Finding a news website can be quite difficult because there are hundreds of websites, apps and social media pages all competing for attention. Some readers prefer breaking news while others look for business reporting, local stories, investigations, politics, sports or international coverage. The biggest news websites in the USA often cover several of these areas at the time.

The digital news market looks different from newspapers and television. Established broadcasters such as CBS News and NBC News now compete online with newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post while first platforms have built large audiences without depending on print editions.

I have put together this list of the Top 10 News Websites in the USA to highlight well‑known news brands with a strong U.S. presence. The ranking looks at the available audience figures where comparable data exists, along with national reach, history, range of coverage and the size of their digital operations. This list does not rank which outlet has the accurate or trustworthy reporting because readers may have different preferences.

1. Fox News

Fox News has created one of the online audiences among news companies in the United States. Its website works with Fox News Channel. Gives news about U.S. Topics, politics, business, fun, daily life and games.

Founded: 1996

Headquarters: New York City, New York

Latest Revenue: Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed

Latest Net Income: Brand-level net income not publicly disclosed

Main Services: News website, television news, video, podcasts and digital content

Fox News Channel started on October 7 1996. Its online part has become a big part of Fox’s news business.

Recent numbers show that Fox News Digital is near the top of the U.S. News market. According to numbers from Comscore in September 2026 Fox News Digital had 76 million people visiting on computers and phones in August. This number is higher than CBS News, NBC News, The New York Times, CNN and ABC News.

Fox Corporation, the parent company, reported $17.13 billion in sales for the year 2026.. This number includes all the company’s businesses, like TV, sports, entertainment and Tubi. It is not the same as the sales for Fox News.

2. CBS News

CBS News is one of the major news groups in the United States and has grown far beyond regular TV. Its online part includes CBSNews.com, streaming news, local places, podcasts and videos.

Founded: 1927

Headquarters: New York City, New York

Latest Revenue: Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed

Latest Net Income: Brand-level net income not publicly disclosed

Main Services: National news, local news, streaming, podcasts and television

CBS started with a radio group in 1927. Built a news service early in American broadcasting.

Today, CBS News and Stations brings together CBS News, 28 TV stations that the company owns CBS News Streaming Network, local digital places, CBSNews.com and CBS News Radio. Paramount says that its streaming services had over 1.24 billion plays in 2023 across local services.

In August 2026 CBS News had about 70 million people visiting on computers and phones according to numbers from Comscore shared by Fox News.

3. NBC News

NBC News has the reach of a TV news company and a big online part. NBCNews.com covers news, politics, world topics, business, health, science, fun and more.

Founded: 1940

Headquarters: New York City, New York

Latest Revenue: Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed

Latest Net Income: Brand-level net income not publicly disclosed

Main Services: Television news, website, video, podcasts and digital journalism

NBC News started on February 21 1940 when NBC started what is known as the regular TV news show in the United States.

The company now works as part of NBCUniversal News Group. Its news part has grown an online presence with long-running shows like Today, NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press.

Numbers from Comscore for August 2026 show that NBC News had about 65 million people visiting on computers and phones. This puts it among the visited big news companies in the United States that month.

4. The New York Times

The New York Times has changed from being a newspaper into a big digital business that depends on subscriptions. Its website covers news from the United States and around the world as well as business, technology, culture, games, science and daily life.

Founded: 1851

Headquarters: New York City, New York

Latest Revenue: $2.82 billion, FY2025

Latest Net Income: $343.98 million, FY2025

Main Services: News, digital subscriptions, podcasts, games, cooking and other digital products

The newspaper first came out in 1851, which gives the company one of the histories among big American news companies. The New York Times Company had $2.825 billion in sales and $343.98 million in profit in 2025.

The company no longer depends on selling papers. Digital subscriptions have become very important for the company. By the end of 2025 the company had 12.78 million subscribers according to its full-year results.

The Times also gets readers through products, like games, cooking and audio.

5. CNN

CNN is another news company in the United States with a big online presence. Its website covers news, U.S. And global topics, business, games, health, technology, fun and travel.

Founded: 1980

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Latest Revenue: Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed

Latest Net Income: Brand-level net income not publicly disclosed

Main Services: Television news, website, streaming, video and digital journalism

Ted Turner started CNN on June 1 1980 making a 24-hour TV news channel. CNN later made an online part with CNN.com coming out in 1995.

