SmartNews: Local Breaking News: News Aggregator App

SmartNews: Local Breaking News is a news and magazines app by SmartNews, Inc. that gathers local, political, sports and entertainment stories from many publishers.

SmartNews: Local Breaking News is a free news and magazines app by SmartNews, Inc. that collects articles from thousands of publishers and lets readers follow topics such as politics, sports, entertainment and health alongside stories tied to their location.

Developer: SmartNews, Inc.★ 3.75 (702,201)80 MBUpdated: Oct 27, 2026

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Screenshots

SmartNews home feed showing curated local breaking news stories and headlines.

SmartNews local news screen with weather, traffic, and community updates.

SmartNews politics coverage featuring election results and candidate analysis.

SmartNews rewards screen showing points earned from reading articles.

SmartNews SmartTake daily digest with light-hearted news summaries.

SmartNews travel section with destination tips and flight deal stories.

SmartNews entertainment tab highlighting movies, TV shows, and celebrity news.

SmartNews sports feed with game recaps, teams, and player updates.

SmartNews: Local Breaking News is a news aggregation app by SmartNews, Inc. that combines curated articles from premium publishers with location-based local coverage to help users stay informed across politics, entertainment, sports, health, and travel. It solves the problem of information overload and scattered news sources by offering a single feed of quality journalism from trusted outlets, personalized by topic and location. The app also addresses the challenge of staying engaged with news by rewarding daily reading with points that can be exchanged for gift cards or charitable donations. Through expert curation and award-winning editorial standards, it aims to deliver balanced, trustworthy coverage while letting users customize their experience around their interests and community.

Key features

Earn points for reading articles and completing daily reading missions, redeemable for gift cards or charity donations.
Get location-based stories from premium publishers covering local government, traffic, weather, politics, and school boards.
Access travel news with destination guides, flight deals, and tips from favorite publishers.
Follow election coverage across the political spectrum, including candidates, ballot measures, and verified reports.
Set notifications for favorite sports teams and see daily articles on games, players, and events.
Discover entertainment news about movies, TV shows, and actors, and follow topics to never miss a story.
Read health news on wellness, aging, mental health, and home remedies from top publishers.
Curate your feed based on topics of interest from outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, and USA Today.

How to install

Tap the download button on this page to get the APK file (80 MB).
When Android asks, allow your browser or file manager to install apps by enabling the 'Install unknown apps' setting.
Open the downloaded APK file from your notifications or Downloads folder.
Tap Install and wait for the process to complete.
Open the app from your home screen or app drawer.
Ensure your device runs Android 8.0 or higher to install and use the app.

Download SmartNews

Pros

Free to use with no upfront cost.
Rewards system encourages daily reading with redeemable points.
Local news tailored to your location from trusted publishers.
Broad topic coverage including politics, sports, health, and entertainment.
Award-winning editorial curation ensures quality content.

Cons

Contains ads that may interrupt reading.
In-app purchases are available for additional features or rewards.
Requests numerous permissions including location, camera, microphone, and storage.
Rewards program limited to US residents and may vary by region.

Latest changes

The latest update of SmartNews: Local Breaking News, released on October 27, 2026, focuses on performance improvements and bug fixes to enhance your reading experience. This version aims to provide a smoother and more reliable way to stay informed with quality journalism and curated news across local, political, entertainment, sports, and health topics.

Previous versions

Version	Size	Requires Android	Updated
7.4.0	17 MB	4.4	Jun 27, 2026
25.4.30	80 MB	8.0	Apr 23, 2025
24.8.35	62 MB	8.0	Aug 23, 2024

SmartNews is ideal for readers who want a single app to keep up with both national and local news without juggling multiple sources. It suits politically engaged users seeking balanced election coverage, sports fans who want team notifications, travelers looking for destination insights, and anyone interested in earning rewards for staying informed. The app also appeals to those who value curated, quality journalism from well-known publishers and prefer a customizable feed over generic headlines.

To maximize rewards, set a daily reading goal and complete missions consistently; also enable location access for more relevant local stories and adjust notification settings for your favorite teams to avoid overload.

Permissions

LocationPhonePhotos/Media/FilesStorageCameraMicrophoneWi-Fi connection informationDevice ID & call information

Frequently asked questions

How does the SmartNews rewards program work and who is eligible?

You can earn points by reading articles and completing daily reading missions, then redeem them for gift cards from retail brands or donations to charities. Eligibility requires being a legal resident of the 50 US states or the District of Columbia. The program may only be offered in certain US regions and can be limited, restricted, suspended, or discontinued at any time at SmartNews's discretion.

What kind of local news coverage can I expect from SmartNews?

SmartNews provides local stories from premium publishers based on your location. Coverage includes government, traffic, weather, politics, school boards, cultural events, hidden gems, restaurants, family-friendly activities, and summer farmer's markets.

Does SmartNews offer election and political coverage across the spectrum?

Yes, SmartNews prepares you for elections, polls, and debates with stories across the political spectrum from Democrat to Republican. It covers candidates, ballot measures, debates, results, and city council elections near you, plus voter information, campaign finance stories, verified election reports, and expert analysis.

Which publishers contribute content to SmartNews?

SmartNews features articles from publishers including Bloomberg, The Atlantic, USA Today, TIME, The Huffington Post, Bleacher Report, Quartz, The Verge, LAT, VOX, AP, Reuters, Buzzfeed, and Fast Company.

What permissions does SmartNews request and why might they be needed?

The app requests permissions for Location, Phone, Photos/Media/Files, Storage, Camera, Microphone, Wi-Fi connection information, and Device ID & call information. These permissions support features like location-based local news and offline reading, but the app's listing does not detail the specific purpose of each permission.

SmartNews offers a solid, free way to stay informed with quality journalism and local relevance, plus a unique rewards angle. While ads and permissions are trade-offs, its curated content and breadth make it a practical daily news companion.