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

Spectrum News vs AL.com

Spectrum News 4.7★ · Free to download 75
Winner Spectrum News
AL.com 4.5★ · Free to download 45

Spectrum News is the better choice for users seeking reliable weather information and a generally smoother app experience, while AL.com struggles with frequent crashes and paywalls.

Full reviews: Spectrum News · AL.com

Spectrum News offers a generally positive user experience with strong weather features and consistent updates, though some users report issues with local news coverage and app stability. AL.com, while praised for its content, is significantly hampered by frequent app crashes, intrusive ads, and extensive paywalls that lock most articles.

Head to head

Features (News & Weather Content) edge: Spectrum NewsR2R5R17R27
Spectrum News Spectrum News is highly praised for its detailed weather information, including dew point and interactive radar with historical and projected views R2R17. Users appreciate the live video feed and daily updates R2R5. However, some criticize the lack of specific local news for certain areas and outdated stories R27.
AL.com AL.com is valued for its comprehensive state and local news, weather, and sports coverage . Users find the content informative and timely . However, some users note a lack of updates for certain newsfeeds and difficulty finding specific information like COVID-19 updates .
Ease of Use & Reliability edge: Spectrum NewsR6R16R24R33
Spectrum News Spectrum News generally has a simple, clean layout and is easy to use R6. However, users frequently report issues with the app crashing or freezing, especially when tapping notifications or using picture-in-picture (PiP) mode R24R33. There are also complaints about needing to constantly log in R16R49.
AL.com AL.com is plagued by significant usability issues, with many users reporting the app is buggy, freezes constantly, crashes frequently, and is painfully slow to load and navigate R61. Some also mention ads covering content and making articles difficult to read .
Price/Value edge: Spectrum NewsR10R61R64R67
Spectrum News Spectrum News is free to download and users do not report encountering paywalls for content within the app. Some general complaints about Spectrum's service costs exist but are not tied to the app itself R10.
AL.com AL.com has a significant issue with paywalls, with many users expressing frustration that most articles are locked and require a subscription, costing around $5 a month or $99.99 a year R61R64R67R76. Users feel this diminishes the value of the free app.
Bias/Objectivity tieR4R22R34R43
Spectrum News Spectrum News faces criticism for perceived political bias, with some users stating it leans left or is biased against certain political figures R4R22R34R43.
AL.com AL.com also receives complaints about political bias, with users stating it leans left and that articles often conflate fact with opinion . However, some users praise it for being a non-extremist and unbiased source .
Pick Spectrum News if

you prioritize detailed weather information, a generally stable app experience without paywalls, and local news (though coverage can vary by region) R2R6R17.

Pick AL.com if

you are specifically looking for Alabama-centric news, weather, and sports, and are willing to tolerate frequent app issues, intrusive ads, and paywalls for most articles .

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, but AL.com's user experience is heavily impacted by its aggressive paywall strategy, which many users find frustrating for a 'free' app. Spectrum News, while also having some negative reviews regarding app stability and content, does not have the same paywall friction.

Frequently asked

Does AL.com require a subscription?
Yes, AL.com requires a subscription to read most articles, with users reporting costs around $5 per month or $99.99 per year R61R76R100R105.
Are there issues with app stability for Spectrum News?
Yes, Spectrum News users report issues with the app crashing, freezing, or requiring frequent re-logins, particularly when tapping notifications or using picture-in-picture R16R24R33R49.
Which app has better weather features?
Spectrum News has better weather features, with users praising its detailed information, interactive radar, and live video feeds R2R17.

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] Spectrum News 5/5 · US 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.
  2. [R5] Spectrum News 5/5 · US Great: I really like Spectrum News. Updates throughout the day
  3. [R17] Spectrum News 5/5 · US 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!
  4. [R27] Spectrum News 3/5 · US Lack of Local News: Where is San Diego news? We ARE NOT LA! We have our own government, our own sports, our own issues. Lack of San Diego specific news is very disappointing to say the least. It seems you think we are part of LA. On the contrary, we are the third largest metro area in the state of California. It’s way past time for Spectrum realizes that!
  5. [R6] Spectrum News 3/5 · US OK News: Slightly Better than fake news and no irritating ads. And you get local weather. The app has a simple clean layout and is a breeze to use. The best I have found. Thanks Spectrum.
  6. [R16] Spectrum News 1/5 · US Waste of time. Always a problem, either you’re logged out, don’t have the absolute latest version: One STUPID app. Every time I use it makes me log in again. This app does not retain my login status, waste of my time. Very poor design.
  7. [R24] Spectrum News 3/5 · US Crashes: When I tap on a notification the app opens and then crashes ( closes) or it freezes now 2/13/25
  8. [R33] Spectrum News 3/5 · US PiP crasher: Unstable connection, especially if reduced to PiP. Very likely to freeze and crash. If PiP is interrupted in any way, (1/2second signal interruption; hit pause; headphone/earphone falls out; phone call; alert/alarm) PiP instantly ends and closes and it takes more than half a minute to restart the live video in any form. In full screen it may freeze and lag behind before continuing. T
  9. [R10] Spectrum News 1/5 · US Too costly: Spectrum costs too much. Spectrum did a software update in the middle of snowstorm leaving people without tv, phone, basically stranded for hours. Little respect for senior citizens
  10. [R61] AL.com 1/5 · US Buggy and paywalled: This app has been buggy for a very long time. It crashes a lot. Most of the articles are behind an outrageously overpriced paywall.
  11. [R64] AL.com 1/5 · US Not worth it!: AL.com tries to bait you into subscribing by giving just a little bit of an article without giving up your personal information and agreeing to pay. This is not an honest way of doing business.
  12. [R67] AL.com 1/5 · US Every other story locked: I deleted the app because every other story you click it’s locked and says sign up to Al.com to read story. I have enough of my information sold to spammers without you having my email address to send more. I have 3 other news apps where you can read every story they show.
  13. [R4] Spectrum News 1/5 · US Creepy news host: What’s with that guy who hosts your news? Keeps talking about gop lead shrinking. Is he part of the voter scam too.
  14. [R22] Spectrum News 2/5 · US Bias: Spectrum love for democrats is made so obvious in the news.
  15. [R34] Spectrum News 1/5 · US Bias: Spectrum News seems unable to breathe a single word absent bias against President Trump. Almost every sentence conflates fact with opinion. It seems your writers either don’t know how to report information distinct from opinion or, they think all of us out here can’t tell the difference. I’m beginning to believe that almost everyone who writes in the public square has this thing that has com
  16. [R43] Spectrum News 1/5 · US One sided articles.: Your news articles are rather one sided including your news network on cannel 6 news.
  17. [R76] AL.com 1/5 · US Used to be a good app: They want $5 bucks a month now for old news. No thank you
  18. [R100] AL.com 1/5 · US Don’t bother!: Unless you want to pay $99.99/year which is more than I pay for “The Athletic” then don’t bother. Every single story seems like you’re required to pay for it now, guess the ads and popups don’t generate enough. Just deleted the app after about 15 years!!!
  19. [R105] AL.com 1/5 · US Have to pay: Have to pay view articles
  20. [R49] Spectrum News 1/5 · US Anthony: Absurd we have to keep signing in each time to read a local story.

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