The Observer: News & podcasts v3.0.10
TortoiseAbout this app
Developer Description
Independent journalism since 1791 — investigations, culture, podcasts & puzzles
Join the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper in a new digital home for modern readers to enjoy every day of the week.
Since 1791, The Observer has gone beyond the headlines — questioning power, exploring ideas, and celebrating the things that make life worth living.
Now, with the new Observer app, you can experience the full depth of our journalism in one beautifully designed space — from investigations and essays to podcasts, puzzles and live events.
Why download The Observer app:
• Unlimited access to world-class journalism
Read in-depth investigations, sharp political analysis and cultural commentary that cut through the noise. Our journalists bring clarity, depth and context to the stories shaping our world.
• Exclusive podcasts and audio features
Hear the trusted voice of The Observer in a growing library of podcasts. From weekly news roundups to special series like The Salt Path, our audio journalism brings you closer to the stories that matter.
• Insightful newsletters
Get the sharpest analysis and exclusive stories delivered straight to your inbox. Stay informed about global events and inspired by ideas, food, travel and culture.
• Puzzles and the original cryptic crossword
Enjoy moments of focus and escape with our digital puzzles. From brain teasers to our famously tough cryptics, The Observer’s crosswords have challenged and entertained readers for over a century.
• Live events and book clubs
Meet the journalists, authors and thinkers shaping our world. Attend live podcast recordings, in-depth debates and Observer Book Club conversations — online or in person.
• Culture, ideas and inspiration
Discover the best writing on art, music, food and travel — and celebrate the ideas and creativity that make life worth living.
Independent thinking, trusted journalism
As a subscriber, you’ll join a growing community of curious, engaged readers who value integrity, independence and thoughtful debate. Together, we support journalism that informs, challenges and inspires.
Since 1791, The Observer has been the newspaper that questions authority, celebrates innovation and connects people through ideas. Today, our app continues that mission — in print, in audio, and in real life.
Download The Observer app today
Stay informed. Find inspiration. Support independent journalism.
Experience The Observer — trusted, intelligent and full of life — every day of the week.
What's New
In-app purchases
$20.99 - $189.99 per item
Version Information
- Version
- 3.0.10
- Downloads
- 10K+
- Updated on
- Jan 7, 2026
- Released
- Mar 29, 2019
- Requires
- Android 7.0
Statistics
Google Play Rating History
Rating Distribution
Downloads Over Time
The Observer: News & podcasts has been downloaded times. Over the past 30 days, it averaged downloads per day.
Shaded area shows 30-day prediction based on historical trends
Historical data collection started recently. More data points will be available over time.
The Observer: News & podcasts - Google Play Rankings
Top Rankings
| Rank | Country | Category | List | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — |
Ranking History in
No ranking data available yet. Rankings are updated daily.
#26 in Top Grossing News And Magazines in United Kingdom
#43 in Top Free News And Magazines in United Kingdom
#80 in Top Grossing News And Magazines in France
The Observer: News & podcasts users say on Google Play
This is a really good media app. I thoroughly recommend it. The podcast series investigations are brilliantly done and addictive. This media organisation needs our support to grow because they give great reads and listens and should reach more of the world. I have slowed down and wised up! I am not affiliated with them at all, just a big fan.
Tortoise continue to create high quality, informative, valuable content. Truly wonderful, definitely in my top 5 podcasts. Keep up the stellar work
I like the approach of Tortoise with their podcasts, opinion pieces, summits and Thinkins. They also have a very responsive customer services unit. My one gripe is that the Android app doesn't have a time bar for its podcasts. The apple app does. Updated Feb 2021: they released new audio software. Sadly it doesn't work at all on my two year old phone.
Great content, terrible app. The stories are slow to load, and often won't load at all. The 'Read' tab leads with podcasts, which you clhave to scroll through to get to written content. The podcast player is pretty good, but if you don't listen all the way to the end of an episode it sits at the bottom of the screen and you can't close it. If there is a way to turn off/control notifications, I can't find it. Overall, it's easier to use the website.
EDIT (Dec 2025): it's now the Observer app instead of Tortoise and is re-broken. Very slow to navigate (laggy - tap and wait). The bookmarks don't work. I used to be able to download and queue podcasts: now I can't do either - just play them, as if on a webpage. 4-5 star Content: Superb news and analysis. Well worth subscribing to. Genuine investigations with care and thought: think panorama, file-on-four, or private eye.