Is Apple News+ worth it in 2026?
Apple News+ bundles hundreds of magazines and several newspapers into one $12.99 subscription. Whether that's a bargain depends entirely on what you'd read. Here's what you get, what you don't, and who it's worth it for.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Yes, if you're on Apple devices and would otherwise pay for two or more of the magazines or newspapers it includes, or if you'd use the puzzles and recipes too. It's even better value inside the Apple One Premier bundle. No, if you mostly read free news, use Android, or want full access to one specific newspaper. Try the free month first and keep track of what you actually open.
What you get with Apple News+
The free Apple News app already gives you an edited feed of headlines from many outlets. News+ adds:
- 500+ magazines, newspapers and digital publications. Apple's own count includes newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle, plus hundreds of magazines across news, business, tech, lifestyle and hobbies.
- Puzzles. Daily crosswords and mini crosswords, Quartiles, sudoku and the Emoji Game, with an archive of past puzzles.
- Apple News+ Food. A recipe section with around 100,000 recipes from dozens of food publications, with a step-by-step cook mode and saved recipes.
- Audio stories. Narrated versions of selected articles, handy for commutes.
- Offline reading and Family Sharing. Download issues to read without a connection, and share the subscription with up to five family members at no extra cost.
What it costs
| Plan | US price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple News | Free | Headlines and free stories |
| Apple News+ | $12.99 a month | Everything above; free first month for new subscribers |
| Apple One Premier | $39.95 a month | News+ plus five other Apple services, including Apple Music, Apple TV, Arcade and 2TB of iCloud+, shared with family |
Prices are the US prices Apple listed in October 2026. News+ is only sold in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and prices differ in each.
Who it's worth it for
Worth it if…
- You'd pay for two or more included titles. At full price, a single major newspaper or a couple of magazine subscriptions can cost as much as News+ on their own.
- You'd use more than the news. If the puzzles replace another games subscription, or Food replaces a recipe app, the maths changes quickly.
- Your household is all on Apple. Family Sharing spreads the cost across up to six people.
- You already want Apple One Premier. If you'd buy most of the bundle anyway, News+ is effectively included.
Not worth it if…
- You mostly read free news. The free Apple News app, or any free aggregator, covers the headlines.
- You want one specific paper in full. Newspapers in News+ don't always offer their full output. If you rely on one title, its own subscription may serve you better.
- Anyone in your house uses Android or Windows. News+ only works on Apple devices.
- You live outside the four supported countries. It isn't sold anywhere else.
The catches
- Apple devices only. There's no Android app and no full web reader.
- Not every article from every paper. Newspaper coverage inside News+ can be a selection rather than the publisher's whole site.
- Magazines vary in layout. Some titles are designed for the app, while others feel closer to a digital copy of the print issue.
- It's still a firehose. Hundreds of titles is a lot of reading. Many people subscribe, read three of them, and stop.
Alternatives to Apple News+
- The free Apple News app: fine if headlines are enough.
- Google News: free on every platform, with the widest range of sources. Paywalls still apply when you click through.
- Particle: AI summaries drawn from many outlets, from free to $2.99 a month.
- Individual subscriptions: if you only read one or two titles, paying for them directly gives you full access.
- Implica (ours, so we're biased): instead of more to read, a short, curated set of the day's most important stories, each explained, with background, why it matters and the sources it draws on. It's on iPhone and Android, free for 14 days and then a subscription.
For a full comparison, see the best news apps in 2026 or our guide to Apple News and Google News alternatives.
Questions people ask
Can you share Apple News+ with family?
Yes. With Family Sharing, up to five other people in your family group can use your Apple News+ subscription at no extra cost.
Is Apple News+ available on Android?
No. Apple News and Apple News+ only work on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Does Apple News+ include The Wall Street Journal?
Apple lists The Wall Street Journal among its News+ newspapers. Access through News+ isn't necessarily the same as a full WSJ subscription, so if the Journal is the main reason you'd subscribe, compare the two.
How do I cancel Apple News+?
On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions, choose Apple News+ and tap Cancel. If you're on the free trial, cancel at least a day before it ends to avoid being charged.