Boston.com

Review by eFreeware

Boston.com is the Android app from Boston Globe Media Partners, the publisher behind the Boston.com news site. It is a free download that gathers the outlet's reporting into a phone-friendly feed, and the main reason to consider it is convenience: local and national stories, weather, sports and entertainment from one source rather than several.

The app has been on Google Play since April 2011, which makes it one of the older news apps still receiving updates. A November 2025 release brought new branding, so the current version reflects a refreshed look rather than an abandoned project. With more than 50,000 installs and a 4.5 average from 817 ratings, it has a modest but apparently satisfied audience.

What you get in the feed

The core of the app is reading. Local, national, lifestyle and entertainment coverage comes from the outlet's own reporters. That mix means the feed is not limited to hard news; a reader can move from a city story to a culture piece without switching apps.

Alerts are the other half of the experience. The developer describes them as curated. For anyone who wants to keep up with Boston without checking a website through the day, that combination of a browsable feed and optional notifications is the practical appeal.

Weather updates are part of the package as well. It is a small addition next to the news coverage, but it fits the same idea: the things a Boston reader checks regularly, in one place.

Scores for the city's teams

Sports get their own emphasis. The app covers the city's four professional teams, which the developer presents as a headline feature rather than an afterthought. Scores are part of that coverage, so following a game result does not require a separate sports app.

For a Boston sports fan, this is likely the strongest argument for installing it. The teams are covered by the same newsroom that handles the rest of the app, and results sit alongside the stories rather than in a separate silo. I would expect that pairing to be the habit-forming part for many users.

What to keep in mind before installing

The app is free and supported by ads, and there are no in-app purchases to consider. That is a straightforward arrangement.

The focus is also narrower than a general news app. Coverage is built around Boston and its interests, with national stories included alongside the local reporting. It suits readers who want a steady flow of local and national reporting.

The content rating is Everyone, so nothing about the app's classification limits who can install it. The app has been updated recently enough that the current version is the one you would be installing.

A news app for readers with Boston on their mind

This is a good fit for people living in or from the Boston area who want one place for the city's news, weather and team results. It is equally reasonable for someone who follows Boston sports closely and wants scores alongside the reporting, or for a reader who wants a curated alert stream instead of an endless feed.

The trade-offs are the ones the app itself sets: advertising comes with the free download, and the coverage is organized around Boston rather than the wider world. If that matches how you follow the news, the app does the job without asking for much in return.

My recommendation is to install it if Boston is your reference point for news and sports. It is a focused, free companion to the site, and the recent branding update shows it is still being looked after.

What's new in version v5.12.19

New Branding!