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Microsoft Start vs Newswire

Microsoft Start logo

Microsoft Start

News

Your personalized news feed powered by Microsoft

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Newswire logo

Newswire

News

Affordable press release distribution for everyone

From
$399/per release
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Start has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Start no pricing information available; Newswire no free tier or trial available
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Start covers Personalized news, Newswire covers Press release distribution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Start and Newswire actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Start and Newswire differ
AttributeMicrosoft StartNewswire
Starting priceFree$399/per release
Pricing modelfreeone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, WindowsWeb
Founded19752004

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (News).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Microsoft Start

  • Personalized news
  • Topic following
  • Weather updates
  • Sports scores
  • Finance news
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Windows 11
  • Microsoft Account

Only in Newswire

  • Press release distribution
  • Media targeting
  • Social amplification
  • Analytics
  • SEO optimization
  • Google News
  • Yahoo News
  • Bing News

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Start

  • Daily newsnot Newswire
  • Topic trackingnot Newswire
  • Weather updatesnot Newswire
  • Quick informationnot Newswire

Newswire

  • Product launchesnot Microsoft Start
  • Company newsnot Microsoft Start
  • Event announcementsnot Microsoft Start
  • SEO boostnot Microsoft Start
  • Brand awarenessnot Microsoft Start

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft Start

  • No pricing information available
  • Service appears to be consumer-facing rather than commercial product
  • No pricing model published

Newswire

  • No free tier or trial available

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Start

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Personalized news feed
    • Topic following
    • Cross-device sync

Newswire

$399/per release
  • Starter$399/per release
    • Distribution to Digital Journal and Online News & Media
    • Estimated reach 6 to 10 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • Basic$659/per release
    • AP News and Digital Journal distribution
    • Estimated reach 75 to 100 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • Feature$965/per release
    • AP News, Yahoo, Nexstar network inclusion
    • Estimated reach 150 to 200 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • State Distribution$599/per release
    • Regional news outlets and local TV stations
    • Unlimited word count and images
    • Includes analytics reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Start if

  • You need personalized news.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows.
  • You also want topic following.
Microsoft Start review

Choose Newswire if

  • You need press release distribution.
  • You also want media targeting.
Newswire review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Start or Newswire better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Start starts at Free and Newswire at $399/per release, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Start or Newswire?
Microsoft Start has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft Start and $399/per release for Newswire.
Does Microsoft Start or Newswire run on more platforms?
Microsoft Start runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows. Newswire runs on Web.
Can I use Microsoft Start for free?
Yes. Microsoft Start has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Newswire starts at $399/per release.
What is Microsoft Start best used for?
Microsoft Start is most often used for daily news, topic tracking, weather updates, quick information. Of those, daily news and topic tracking are not what Newswire is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Start do that Newswire cannot?
Microsoft Start covers Personalized news, Topic following, Weather updates, Sports scores. Newswire covers Press release distribution, Media targeting, Social amplification, Analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft Start: How much does Microsoft Start (MSN) cost?

Microsoft Start (formerly MSN.com) is a free service with no subscription required. The platform provides news, weather, and personalized content at no cost to users.

Source
Newswire: How much does Newswire cost?

Newswire charges per press release. Starter plan costs 399 dollars per release. Basic plan costs 659 dollars per release. Feature plan costs 965 dollars per release. State Distribution costs 599 dollars per release.

Source
Microsoft Start: Does Microsoft Start offer any paid services or premium features?

Microsoft Start does not publish any paid tiers or premium features. The service is entirely free to access and use without any payment or subscription.

Source
Newswire: What is included with Newswire pricing?

All Newswire plans include unlimited word count and images in your press release. Different tiers offer varying distribution networks and estimated reader reach.

Source
Microsoft Start: Are there ads on Microsoft Start?

Microsoft Start provides personalized news and content free of charge. Any advertising present on the service helps support the free platform offering.

Source
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