Life

The 15 Best Apps Grown-Ass People Use To Stay Informed About Current Events & News

These days, keeping up with the news can feel like a part-time job. There's so much going on, and it's all happening so fast. But if you download a news app or two, your life can be easier. Whether you want to stay up-to-date on breaking news, read in-depth articles, or merely catch a few headlines, there's an app out there that'll suit your needs and help you stay more informed.

And, if there ever was a time to keep up with the goings on of the world, it's now — even if the news is stressing you out. Things definitely haven't been easy since 2016, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to check out. While you're certainly entitled to take a break — and it can even be healthy to do so — staying aware of current events is important.

When it comes to certain apps, you can establish a balance between keeping informed, and being overloaded with every development of current events. By tailoring your app, you can get the news how and when you want it. Do you want to check headlines in the morning while you drink coffee? Or sit down and read a few lengthy article before bed? Or maybe something in between? It all counts, and it'll all keeps you up-to-date. Here are a few news apps that can help you do just that.

1

Flipboard

Flipboard is a free news aggregator app designed for iPhone and iPad. After choosing which topics you'd like to see — news, politics, business, sports, etc. — Flipboard pulls relevant news stories from social media, photo sharing sites, and other news sites and organizes it all into a "magazine format," which you can then flip through. Pretty cool, right?

2

Pocket

Pocket comes in handy when you don't have time to read a news story now, but want to catch up on it later. According to iTunes, you can save "articles, videos, recipes, and webpages you find online or from your favorite apps." And then access them from your phone, tablet, or computer. The app works with iOS, Android, and Blackberry.

3

Feedly

Another great news aggregator app, Feedly, "can easily organize all your publications, blogs, YouTube channels, and more in one place ... No more zig zagging. All the content comes to you in one place, in a clean and easy-to-read format."

4

SmartNews

SmartNews is the app you want when it comes to breaking news. It's partnered with the likes of TIME and USA Today to bring you trending news stories, so you'll always knows what's up.

5

BBC News

BBC News works with iOS and Android, and will bring you all the latest news from "trusted global network of journalists," according to iTunes. You can get top stories from the US and around the world, and also customize it to focus on the topics you care about most.

6

Inkl

Another one that'll work for both iPhone and Google folks, Inkl prides itself on supplying its users with quality journalism, sans advertisements. The only catch is it isn't free.

After a one month free trial, you'll be asked to select a membership plan in order to continue having full access. According to iTunes, "If you don't choose a plan, you will still be able to view headlines and follow article links out to some available news sources after your trial ends."

7

Google News

By now we all know and love Google News. But do you have the app on your phone? If not, you're missing out on personalized headlines, and news from over 75,000 publications.

8

Nuzzel

If it often feels like you're too busy to stay on top of the news, Nuzzel is for you. As noted on Business Insider, "It creates a news feed based on what your friends are reading and sharing in other social media and what their friends are sharing. The result is amazingly interesting: You get a feed of headlines that feel much closer and more relevant to what you're interested in, because they're being tweeted or shared by friends, family, and coworkers." Sounds awesome, right?

9

The New York Times

Where better to get news than from an actual, world-renowned newspaper? The New York Times app features news alerts, morning and evening briefings, exclusive videos, and access to award-winning photography, so you'll always know what's up.

10

Inoreader

Inoreader can be set up to read "similar to your morning newspaper," iTunes noted. It allows you to subscribe to news feeds, share on social media, and even has a day/night reading mode. Perfect for catching up on your saved articles while lying in bed.

11

AP Mobile

Whether you need local, national, or global headlines, the AP News app is where it's at. By The Associated Press, it features a feed of developing stories depending on your interests, as well as custom alerts and curated news content.

12

Newsroom

Yahoo's Newsroom app is a great one for getting updates, breaking news, and watching news unfold live. According to iTunes, the app also offers "made-for-mobile daily video series and trending topics [to] help you stay on top of the day’s headlines." And, it learns your preferences the more you use it, so the news you receive will feel always tailor-made.

13

Breaking News

Breaking News brings you news stories in real time from the likes of CNN, Reuters, MSNBC, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. It offers a scrolling news feed of breaking news headlines — which you can customize — and a handy night reading mode, too.

14

Reddit

For both iOS and Android, the Reddit app offers "infinite scroll, autoplay GIFs, and the fastest-loading interface of any Reddit app," according to iTunes. You'll get a lovely interface with all the best content Reddit has to offer, including access to trending topics and breaking news.

15

News360

News360 works for both iOS and Android, and is another personalized news app —after you use it for a while, it'll start to learn what interests you, and provide you with related stories. As noted on iTunes, the app has "a beautiful interface that allows you to quickly scan headlines, preview stories, and dive deep into the content."

Depending on what you're looking for, there's likely an app for you. Do you want breaking news? Info that's tailored to your tastes? Or simply a few quick headlines to keep you updated? Then give one of these a try, and you'll be the most informed person around.