# Apple News Monthly Active Users Hit 125 Million

**Published:** 2026-08-30T09:24:15.925Z  
**Topic:** Apple News  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/80b952c3-30b3-4f92-b0b1-4761932c3dfa

Apple News reached 125 million monthly active users, a 25% increase in one quarter, as the platform saw a surge in engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apple News reached 125 million monthly active users (MAUs) during the fiscal second quarter, marking a rapid expansion of 25 million users in just three months [1]. This growth highlights a shift in consumer behavior as users increasingly turned to the platform for information regarding the COVID-19 public health crisis [1].

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Apple News |
| Monthly Active Users | 125 million |
| Quarterly Growth | 25 million |
| Previous User Count | 100 million |

## Scaling user engagement
The latest growth represents a significant acceleration for the service. It took Apple a full year to add 15 million users to reach the 100 million MAU milestone in January, and two and a half years to add 25 million users between 2016 and 2018 [1]. The company attributed this recent surge to the integration of a dedicated COVID-19 vertical, which prioritized information from trusted sources [1].

While user engagement has climbed, the platform’s monetization remains a point of uncertainty. Apple has not disclosed the subscriber count for its $10-per-month Apple News+ service, which has reportedly struggled to exceed 200,000 subscribers [1]. Furthermore, Apple’s focus on user privacy limits the ad-targeting capabilities that typically drive revenue for news aggregators, a factor that has previously caused frustration among publishers [1].

## Economic headwinds for services
The broader services segment, which reported record revenue of $13.3 billion in the latest quarter, faces mixed pressures from the pandemic [1]. While Apple News engagement has spiked, other areas of the services business are experiencing direct negative impacts. Apple’s advertising revenue—which includes the App Store, Apple News, and third-party agreements—is expected to face challenges due to general economic weakness and uncertainty regarding business reopenings [1]. Additionally, the AppleCare extended warranty program has seen a decline in activity linked to the closure of Apple’s retail locations and third-party repair partners [1].

## What to watch
*   **Advertising performance:** Monitor future earnings reports for commentary on how the lack of granular ad targeting on Apple News impacts long-term revenue growth compared to other digital advertising platforms.
*   **Subscription conversion:** Watch for any disclosures regarding the growth of Apple News+ subscribers, as the company attempts to convert its 125 million active users into paid members.
*   **Publisher relations:** Observe whether the ongoing frustration from publishers regarding ad monetization leads to changes in how Apple structures its revenue-sharing or content-aggregation agreements.

The rapid influx of users provides Apple with a massive distribution channel for information, yet the company must still determine how to effectively monetize this audience without compromising its privacy-centric business model. Whether this engagement spike translates into a sustainable increase in paid subscriptions remains the primary open question for the service's financial trajectory.

## Sources
1. The Motley Fool — [Apple News Engagement Is Soaring Amid COVID-19](https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/05/05/apple-news-engagement-is-soaring-amidst-covid-19.aspx)
2. Euronews — [India sees COVID-19 cases soar past 14 million amid... | Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/15/india-sees-covid-19-cases-soar-past-14-million-amid-alarming-rise-in-infections)
3. BBC — [Five years on: The countries that never locked down for Covid-19](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250304-the-countries-that-never-locked-down-for-covid-19)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Apple News Monthly Active Users Hit 125 Million", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/80b952c3-30b3-4f92-b0b1-4761932c3dfa