Microsoft News vs SmartNews
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Microsoft News aggregates top stories from a wide range of publishers, delivering personalized news feeds based on your interests and reading habits. The service integrates with Microsoft accounts to sync preferences across devices. Available on web and mobile, it offers a clean, ad-supported experience with optional notifications and the ability to follow specific topics, locations, and sources. It serves both casual readers and professionals who need quick access to current events.
SmartNews is a free news aggregation app that uses machine learning to surface the most relevant stories from a wide range of publishers. It organizes articles into categories and provides a clean, distraction‑free reading experience across devices. The app updates in real time, offers offline reading, and includes a "Smart Mode" that highlights trending topics tailored to your interests. SmartNews is available on mobile and web, making it easy to stay informed wherever you are.
- Free with broad content coverage
- Strong personalization using Microsoft account data
- Available on multiple platforms
- Integrated with Edge for seamless article viewing
- Free with no subscription fees
- Highly personalized content recommendations
- Offline reading capability
- Clean, distraction‑free UI
- Ads can be intrusive for some users
- Limited customization compared to premium news apps
- No built-in article saving beyond basic offline cache
- Limited customization of source selection
- No built‑in article commenting or social features
- No public API for developers
More alternatives & similar tools
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth apps are free news aggregators, but SmartNews focuses on a lightweight, ad‑light UI with offline reading, while Microsoft News adds cross‑device sync, broader platform integration, and a larger content ecosystem at the cost of ads.
Key differences
- •SmartNews offers offline article saving; Microsoft News only caches articles for later reading.
- •Microsoft News syncs preferences across devices via a Microsoft account; SmartNews does not sync.
- •Microsoft News integrates with Edge and Windows News widget; SmartNews has no listed integrations.
- •SmartNews presents a cleaner, ad‑light experience; Microsoft News includes ads with an optional premium ad‑free tier.
- •Support: SmartNews provides email only; Microsoft News adds community forums.
Pricing & value
Both are free; Microsoft offers an optional paid ad‑free tier not mentioned for SmartNews.
Ease of use / learning curve
SmartNews UI described as clean, ad‑light with adjustable text size, implying simpler onboarding.
Features & depth
Microsoft News adds account sync, publisher following, and Edge integration, giving deeper personalization.
Integrations & ecosystem
Microsoft News integrates with Edge and Windows News widget; SmartNews lists no integrations.
Collaboration
Neither app includes collaboration or sharing features beyond standard OS share sheets.
Support
Microsoft News offers email plus community forums; SmartNews only offers email.
Security & privacy
No information provided about open source, APIs, or specific privacy measures for either.
Choose Microsoft News if…
Users who value cross‑device sync, Edge integration, and broader platform support despite ads.
Choose SmartNews if…
Users who want a minimalist, ad‑light news app with offline reading and no need for cross‑device sync.
Common questions
Is there any cost to use either app?
Both are free; Microsoft News offers an optional premium ad‑free option not listed for SmartNews.
Can I read saved articles without an internet connection?
SmartNews supports offline reading; Microsoft News only caches articles for later access, not full offline saving.
Does the app sync my preferences across multiple devices?
Microsoft News syncs topics and preferences via a Microsoft account; SmartNews does not provide sync functionality.