News app screenshots with a solid background
One flat colour behind everything. A flat colour leaves the words and the screen as the only things to look at.
From the top 98 free News apps on the US App Store, read on October 9, 2026. Screenshots are the developers’ own, shown from Apple’s servers with a link to each app.
The numbers
Apps that do it
54% 53 of 98
Screenshots that do it
39% 202 of 517
The top ten
7 of 10 against 46 of the other 88
202 of the 517 News screenshots read (39%) do this, across 53 of the top 98 apps (54%). 7 of the top ten do it (70%), against 46 of the other 88 (52%): the top ten do it more than the rest. Of the 23 categories read so far, News is 11th for this. It is most common in Food & Drink (68% of apps) and least common in Games (20%).
12 examples from the chart.
12 of the 202 News app screenshots with a solid background, one from each app, the highest on the chart first.
“Be the first to know.”
“The heart of the internet”
“Listen to First- Responder Audio”
“Read, watch, chat”
“Join over 100 million neighbors”
“Get lifesaving, real-time alerts”
“The app for every today.”
“Breaking News”
What these screenshots say, word for word.
The words on 40 of the 174 that carry any, as each app wrote them.
“Be the first to know.”
X · #1 · screenshot 1“The heart of the internet”
Reddit · #2 · screenshot 1- Public-safety dispatch audio. Not an official report.
“Listen to First- Responder Audio”
CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio · #3 · screenshot 2 “Read, watch, chat”
Substack · #4 · screenshot 1“Join over 100 million neighbors”
in 345,000 neighborhoodsNextdoor: Neighborhood Network · #5 · screenshot 1“Get lifesaving, real-time alerts”
Citizen: Safety & Live Video · #7 · screenshot 1“The app for every today.”
NYTimes: US and Global News · #9 · screenshot 1“Watch Live”
Local 10 + Platinum · #12 · screenshot 5“Breaking News”
Stay connected to the stories that matter.The Wall Street Journal News · #18 · screenshot 1“THE WHITE HOUSE”
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMPThe White House · #19 · screenshot 5“Join 1.5 million Christians already trusting our news”
The Pour Over · #20 · screenshot 1“Add locations”
to receive the alerts most relevant to youAwareCA · #21 · screenshot 1“Millions of people making neighborhoods safer, together.”
Neighbors by Ring · #22 · screenshot 1“Hear the top stories of the day, curated by NPR”
NPR: National & Local News · #23 · screenshot 1“World leading journalism all in one place.”
BBC: World News & Stories · #25 · screenshot 1“Get local news from your community”
Google News · #27 · screenshot 2“talk or just listen in”
ask to speakClubhouse · #28 · screenshot 3“The Associated Press”
Advancing the Power of FactsAP News · #33 · screenshot 1“Reuters Pure news. From the source.”
Reuters - Breaking World News · #36 · screenshot 1“Discover content tailored to your interests”
Quora · #37 · screenshot 2“Read in-depth reporting and cultural commentary.”
The New Yorker · #40 · screenshot 2“Unlimited Access”
All of our journalism, on any deviceThe Atlantic Magazine · #41 · screenshot 3“Watch Newsmax Live”
Newsmax · #42 · screenshot 2“Context changes everything.”
Bloomberg: Business News Daily · #44 · screenshot 1“Go beyond breaking news in minutes.”
The Economist: News & Analysis · #45 · screenshot 1- Welcome to
“DAILYWIRE”
Daily Wire · #47 · screenshot 1 “TOP STORIES AND BREAKING NEWS”
Award-winning journalism and trusted analysis from NBC NewsNBC News: Breaking & US News · #53 · screenshot 1“Stream”
Live TVCNBC: Stock Market & Business · #54 · screenshot 6- The Washington Post
“News happens fast. Don't miss a beat.”
Washington Post: Breaking News · #56 · screenshot 1 - Welcome to
“FEED”
FEED Mobile · #59 · screenshot 1 “A much better core viewing experience.”
20,000+ 5 Star ReviewsNarwhal for Reddit · #63 · screenshot 1“The world's leading global business publication”
Financial Times: Business News · #64 · screenshot 1“BREAKING NEWS AS IT HAPPENS”
GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTSCBS News: Live Breaking News · #65 · screenshot 2“A universe of content within reach.”
Thousands of newspapers and magazines. One app.PressReader: News & Magazines · #75 · screenshot 1“Market-Moving Stock Picks”
Stock picks handpicked by Barron's experts.Barron’s - Investing Insights · #76 · screenshot 2“Fearless, independent journalism.”
The Guardian - US & World News · #80 · screenshot 1“Fearless Journalism.”
Epoch Times: Live & Breaking · #81 · screenshot 1“NO CABLE LOGIN REQUIRED ENJOY UNLIMITED ENTERTAINMENT ON FREECABLE TV!”
