Top 15 Most Popular News Websites | April 2024

Google News falls right behind Yahoo News in terms of popularity, which places it right on the number 2 ranking in our list. It is a news aggregator that collects stories and articles from other existing online portals into one platform.

Google News website will allow you to search for topics, locations, or sources you are looking for and let you further customize these search results by applying filters. You can also download it from App Store, or Play Store. 

Pros:

• Convenience: Google News aggregates news stories from a variety of sources, all in one place. This saves you time and effort from having to visit multiple news websites.
• Personalization: Google News can personalize your feed based on your interests, so you’re more likely to see stories that you’re interested in.
• Comprehensiveness: Google News covers a wide range of topics, so you can stay up-to-date on everything from local news to international affairs.

Cons:

• Bias: Google’s algorithms can sometimes bias the news that you see. It’s important to be critical of the information you consume and to seek out news from a variety of sources.
• Quality: Not all of the sources included in Google News are credible. Some sources may publish misinformation or propaganda.
• Limited Context: Google News often provides short summaries of news stories. This can make it difficult to understand the full context of a story.

3. CNN

CNN is one of the biggest news broadcasting networks around the world. In addition to news articles, CNN also provides live TV streaming, podcasts, and Live audio broadcasts. With more than 95 million monthly unique visitors, it is one of the fastest-growing news portals on the internet.

You can also find CNN on your App Store or Play Store. The website offers different editions of CNN such as US, International, Arabic, and Espanol.

Pros:

• Credibility: CNN is a well-established news organization with a reputation for accuracy and in-depth reporting.
• Variety of Content: CNN offers a wide range of news coverage, including breaking news, in-depth reports, and opinion pieces.
• User-friendly Website: The CNN website is easy to navigate and use, with a clean layout and clear organization of content.

Cons:

• Bias: Like most news outlets, CNN can have a bias in its reporting. It’s important to be aware of this potential bias and to consume news from a variety of sources.
• Limited Local News: CNN primarily focuses on national and international news. Local news coverage may be limited.
• Focus on Sensationalism: Some critics argue that CNN places too much emphasis on sensational stories and may not give enough attention to complex issues.

4. The New York Times

The New York Times is a newspaper that needs no introduction to Americans. Its online portal is also quite popular around the world, which makes it the third selection in our selection of top 15 news sites.

With over 1700 journalists reporting from around 150 countries, the New York Times provides domestic, national, and international news, and comprises opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. In addition to reading news and articles, you can also listen to audio programs, play games, and even find cooking recipes on the website. 

Pros:

• Credibility: The New York Times has a long history of journalistic excellence and is known for its in-depth reporting and fact-checking.
• High-quality Content: The Times offers a wide range of well-written articles, opinion pieces, multimedia content, and investigative journalism.
• Comprehensiveness: The website covers a broad spectrum of topics, including local, national, and international news, business, science, technology, and arts & culture.

Cons:

• Paywall: Most of The New York Times’ content requires a paid subscription.
• Liberal Bias: The Times has been criticized for having a liberal bias in its reporting, particularly on its opinion pages.
• Limited Local News: The Times’ focus is more on national and international news, with less emphasis on local news stories.

5. MSN 

MSN (Microsoft Network) is a collection of online services provided by Microsoft. It was launched in 1995 along with the release of Windows 95. It offers a variety of services including news, outlook mail, Skype, and Bing Search all in one platform.

MSN is a news aggregator like Google News that provides reports and stories on a variety of topics including entertainment, sports, money, lifestyle, health, and more. MSN is available in several languages including Spanish, and French. 

Pros:

• Convenience: MSN News offers a one-stop shop for news from various sources, saving you time and effort from visiting multiple websites.
• Personalization: You can personalize your news feed based on your interests, ensuring you see stories relevant to you.
• Comprehensiveness: MSN News covers a wide range of topics, keeping you informed on current events from around the world.

Cons:

• Bias: The selection of sources and algorithms used can influence the overall perspective presented, so be mindful of potential bias.
• Credibility: The credibility of news articles depends on the source itself, as MSN News curates content from various sources.
• Limited Context: MSN News often provides short summaries, making it challenging to grasp the full story. It’s recommended to visit the source for in-depth information.

6. Fox News

Fox News is an American news and media publisher, that started as a cable TV network in 1996. The digital platform of Fox News began in December 1995. It features news articles and videos about national and international news.

The news articles are usually based on the network’s broadcasts, reports from affiliates, and articles produced by other news agencies. Most articles on Fox News are accompanied by video footage to give you more context on the topic. You can also watch the live TV broadcast on the website. 

Pros:

• Conservative Perspective: Fox News is a major news source for viewers with conservative viewpoints, offering news and commentary aligned with those views.
• Popular Content: Fox News attracts a large audience and is known for its engaging content and personalities.
• Variety of Content: The website offers breaking news, in-depth reports, opinion pieces, and multimedia content.

Cons:

• Bias: Fox News has been criticized for bias in its reporting, particularly favoring conservative viewpoints and sometimes presenting unsubstantiated claims.
• Accuracy: The website has faced criticism for factual inaccuracies in some of its reporting.
• Limited Objectivity: Due to its focus on conservative viewpoints, Fox News may not present a well-balanced perspective on some issues.

7. NBC News

With about 63 Million unique visitors every month, NBC News occupies the 7th position in this list of popular news sites. NBC News is another American-based television broadcasting network like Fox News.

it covers national and international news of general interest using original and wire service reporting. It also provides video content from the network’s television division and other partner news networks. You can create a free profile on the website to get a more personalized experience. 

