Magzter GOLD vs Apple News+: Which Is Better for Gifting?

Magzter GOLD: The Cross-Platform Value King

Magzter GOLD is the world's largest digital newsstand with 7,500+ magazines and newspapers from publishers worldwide. Launched in 2011, it's earned 4.6/5 stars on iOS (9,500+ reviews) and 4.2/5 on Android. At just $59.99/year, it costs less than half of Apple News+ while offering 25x more publications.

What Sets Magzter Apart

• Unbeatable value: $59.99/year vs Apple's $155.88/year. That's $96/year in savings—enough to buy additional gifts or subscriptions.
• Works on ALL devices: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and web browser. Unlike Apple News+ (Apple-only), Magzter follows you everywhere. Perfect for mixed-device households.
• 7,500+ magazines: 25x more titles than Apple News+. From Vogue and National Geographic to niche hobbies, international publications, and local newspapers.
• 60+ languages: International publications in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, and dozens more. Apple News+ offers just English, French, and Spanish.
• Family sharing for 4: One subscription covers up to 4 family members. Everyone gets their own account and reading history.
• Android-friendly: If the recipient uses Android, Magzter is the only choice—Apple News+ doesn't work on Android at all.

Magzter Considerations

• No curated news feed: Magzter is a digital newsstand—you browse and read magazines/newspapers. It doesn't curate breaking news articles like Apple News+ does.
• Interface less polished: Magzter's app is functional but not as elegant as Apple's design. Some users find the magazine browsing experience cluttered.
• No premium newspapers: While Magzter includes newspapers, it doesn't offer The Wall Street Journal like Apple News+ does.

Apple News+: The Curated Apple Experience

Apple News+ launched in 2019 as an extension of Apple's News app. It combines 300+ magazines with curated news articles from hundreds of publishers, plus access to The Wall Street Journal. With 4.5/5 stars (50,000+ reviews), it's beloved by Apple users who want news and magazines in one beautifully designed app.

What Sets Apple News+ Apart

• Curated news feed: Beyond magazines, Apple News+ includes breaking news articles from top publishers (CNN, The Atlantic, Wired, etc.) in a personalized, algorithm-driven feed. Plus audio stories narrated professionally.
• The Wall Street Journal: Full access to WSJ—normally $39/month on its own. This alone can justify Apple News+ for business professionals.
• Beautiful design: Apple's trademark polish. Magazines are reformatted for optimal reading on iPhone/iPad with smooth page turns and elegant typography.
• Seamless Apple integration: Works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with perfect syncing. Reading progress, saved articles, and preferences follow you across devices.
• Family Sharing up to 5: One subscription covers up to 5 family members via Apple Family Sharing. Everyone gets personalized recommendations.
• Longer free trial: 1-month trial vs Magzter's 7 days. More time to evaluate before committing.

Apple News+ Considerations

• Apple devices ONLY: No Android, no Windows, no web access. If the recipient owns a Samsung phone or Windows laptop, Apple News+ is useless to them.
• Much more expensive: $12.99/month with NO annual discount. That's $155.88/year—2.6x more than Magzter.
• Fewer magazines: ~300 magazines vs Magzter's 7,500+. Limited selection, especially in niche categories or international titles.
• Limited languages: English, French, Spanish only. No international publication variety like Magzter.

Winner by Use Case

Platform Compatibility: The Deciding Factor

This comparison often comes down to one simple question: What devices does the recipient own?

• If they own ANY Android device → Magzter is the only option. Apple News+ literally does not work on Android.
• If they own ANY Windows PC → Magzter offers a native Windows app + web access. Apple News+ only works on Mac.
• If they're 100% Apple ecosystem → Both work, but Apple News+ integrates seamlessly. Choice depends on whether they want curated news (Apple) or maximum magazine variety (Magzter).

Value Comparison

Let's break down the cost-per-magazine-access math:

• Magzter GOLD: $59.99/year ÷ 7,500 magazines = $0.008 per magazine/year
• Apple News+: $155.88/year ÷ 300 magazines = $0.52 per magazine/year

Magzter offers 65x better value per magazine. Even accounting for Apple News+ including curated news articles and WSJ, Magzter is objectively the better value for most people.

Ease of Gifting

Both can be gifted digitally:

1. Magzter GOLD can be purchased as a subscription and shared via login credentials, or you can buy a Magzter gift card. 7-day trial lets the recipient test before your gift activates.
2. Apple News+ is gifted via Apple's gift subscription system (requires Apple ID). 1-month trial provides more evaluation time. Can be shared via Family Sharing.

Our Recommendation for Gifting

For most gift-givers, Magzter GOLD is the better choice. At $59.99/year, it costs less than half of Apple News+ while offering 25x more publications that work on every device. If the recipient owns any non-Apple devices (Android phone, Windows laptop), Magzter is the only option that works.

Choose Apple News+ if the recipient is deeply embedded in Apple's ecosystem (iPhone + iPad + Mac), wants curated news articles beyond magazines, or reads The Wall Street Journal regularly. The elegant design and seamless Apple integration justify the higher price for die-hard Apple users.

Either way, you're giving someone unlimited access to hundreds or thousands of magazines—a gift that keeps giving all year long. Most people spend $5-10 per magazine at newsstands. This gift pays for itself after the first few reads.