2000+ TV SHOWS, MOVIES, & NEWS CHANNELS ALL IN ONE APP!FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows · #82 · screenshot 1“A new app experience from Boston Herald”
Boston Herald · #83 · screenshot 1“Haz escuchar tu voz en la comunidad”
Súmate al equipo de Prensa Abierta y comparte tus ideas con miles de lectoresPrensa Abierta · #85 · screenshot 3
Top ten News apps that do it.
- #1X6 of its 6 screenshots
- #2Reddit6 of its 6 screenshots
- #3CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio2 of its 4 screenshots
- #4Substack6 of its 6 screenshots
- #5Nextdoor: Neighborhood Network6 of its 6 screenshots
- #7Citizen: Safety & Live Video6 of its 6 screenshots
- #9NYTimes: US and Global News5 of its 6 screenshots
The same tactic in other categories.
| Category | Apps that do it | Screenshots | Top ten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & Drink | 68% 68 of 100 | 48% 257 of 540 | 9 of 10 |
| Medical | 68% 68 of 100 | 48% 265 of 548 | 4 of 10 |
| Education | 65% 65 of 100 | 40% 221 of 555 | 8 of 10 |
| Shopping | 63% 63 of 100 | 47% 264 of 562 | 8 of 10 |
| Finance | 60% 60 of 100 | 41% 240 of 581 | 7 of 10 |
| Business | 58% 58 of 100 | 37% 207 of 554 | 4 of 10 |
| Developer Tools | 58% 58 of 100 | 36% 183 of 507 | 7 of 10 |
| Travel | 58% 58 of 100 | 38% 211 of 561 | 5 of 10 |
| Photo & Video | 57% 57 of 100 | 42% 235 of 566 | 8 of 10 |
| Navigation | 57% 56 of 99 | 36% 206 of 566 | 7 of 10 |
| News | 54% 53 of 98 | 39% 202 of 517 | 7 of 10 |
| Productivity | 43% 43 of 99 | 34% 189 of 551 | 5 of 10 |
| Lifestyle | 43% 43 of 100 | 29% 160 of 556 | 5 of 10 |
| Utilities | 43% 43 of 100 | 25% 135 of 549 | 5 of 10 |
| Social Networking | 42% 42 of 100 | 30% 167 of 554 | 6 of 10 |
| Reference | 39% 39 of 100 | 27% 152 of 566 | 4 of 10 |
| Health & Fitness | 38% 38 of 100 | 26% 148 of 574 | 4 of 10 |
| Music | 38% 38 of 100 | 27% 149 of 550 | 7 of 10 |
| Graphics & Design | 37% 37 of 99 | 23% 129 of 564 | 4 of 10 |
| Sports | 32% 32 of 100 | 17% 96 of 558 | 3 of 10 |
| Weather | 30% 30 of 100 | 14% 75 of 555 | 6 of 10 |
| Entertainment | 25% 25 of 100 | 13% 73 of 544 | 2 of 10 |
| Games | 20% 20 of 100 | 12% 69 of 567 | 2 of 10 |
Related tactics.
Often on the same screenshot
- Serif headline27% of these screenshots, against 15% of all News screenshots
- Black, white or grey51% of these screenshots, against 41% of all News screenshots
- Headline on one line17% of these screenshots, against 9% of all News screenshots
- A photograph65% of these screenshots, against 60% of all News screenshots
- Headline readable at thumbnail size32% of these screenshots, against 27% of all News screenshots
- Has a subline30% of these screenshots, against 26% of all News screenshots
More in look
- Black, white or grey60%
- Light58%
- Background is the icon’s colour56%
- Gradient background53%
- Blue50%
- Dark50%
- A word in a different colour43%
- High contrast words34%
- Low contrast words26%
- Orange18%
- The app itself is the background18%
- Serif headline16%
- Pattern or texture14%
- Photo background14%
- Red13%
- Teal9%
- Green7%
- Rounded headline type7%
- Yellow5%
- Purple4%
- Pink3%
- Condensed or display type1%
Questions, answered from the chart.
How many top News apps have App Store screenshots with a solid background?
53 of the top 98 News apps (54%) have at least one, and 202 of their 517 screenshots (39%) do it. Counted from the US App Store’s top free chart on October 9, 2026.
Which News apps have App Store screenshots with a solid background?
In the top ten: X (#1), Reddit (#2), CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio (#3), Substack (#4), Nextdoor: Neighborhood Network (#5), Citizen: Safety & Live Video (#7) and NYTimes: US and Global News (#9). Further down the chart: Local 10 + Platinum (#12), Squawster - Police Scanner (#13), 5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner (#17), The Wall Street Journal News (#18) and The White House (#19), and 41 more.
Should my News app have App Store screenshots with a solid background?
The chart shows who does it, not whether it would work for your app. 7 of the top ten News apps do it (70%), against 46 of the other 88 (52%), so the top ten do it more than the rest. Ten apps is a small group, so read that as a description of this chart and not as a rule.
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