Google Play Newsstand: 7 Facts About the Discontinued App
Simran Mishra
Google Play Newsstand launched on November 20, 2013, after Google merged Google Play Magazines and Google Currents into one app.
Newsstand was more than a news reader. Users could buy individual magazine issues and subscribe to publications directly through the service.
The app mixed publisher content with topic-based feeds and personalized recommendations, helping users find articles based on their interests.
Google Play Newsstand also supported digital magazine formats, including print-style editions that could be downloaded for reading without an internet connection.
Newsstand was not limited to Android. Google also offered a dedicated iOS app, allowing iPhone and iPad users to access its news and magazine content.
Publishers had their own Newsstand Producer tools. These helped them manage layouts, advertising, geographic access, and readership information.
Google announced the next step in May 2018. Newsstand was merged into the redesigned Google News app, which introduced features such as “For You” and “Full Coverage.”
The shutdown happened in stages. The Newsstand app moved into Google News in May 2018, while the Newsstand section on Google Play remained until November 2018.
Google later ended paid print-replica magazine subscriptions and single-issue purchases in January 2020. Active subscribers were offered refunds as the service reached its final stage.