Never in history has it been easier to access the news; simply check your smartphone or computer and you are bombarded with thousands of headlines from across the web.
Yet as the news becomes more polarized each day, how can we filter out all of the rubbish so we are left with only what interests us as readers? News aggregator sites, also known as content aggregators, were built to solve this exact problem.
In this article, we will go over four of the best news aggregators to present your personalized daily news. Also, we will introduce the new kid on the block; IFTTT, which has been changing the game by allowing users to customize their news feed beyond any other app.
What are news aggregators?
News aggregator tools like Google News, Apple News, Ground News, Flipboard, or Microsoft Start are all examples of digital tools that take articles from across the web and add them to a single source. You are presented with articles grouped by topics written by various news outlets that you can access via these apps or websites.
There are also news aggregation newsletters that pull together lists of top articles to send to your inbox. Industry-specific newsletters such as TLDR or MIT’s The Download can also be a great way to get your daily dose of news right to your inbox.
Why aggregate my news?
News aggregation is a great way to save time and present yourself with a variety of sources to beat news bias. Moreover, aggregating your news across multiple sources is extremely efficient, convenient, and can be completely personalized to suit your needs.
Each choice outlined below works great on it's own, but we will also cover later the ways in which IFTTT automations can make them even more useful.
What are the benefits of automating my news feed?
By leveraging advanced algorithms and machine learning, an automated news feed streamlines the process of staying informed by presenting you with the most relevant articles, videos, and updates in real-time.
Subscribing to an automated news feed service such as the ones below offers numerous benefits:
Personalized content
Receive tailored news based on your specific interests, ensuring that every piece of content is relevant and engaging.
Reduced information overload
Avoid being overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available online, as many news aggregator apps filter and organize content for easy consumption.
Curated sources
Rely on a handpicked selection of reputable sources, providing you with high-quality and trustworthy information.
Real-time updates
Stay up-to-date with the latest developments and breaking news in your areas of interest.
Having a completely customized news feed allows users to focus on their preferred categories, such as sports, politics, or entertainment, without being inundated with irrelevant content. Users can also save articles and focus on only the most interesting news for their own taste.
For example, sports enthusiasts can receive real-time scores, highlights, and analysis, while political aficionados can follow policy changes, election updates, and expert opinions.
The 4 Best News Aggregator Websites
Now, let us dive into our picks for the 4 best news aggregator websites. Some of them are offered only in website form, while others have mobile and desktop apps.
What makes a good curated news website?
A well curated news website excels in several key aspects to provide users with a valuable and engaging experience. Here are some essential elements that make a curated news website stand out:
Quality sources: A well-curated news website should gather content from reputable, reliable, and diverse sources to ensure the information presented is accurate and trustworthy.
Content curation: The website should effectively filter, organize, and present relevant content based on user preferences and interests, ensuring that users receive the most pertinent information.
User interface and design: A visually appealing, easy-to-navigate, and responsive design is crucial for enhancing user experience and ensuring that readers can easily find and consume the content they are interested in.
Personalization: A well-curated news website should offer personalization options that allow users to tailor their news feed according to their specific interests, ensuring they receive content that is most relevant to them.
For this comparison, each app will be evaluated based on key features that set it apart, user experience, app compatibility, and price.
Feedly
Key features: Feedly allows users to follow blogs, news websites, podcasts, and YouTube channels, organizing them into collections based on topics or categories. It also supports keyword alerts, filters, and integrations with third-party services like Evernote, Pocket, and IFTTT.
User experience: Feedly's clean and intuitive interface makes it easy for users to discover new content, organize their feeds, and read articles without distractions.
Mobile & desktop apps: Feedly offers a responsive web app, as well as native mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, providing a seamless experience across platforms.
Price: Feedly is available in both free and paid versions. The free version supports basic features, while the paid plans (Feedly Pro and Pro+) offer additional features, such as faster updates, premium fonts, and better integration with third-party services, starting at $6 per month.
Google News
Key deatures: Google News aggregates content from various news feeds and organizes it into sections like Top Stories, Local News, and personalized categories based on user interests.
The "Full Coverage" feature provides multiple perspectives on the same story, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
User experience: Google News offers a simple and user-friendly interface, with content presented in a card-like format that is easy to skim and navigate.
Mobile & desktop apps: Google News is accessible through its web app and mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
Price: Google News is a free service.
Flipboard
Key features: Flipboard presents content in a visually appealing, magazine-style format, allowing users to "flip" through articles and customize their feeds based on interests.
It also supports social media integration, enabling users to view and share content from platforms like Twitter and Facebook within the app.
User experience: Flipboard's unique magazine-like interface creates an engaging and immersive reading experience, encouraging users to explore and discover new content.
Mobile & desktop apps: Flipboard offers native mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, as well as a responsive web app for desktop users.
Price: Flipboard is a free service.
Panda
Key features: Panda is a news aggregator and productivity tool designed for designers, developers, and entrepreneurs. It curates content from various sources, including Dribbble, Behance, GitHub, and Product Hunt, and allows users to view multiple websites simultaneously in a customizable dashboard.
User experience: Panda's dashboard layout enables users to keep track of multiple sources at once, making it ideal for those who need to stay updated on industry-specific news and trends.
Mobile & desktop apps: Panda offers a Chrome extension and a web app, but it does not currently have a mobile app.
Price: Panda is available in both free and paid versions. The free version offers basic features, while the paid plan (Panda Pro) provides additional customization options and ad-free browsing, starting at $4.99 per month.
IFTTT as a news aggregator app
Still not convinced on what news aggregator site to use? Not to worry, as IFTTT offers a nearly endless amount of individual automation for each news site so that you can tailor your experience to the fullest.
We offer connections for Fox News, The New York Times, ESPN, BBC, United Nations, and many more. Some of our most popular Applets, or individual automation, include:
Get an email when there's breaking NASA news
Get alerts if there's disease outbreak news from the World Health Organization
Hacker News' best stories in a daily email
What is IFTTT?
IFTTT (If This Then That) is our web-based service that allows users to connect different apps, services, and devices to create automated chains of conditional statements called "Applets."
These Applets trigger specific actions when certain conditions are met and can be customized to automate various tasks, such as posting on social media, controlling smart home devices, or sending notifications.
IFTTT enables users to streamline their workflows, increase efficiency, and save time by automating repetitive tasks across multiple platforms.
Business
Best News Aggregator Websites and Apps
December 19, 2024
