R110] Spectrum News Checking spectrum news local stories: Weather alert
- [R18] WHIO News News Announcements: Why do you keep posting the same stories over & over? It’s ridiculous! And a lot of the sports posts stay on for days instead of posting new ones.
- [R33] WHIO News Update: Update the site more often. I just looked at an article posted November 9.
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store