The company says that CNN Digital often has more than 150 million different people visiting around the world each month. Its TV part in the United States reaches millions of homes.

In August 2026 CNN had about 56 million people visiting on computers and phones according to numbers, from Comscore shared by Fox News.

6. The Washington Post

The Washington Post is still a force in American journalism. It is especially known for its reporting, deep investigations and coverage from Washington, D.C. The website has become a part of how the organisation reaches its audience.

Founded: 1877

Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

Latest Revenue: Not publicly disclosed

Latest Net Income: Not publicly disclosed

Main Services: U.S. news, world news, politics, business, investigations, opinion and digital media

The Washington Post was started by Stilson Hutchins in 1877. It began as a four-page newspaper in the nation’s capital. Over time it grew into a national news organisation with a big digital presence.

The website covers a range of topics. There is news about the government, national politics, science, technology, culture and local news in Washington. The Post has won awards for its journalism. Since the Pulitzer Prizes began more than 70 of them have been won by the staff and affiliates of The Washington Post.

One measure of traffic from a party Semrush shows that washingtonpost.com had about 48.61 million visits in August 2026. 78% Of that traffic came from the United States.

7. USA TODAY

USA TODAY takes an approach than some of the more specialized political or financial news outlets. Its website gives a mix of national news, sports, entertainment, money, lifestyle, travel and local stories. This is made possible through a network of newspapers.

Founded: 1982

Headquarters: McLean, Virginia

Latest Revenue: $2.30 billion, FY2025 for USA TODAY Co.

Latest Net Income: $1.75 million, FY2025 for USA TODAY Co.

Main Services: National news, local news, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and digital media

USA TODAY started in 1982. Later it became part of a media company that owned hundreds of local publications. In November 2025 the parent company changed its name to USA TODAY Co.

The company reported its results for 2025. Total revenue was $2.302 billion. Net income for USA TODAY Co. Amounted to $1.749 million. These numbers include the company, not just the usatoday.com website.

The company also said it had an average of 186 million visitors across its USA TODAY Media and Newsquest segments during 2025.

8. ABC News

ABC News is a standing broadcast news organisation. It has built a digital operation over the years. Its website offers breaking news, coverage of the U.S. And world events, politics, health, business, entertainment and video content.

Founded: 1945

Headquarters: New York City, New York

Latest Revenue: Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed

Latest Net Income: Brand-level net income not publicly disclosed

Main Services: Television news, website, video, streaming and podcasts

ABC News grew from the American Broadcasting Company. Its television news programming began in the 1940s.

Today the digital side works with TV shows and streaming services. This makes it easy for people to switch between articles, updates and videos.

Comscore figures reported by Fox News say ABC News had about 29 million visitors on desktop and mobile in August 2026. A separate estimate from Semrush had abcnews.com at 27.99 million visits that month.

9. NPR

NPR offers a kind of news experience compared to big commercial TV networks. It is an organisation. It works closely with radio stations across the United States. It has also built an online presence and a large podcast audience.

Founded: 1970

Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

Latest Revenue: Not publicly disclosed in a comparable current public filing

Latest Net Income: Not publicly disclosed

Main Services: News, radio, podcasts, digital journalism and cultural programming

NPR was formed in 1970. The first programme All Things Considered began in 1971. Today the organisation works with hundreds of member stations around the country. NPR says that 99% of people in the U.S. Live within the broadcast area of a public radio station.

The website is one part of how people access NPR news. Podcasts, mobile apps, radio programmes and member stations all help audiences find the content they want.

10. The Hill

The Hill has built an online audience by focusing heavily on Washington, Congress, government, policy and national politics. Its digital-first strategy sets it apart from older newspaper brands.

Founded: 1994

Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

Latest Revenue: Not publicly disclosed

Latest Net Income: Not publicly disclosed

Main Services: Politics, government, policy, business, video and digital news

The Hill was founded in 1994. It started as a newspaper concentrating on Capitol Hill. It later expanded its operations. In 2021 Nexstar Media Group bought The Hill for $130 million. At the time WTOP said the site had 48 million monthly users, based on Comscore data.

The site’s traffic is still strong. Semrush estimated that thehill.com had 24.24 million visits in August 2026. 90% of the traffic came from the United States.

Its focus gives The Hill an identity in the U.S. Government and policy reporting.

