The Guardian
by Guardian News & Media Ltd. · News & Magazines · Digital Publications
Independent journalism from The Guardian with global coverage, opinion, culture, and sport. Free to read, funded by readers.
Quick Answer: The Guardian has a verified Real Score of 4/5 based on 30,750 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.6/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 30,750 verified reviews
Gap Alert: The Guardian's App Store rating is 0.6 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Free with no paywall
- Excellent opinion writing
- Strong environmental coverage
- Reader-funded model preserves independence
Common Complaints
- Left-leaning perspective
- UK focus in some sections
- Contribution requests can be persistent
- Some articles lack depth
Verified Reviews (20)
Free quality journalism exists
The Guardian proves that quality journalism can be free. No paywall, no subscription required. Funded by reader contributions and it works. A model others should follow.
Environmental coverage is the best
Guardians climate and environment journalism is the most comprehensive and urgent in the industry. They treat the climate crisis with the seriousness it deserves.
Leans left noticeably
The Guardian doesnt hide its progressive perspective which I appreciate for honesty. But readers should know the editorial direction influences story selection and framing.
Long read section is exceptional
The Long Read features are consistently outstanding. In-depth journalism that takes the time to fully explore complex topics. Best long-form in the business.
Global South coverage
The Guardian covers the Global South with more depth and respect than most Western outlets. African, Asian, and Latin American perspectives are well represented.
Contribution requests are persistent
I understand they need funding but the popup asking for contributions appears every session. Once would be fine. Every time is annoying.
Opinion section sparks thought
The opinion and comment pieces are thought-provoking even when I disagree. The Guardian attracts excellent opinion writers who challenge conventional thinking.
Culture coverage is superb
Film, music, books, art - the Guardians cultural coverage is sophisticated and accessible. The arts criticism is the best of any news outlet.
Sport beyond American leagues
For international sport coverage, especially football/soccer, cricket, and rugby, the Guardian is excellent. Broader sporting coverage than American outlets.
App design is clean
The app is well-designed with a clean layout that puts content first. Easy navigation and a pleasant reading experience. One of the better-designed news apps.
UK domestic news is irrelevant
As an American, about 30% of the content is UK domestic news I dont care about. The international and US content is great but the UK focus is expected.
Investigative journalism wins awards
Panama Papers, Snowden revelations, Windrush scandal - the Guardian breaks stories that matter. Award-winning investigative journalism that changes the world.
Podcast offerings are excellent
Today in Focus and other Guardian podcasts are high-quality audio journalism. The podcast integration in the app is smooth and adds value.
Headline editorializing
Headlines sometimes editorialize more than the article content. A more neutral headline approach would better serve readers who want to form their own opinions.
Reader-funded model is the future
The Guardians model of free access funded by voluntary contributions is sustainable and ethical. Ive been a monthly contributor for 3 years. Journalism worth supporting.
Data journalism innovations
The interactive data visualizations and multimedia storytelling push boundaries of digital journalism. The Guardian invests in innovation that enhances understanding.
Comments can be toxic
The comment sections under articles can be hostile and unproductive. Better moderation or disabling comments on divisive topics would improve the experience.
Food and recipe content
The food section with recipes and restaurant reviews is enjoyable. Not a dedicated cooking app but a nice bonus alongside the news content.
Accessible to all
Making journalism free and accessible to everyone regardless of ability to pay is an important democratic function. The Guardian lives its values.
Well-rounded news source
Between news, opinion, culture, sport, and environment, the Guardian offers a complete news diet. One of the most well-rounded publications available.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026