Softwr

News · head to head

Parse.ly vs SmartNews

Parse.ly logo

Parse.ly

News

Analytics platform for publishers

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SmartNews logo

SmartNews

News

Local news and breaking news from top sources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SmartNews has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Parse.ly no published pricing rates or specific plan costs; SmartNews no specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Parse.ly covers Content analytics, SmartNews covers Machine learning curation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Parse.ly and SmartNews actually diverge.

Attributes where Parse.ly and SmartNews differ
AttributeParse.lySmartNews
Starting price$500/monthFree
Pricing modelquotefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebIos, Android
Founded20112012

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 Parse.ly

  • Content analytics
  • Audience tracking
  • Real-time metrics
  • Recommendations
  • Google Analytics
  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

Only in SmartNews

  • Machine learning curation
  • Smart Mode
  • Local news
  • Breaking alerts
  • Offline reading
  • Social sharing
  • News publishers
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Parse.ly

  • Real time analytics on article and page performance for publishersnot SmartNews
  • Attributing conversions and subscriptions to contentnot SmartNews
  • Comparing audience engagement across authors, sections and channelsnot SmartNews

SmartNews

  • Daily newsnot Parse.ly
  • Local newsnot Parse.ly
  • Breaking newsnot Parse.ly
  • Quick readingnot Parse.ly

Where each one falls short

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

Parse.ly

  • No published pricing rates or specific plan costs
  • All pricing tiers direct users to contact sales for details
  • Custom/enterprise pricing model requires demo or direct contact

SmartNews

  • No specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • Requires visiting separate product page for pricing details
  • Subscription service model described but not detailed with costs

Pricing, plan by plan

Parse.ly

$500/month
  • Standard$500/month
    • Content analytics
    • Audience insights

SmartNews

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Trending news
    • Local news
    • Smart Mode reading

Which should you pick?

Choose Parse.ly if

  • You need content analytics.
  • You also want audience tracking.
Parse.ly review

Choose SmartNews if

  • You need machine learning curation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want smart mode.
SmartNews review

Questions people ask

Is Parse.ly or SmartNews better?
Neither clearly leads. Parse.ly starts at $500/month and SmartNews at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Parse.ly or SmartNews?
SmartNews has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $500/month for Parse.ly and Free for SmartNews.
Does Parse.ly or SmartNews run on more platforms?
Parse.ly runs on Web. SmartNews runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use SmartNews for free?
Yes. SmartNews has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Parse.ly starts at $500/month.
What is Parse.ly best used for?
Parse.ly is most often used for real time analytics on article and page performance for publishers, attributing conversions and subscriptions to content, comparing audience engagement across authors, sections and channels. Of those, real time analytics on article and page performance for publishers and attributing conversions and subscriptions to content are not what SmartNews is typically brought in for.
What can Parse.ly do that SmartNews cannot?
Parse.ly covers Content analytics, Audience tracking, Real-time metrics, Recommendations. SmartNews covers Machine learning curation, Smart Mode, Local news, Breaking alerts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Parse.ly: How much does Parse.ly cost?

Parse.ly does not publish specific pricing amounts. The company offers three tiers (Content Performance, Content Value, and Content Advocacy) but requires customers to request quotes or schedule a demo with a content analytics expert.

Source
SmartNews: How much does SmartNews cost?

SmartNews does not publish specific subscription pricing on its main website. The vendor offers SmartNews+, described as a subscription service aggregating paid business news and coupons, but cost details must be found on the dedicated SmartNews+ product page.

Source
Parse.ly: What are the differences between Parse.ly pricing tiers?

The Content Performance tier offers basic analytics and 1 site tracking. Content Value adds conversions and attribution analytics for 2 sites. Content Advocacy adds geographic segmentation, video tracking, and SSO for 3 sites.

Source
SmartNews: Does SmartNews offer a free tier?

SmartNews provides free access to curated news content. For additional business news and coupons, the vendor offers SmartNews+ as a paid subscription service. Pricing and trial details for SmartNews+ are available on the dedicated subscription product page.

Source
Parse.ly: How can I get a custom pricing quote from Parse.ly?

Customers can book a demo with a Parse.ly content analytics expert through their pricing page, or request more details using the provided contact options.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Parse.ly

More on SmartNews

Keep looking

Other head to heads