Top 10 News Websites in USA: Comparison

Rank	Company/Brand	Founded	Latest Revenue	Main Products/Services
1	Fox News	1996	Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed	News, television, video, podcasts
2	CBS News	1927	Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed	News, streaming, TV, podcasts
3	NBC News	1940	Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed	News, TV, website, video
4	The New York Times	1851	$2.82B, FY2025	News, subscriptions, podcasts, games
5	CNN	1980	Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed	News, television, streaming, digital
6	The Washington Post	1877	Not publicly disclosed	News, investigations, digital media
7	USA TODAY	1982	$2.30B, FY2025*	News, sports, lifestyle, local media
8	ABC News	1945	Brand-level revenue not publicly disclosed	News, television, streaming, video
9	NPR	1970	Not publicly disclosed	News, radio, podcasts, digital
10	The Hill	1994	Not publicly disclosed	Politics, government, policy, digital news

What Should You Check Before Choosing a News Website?

There is not a news website that works for every reader. The better approach is to look at what you need from a news website. Someone who follows breaking U.S. News may like a broadcaster with coverage while another reader may want detailed investigations, business reporting or international journalism.

It can also help to compare how different news websites report the event. Look at whether an article separates reported facts, analysis, opinion and commentary. For subjects checking more than one established news website can give you extra context.

Readers should also think about subscription costs, newsletters, mobile apps, podcasts and the topics they follow often. The size of a news website’s audience does not automatically tell you whether its coverage will suit your needs.

Conclusion

The U.S. News website market contains a mix of television networks, newspapers, nonprofit media organisations and digital-first publishers. Some have been around for decades while others built their audiences through the internet.

Recent audience data shows how large the digital operations of the news websites have become. At the time their business models vary widely from advertising and broadcasting to subscriptions, memberships and nonprofit support.

For readers the useful part is having several established news websites available. Comparing coverage, checking the reporting and understanding the difference between news and opinion can make online news easier to navigate.

FAQs

1. What are the top news websites in the USA?

Some of the best-known U.S. news websites include Fox News, CBS News, NBC News, The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, USA TODAY, ABC News, NPR, and The Hill. Audience size changes over time, so rankings can vary depending on whether visits, unique users, or another measurement is used.

2. Which U.S. news website has the largest digital audience?

According to Comscore figures reported for August 2026, Fox News Digital reached 76 million visitors across desktop and mobile, followed by CBS News with 70 million and NBC News with 65 million. These numbers represent one month and a specific measurement, so they should not be treated as a permanent ranking.

3. Is The New York Times a news website?

Yes. The New York Times operates one of the major digital news websites in the United States. Its website covers international news along with business, technology, culture, sports, and other subjects. The New York Times Company also operates digital products such as Games and Cooking.

4. Is CNN still a news website?

Yes. CNN continues to run a digital news website alongside its television network. Its website covers U.S. and international news, politics, business, sports, health, technology, and entertainment. Comscore figures reported for August 2026 put CNN at 56 million unique visitors across desktop and mobile.

5. Which news websites offer free content?

Most major news websites offer some free articles, although the amount available without a subscription varies. News websites may use registration limits, paywalls, or subscription plans. Readers should check each news website’s access rules because these can change over time.

6. What is USA TODAY known for?

USA TODAY blends reporting with sports, entertainment, lifestyle, money, and local journalism. It is also part of a media organization with a wide network of local publications. The company reported $2.3 billion in total revenue for 2025, covering its broader business rather than just the website.

7. What is NPR known for?

NPR is a media organization known for radio journalism, podcasts, and digital news. It works closely with member public radio stations across the United States. Its coverage includes international news, culture, science, business, and other subjects, with its content distributed across radio and digital platforms.

8. Is The Washington Post a political news website?

No. Although Washington and U.S. government coverage are important parts of The Washington Post, its website also publishes world news, business, technology, science, culture, sports, and lifestyle content. The organization has operated since 1877 and has built a large digital operation alongside its traditional newspaper.

9. Which news website is best for breaking news?

That depends on what type of breaking news a reader follows. Television-based organizations such as CNN, Fox News, CBS News, NBC News, and ABC News have news operations, while newspapers and digital publishers may provide more written analysis and updates. Comparing coverage across multiple sources can be useful.

10. Why do news website rankings change?

Digital audiences can shift from month to month due to news events, search trends, social media traffic, elections, sports events, and changes in how people consume news. Rankings also depend on the measurement used. Unique visitors, visits, page views, and engagement measure different aspects of an audience and can produce different rankings.