Staying up-to-date on the latest stories is essential. But with endless platforms competing for your attention, it can be challenging to keep track of everything. This is where news aggregators come in. These websites and apps collect news from a variety of sources in a streamlined fashion so you don’t have to. But even among news aggregators, there’s competition. So which ones stand out?
1. Google News
Google News is perhaps the most well-known news aggregator, and for good reason. It’s incredibly easy to use and allows users to personalize their news feeds based on their interests. The site uses machine learning algorithms to curate stories, making sure that users get the most relevant news first. Google News also offers a “Full Coverage” feature, which presents various perspectives on a particular story.
One of the biggest advantages of Google News is that it sources content from thousands of publishers, ranging from major news outlets to local publications. The result is access to a wide array of perspectives and opinions, making it easier to get a more complete picture of what’s happening in the world.
2. Flipboard
Flipboard is another popular news aggregator that’s been around since 2010. Like other aggregators, users can choose from a wide range of topics and sources, and the app will curate news feeds based on your preferences. It also offers a social aspect, allowing you to share stories with friends and see what others are reading.
Notably, Flipboard is known for its visually appealing layout. Each story is accompanied by images in a scrollable format, much like a physical publication. This makes it the perfect app for those who miss the visceral experience of flipping through a hardcopy newspaper.
3. Feedly
If you enjoy customization, Feedly may be the news aggregator for you – and it’s a Mission to Learn favorite. Users can choose from a range of themes, layouts, and font sizes, making it easy to create a news feed that suits your preferences.
But that’s not all. Like most aggregators, Feedly allows you to subscribe to websites and blogs you’re interested in order to create a curated news feed. Yet it does so entirely through RSS feeds, a unique if somewhat forgotten avenue for accessing content online. As Yair Rosenberg of The Atlantic recently reminded us:
As long as we rely on social-media sites to curate what we read, we allow them to control what we read, and their interests are not our interests. Fortunately, there already exists a long-standing alternative that provides users with what social media does not deliver: RSS.
Rosenberg goes on to describe the many benefits of escaping the algorithmic biases of conventional social media in order to engage in some self-curation. Case in point: if you’re looking for a highly customizable way to stay informed, give Feedly a try.
4. PressReader
One of the best news apps on the market is PressReader. In exchange for a monthly subscription, you can say goodbye to paywalls. By subscribing to publications on behalf of its customers, PressReader gets you access to top publications like The Guardian, LA Times, Newsweek, and Forbes.
Add to this an accessible user interface that can be shared across multiple devices, and PressReader appears as one of the most professionally designed news aggregators out there.
5. Apple News
Apple News is a smart news app that closely mimics Google News in that it uses certain algorithms to curate news feeds based on a user’s interests. But one way in which it excels lies in its ability to personalize news feeds based on your reading habits. The app will learn what types of stories you gravitate towards and present more of that content over time, making customization less of a hassle.
The only downside to the app is its obvious limitation of only being available on Apple devices. That said, its monthly subscription is significantly more affordable than PressReader.
6. Reddit
This list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of what some have called “the front page of the internet.” While it may not be a news app, per se, Reddit is one of the oldest and best websites for aggregated online content. It takes some getting used to, but the dividends are high for those who are on the search for an aggregator that also functions as an online community.
Unlike some of the previously mentioned services, Reddit is nothing if not democratic. Through a system of “upvotes” and “downvotes” users collaboratively decide on the significance of content. The result is a real-time barometer of public opinion on news stories, as well as a lively comment section attached to each post.
However, Reddit’s true value comes from its eclecticism. Through the use of “subreddits,” the site offers specific pages for every imaginable topic—from electoral politics to your favorite band to niche academic debates. The result is a truly bottomless rabbit hole of content.
Happy aggregating!
