With more than half Britons now owning smartphones and tablet computer sales rocketing – Press Gazette has carried out an audit of the UK’s leading national news providers to find out how ‘multi-platform’ they are.
Most newspapers have created an iPhone, iPad and Android app. While most iPhone and iPad apps only offer a free trial version and then require a subscription, most apps on Google’s Android operating system for tablets and mobile phones are free, with the exception of The Sun.
The Guardian and BBC’s iPhone apps are most rated by Apple users. However, taking into account ratings submitted by iPad and Android app users – the Mirror app is the most successful.
National news providers have different strategies when it comes to the reading experience offered to mobile website users.
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The Sun, Mail Online and Times – for instance – do not offer a mobile-optimised version of their website while The Guardian, BBC, Independent and the Telegraph do.
The Financial Times pulled its apps out of the Apple App Store in 2011 after losing a battle to control consumer data and instead created its own app for iPhone and iPad and for Android.
By adding up the various average scores submitted by iPhone, iPad and Android App users on the Apple Store and Google Play we’ve listed the top UK national news providers by popularity. Because the FT has its own platform we haven’t been able to give it a user-rating.
We also give publishers a bonus point if their website automatically resizes for mobile users (although some may intentionally offer a poor mobile browsing experience to encourage take-up of their apps).
Ratings are correct as of 15 January 2012.
1
iPhone:4.5/5
Price: free.
Comments: offers an App tutorial.
iPad: 5/5
Price: free.
Android: 4.4/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? Yes.
Total score: 14.9
2
iPhone: 4/5
Price: Free
Comments: offers a live radio.
iPad: 4/5
Price: Free
Android: 4/5
Price: Free
Mobile-friendly website? Yes.
Total score: 13
3
The Guardian (includes Observer)
iPhone: 3.5/5
Price: £3.99 for six months after a free two-week trial.
Comments: well designed to mimic website experience.
iPad: 4/5
Price: £11.99 per month.
Android: 4/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? Yes.
Total score: 11.5
4
iPhone: 3/5
Price: free
iPad: 3/5
Price: £4.99 per month.
Comments: free if you have a Sky News subscription.
Android: 4/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? No.
Total score: 10 (Sky News beats The Independent and Evening Standard because they have a better app rating)
5
iPhone: 3/5
Price: Free.
iPad: 4/5
Price: free.
Android: 2/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? Yes.
Total score: 10
5
iPhone: 3/5
Price: free.
iPad: 3.5/5
Price: free.
Android: 2.5/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? Yes.
Total score: 10
7
Mail Online (includes Mail on Sunday)
iPhone: 3/5
Price: Free 60-day trial, then £4.00 for 6 months.
Comments: offers an App tutorial.
iPad: 3/5
Price: £19.99 per year. Extra £4.99 a month for the Mail on Sunday.
Android: 3.8/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? No.
Total score: 9.8
8
iPhone: 2.5/5
Price: 14-week free trial, then £1.49 for a week.
Comments: requires confirmation the subscriber is 17 or older because of nude content.
iPad: 2.5/5
Price: £1.49 per week after a two-week trial.
Android: 4/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? No.
Total score: 9
9
The Independent (includes The Independent on Sunday)
iPhone: 2.5/5
Price: free
Comments: Ads pop up all the time.
iPad: 2.5/5
Price:£11.99 per month.
Comments: frequent ads pop-up.
Android: 3/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? Yes.
Total score: 9
10
iPhone: 3/5
Price: 30 days trial with limited content, then £2 a week for three months reverting to £4 a week
iPad: 3/5
Price: 30 days trial with limited content, then £2 a week for three months reverting to £4 a week
Android: 2.5/5
Price: 30 days trial with limited content, then £2 a week for three months reverting to £4 a week
Mobile-friendly website? No.
Total score: 8.5
11
The Telegraph (includes Daily and Sunday)
iPhone: 1.5/5
Price:£1.99 per month.
Comments: Ubiquitous ‘subscribe’ button.
iPad: 3.5/5
Price: £9.99 per month.
Comments: Free 30 day trial.
Android: 2.1/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? Yes.
Total Score:8.1
12
iPhone: 3/5
Price: £0.69
iPad: 3/5
Price: £4.99 per month
Android: 2/5
Price:£0.69
Mobile-friendly website? No.
Total score: 8
12
iPhone: 3.5/5
Price: 14-week free trial, then £2.49 per week.
iPad: 2.5/5
Price: £7.99 per month.
Android: 2/5
Price: free.
Mobile-friendly website? No.
Total score: 8
12
The Sunday Times (shares mobile apps with The Times)
Note: It is only possible to subscribe digitally too the Sunday Times via the digital pack which also gives access to The Times
Price: 30 days trial with limited content, then £2 a week for three months reverting to £4 a week
iPhone: 3/5
iPad: 2.5/5
Android: 2.5/5
Mobile-friendly website? No.
Total score: 8
15
The i
iPhone: no app
iPad:2/5
Price: £1.49 per week
Android: no app
Mobile-friendly website? Yes.
Total score: 3
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