Pros:

• Credibility: NBC News is a well-established news organization with a reputation for reliable reporting.
• Variety of Content: The website offers a wide range of news coverage, including breaking news, live streams, in-depth reports, and feature stories.
• Multimedia Content: NBC News incorporates videos, photos, and infographics to enhance the storytelling experience.

Cons:

• Potential Bias: Like most news outlets, NBC News can have a bias in its reporting. Be mindful of this and seek out news from a variety of sources.
• Limited Local News: The website focuses more on national and international news. Local news coverage may be limited.
• Focus on Sensational Stories: Some critics argue that NBC News prioritizes sensational news over in-depth analysis.

8. HuffPost

HuffPost is an American news website with localized and international editions. It covers news and stories related to politics, business, entertainment, weather, technology, and more. HuffPost is available in many languages including English, French, Greek, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

The website was launched in 2005 as a commentary outlet, blog, and a liberal alternative to other news aggregators. Many users prefer the clean and distinctive layout of the HuffPost website over the cluttered look and crammed look of several of its competitors. 

Pros:

• Variety of Content: HuffPost offers a wide range of news and opinion pieces, including articles, blogs, videos, and podcasts, on a variety of topics.
• Focus on Progressive Viewpoints: HuffPost is known for its progressive perspective on current events.
• User-friendly Platform: The website and app are easy to navigate and use.

Cons:

• Bias: HuffPost’s content leans liberal, and some articles may lack objectivity.
• Credibility: The accuracy of some content can vary, as HuffPost publishes content from both journalists and bloggers.
• Sensational Headlines: HuffPost has been criticized for using sensational headlines that may not accurately reflect the content of the articles.

9. MailOnline

With an international readership, MailOnline becomes the number nine most popular news site in this compilation. The website features a broad mixture of international news and mainly focuses on entertainment news and controversies.

About a quarter of the entire traffic received by the website is purely to access the gossip stories in the entertainment industry. The website kind of has a tabloid-ish look to it, which some people tend to engage more with, but some might find it kind of off-putting too depending on the individual’s perception.

Pros:

• Variety of Content: MailOnline offers a wide range of news stories, including breaking news, celebrity gossip, entertainment, sports, and human interest stories.
• Engaging Content: The website is known for its attention-grabbing headlines and easy-to-read format.
• Large Audience: MailOnline is a popular news website, attracting a large readership worldwide.

Cons:

• Bias: MailOnline has been criticized for political bias, favoring right-wing viewpoints.
• Accuracy: The website has been accused of sensationalizing stories and publishing misleading or inaccurate information.
• Lack of Credibility: Some critics question the credibility of MailOnline’s journalism, particularly regarding investigative reporting.

10. The Guardian

With over 22 million international unique monthly visitors, The Guardian makes it into the top 10 of our picks. It is a UK-based newspaper majorly funded by its readers, which means that it is not owned or controlled by advertisers.

It provides independent reporting on news, sports, culture, and lifestyle. The website primarily uses a blue and red theme which gives the website an edgy look and it’s not filled with ads and sponsored content.

Pros:

• Credibility: The Guardian is known for its in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and focus on global news.
• Left-leaning Perspective: The Guardian offers a distinct perspective for readers interested in progressive viewpoints.
• Wide Range of Content: The website covers a broad spectrum of topics including news, opinion pieces, culture, and lifestyle articles.

Cons:

• Bias: The Guardian has a left-leaning editorial stance, which some readers may find biased.
• Limited Local News: The Guardian primarily focuses on international news, with less emphasis on local stories.
• Accessibility: Some in-depth content may require a paid subscription.

11. The Washington Post 

Our next pick is the American-born newspaper, The Washington Post. The newspaper launched its website in 1996. The website covers breaking news, investigations, analysis, videos, and photos about different topics.

It has a clean and well-organized home page with a pleasant black-and-white theme, giving the website the overall look and feel of a traditional newspaper. The Washington Post has over 47 million unique visitors every month, putting it at 222 on Alexa’s global ranking.

Pros:

• Credibility: The Washington Post is a well-respected news organization known for its in-depth reporting and fact-checking.
• Comprehensiveness: The website covers a wide range of topics, including local, national, and international news, politics, business, sports, and culture.
• High-quality Journalism: The Post offers well-written articles, opinion pieces, multimedia content, and investigative journalism.

Cons:

• Paywall: Most of The Washington Post’s in-depth content requires a paid subscription.
• Liberal Bias: The Post leans liberal in its reporting, particularly on its opinion pages.
• Limited Local News Coverage: The Washington Post’s focus is more on national and international news. Local news coverage may be limited.

12. The Wall Street Journal 

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is an American business and economic-focused newspaper. With a staggering 40 million unique visitors every month, the WSJ website is our number 12 pick.

WSJ online covers breaking news and current headlines from the US and around the globe. However, there is a higher emphasis on business and finance-related topics in The Wall Street Journal. You will find the live update of the stock market at the top of the website. 

Pros:

• Credibility: The Wall Street Journal is a trusted source for business and financial news, with a reputation for in-depth reporting and analysis.
• High-quality Content: The website offers exclusive articles, insightful commentary, and comprehensive market data from WSJ experts.
• Business Focus: The Wall Street Journal is a go-to source for professionals and investors seeking in-depth coverage of the financial markets and industry trends.

Cons:

• Paywall: Most of the Wall Street Journal’s content requires a paid subscription, which can be a barrier for casual readers.
• Limited Free Content: Free articles are generally shorter summaries or teasers, with restricted access to in-depth analysis.
• Business-oriented: The website’s focus is on business and finance, with less emphasis on general news or lifestyle content.

13. ABC News