1
ABC News abc.net.au/news
The national broadcaster’s free news service — breaking coverage, analysis, live blogs and emergency broadcasting.
News & Media — the top 10.
The mastheads, broadcasters and portals Australians actually read — ranked by reach and usefulness, then compared on cost, accounts and ownership.
The list
Australia's top 10 news & media sites.
Free-to-read sites sit alongside subscription mastheads here — the comparison below shows which is which before you hit a paywall.
2
news.com.au news.com.au
Australia’s biggest general-news portal — fast-moving headlines, lifestyle, entertainment and finance.
3
9News 9news.com.au
Nine’s national news network online — TV-led reporting, live streams and state bulletins.
4
The Sydney Morning Herald smh.com.au
Sydney’s masthead since 1831 — investigations, politics, business and culture.
5
7NEWS 7news.com.au
Seven’s news hub — national and local bulletins, sport, weather and video.
6
The Guardian Australia theguardian.com/au
The UK masthead’s strong Australian newsroom — free, reader-funded reporting and live politics.
7
Daily Mail Australia dailymail.co.uk
The high-volume celebrity-and-news firehose — one of the most-read English-language news sites in the country.
8
The Age theage.com.au
Melbourne’s masthead — Victorian politics, AFL and city life, sibling to the SMH.
9
The Australian theaustralian.com.au
The national broadsheet — federal politics, business and opinion, firmly behind a paywall.
10
SBS News sbs.com.au/news
News with a multicultural lens — in English plus 60+ community languages.
The comparison
Compare the top 10 side-by-side.
The quick-scan version — what each site is best at, what it costs, whether you need an account, and who's behind it.
| Site | Best for | Cost | Account needed | Apps | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1ABC Newsabc.net.au/news | Trusted free coverage | Free | No | iOS & Android | Public broadcaster (ABC) |
| 2news.com.aunews.com.au | Breaking headlines | Free (ad-supported) | No | iOS & Android | News Corp Australia |
| 39News9news.com.au | TV news & live streams | Free | No | iOS & Android | Nine Entertainment (AU) |
| 4The Sydney Morning Heraldsmh.com.au | In-depth journalism | Metered free + subscription | For subscribers | iOS & Android | Nine Entertainment (AU) |
| 57NEWS7news.com.au | Local TV bulletins | Free | No | iOS & Android | Seven West Media (AU) |
| 6The Guardian Australiatheguardian.com/au | Free long-form reporting | Free (optional support) | Optional | iOS & Android | Guardian Media Group (UK) |
| 7Daily Mail Australiadailymail.co.uk | Celebrity & viral news | Free | No | iOS & Android | DMG Media (UK) |
| 8The Agetheage.com.au | Melbourne & Victoria | Metered free + subscription | For subscribers | iOS & Android | Nine Entertainment (AU) |
| 9The Australiantheaustralian.com.au | National affairs & business | Subscription | Yes | iOS & Android | News Corp Australia |
| 10SBS Newssbs.com.au/news | Multilingual coverage | Free | No | iOS & Android | Public broadcaster (SBS) |
Indicative guide compiled June 2026 from public information. Rankings are aus.directory's editorial view of popularity and usefulness — informed by public traffic estimates and brand recognition, not live traffic data. Ownership, pricing and features change; confirm details on the site itself. We accept no payment for placement and use no affiliate links.
Go deeper: our guide — Free vs Paywalled: How to Read Australian News Online in 2026 — covers how to choose between these ten, what’s free, and the traps to skip.
Think we missed one?
The directory improves through suggestions. Tell us the site, the category, and why it belongs in the top 10 — we review every submission.