The Desert Sun
Store data observed · From public App Store data · How we score apps
- News
- App Store
- United States
- 4.41,732 ratings
- Free download
- Updated
- Observed
Ratings
Observed1.7K4.4★ average
Chart position
Observed—Not on the top charts
90-day growth
—not enough history yet
Opportunity score
AI-derived13/100Weak · low confidence
Made The Desert Sun? Add a “Tracked in News” badge to your site
About The Desert SunObserved
The Desert Sun is a News app by USA TODAY Co., Inc. on the United States App Store. Released Aug 2, 2012; last updated Sep 26, 2026 (version 8.13.2). The Desert Sun is free to download.
As of Oct 12, 2026, The Desert Sun has a 4.4-star average rating from 1,732 ratings on the United States App Store. MRRBeam rates the success of The Desert Sun 40/100 (rising).
From critically acclaimed storytelling to powerful photography to engaging videos — The Desert Sun app delivers the local news that matters most to your community. APP FEATURES: • Access all of our in-depth journalism, including things to do around town, sports coverage from high school to the pros, and much more.
- Success score
- 40/100 Rising
- In News
- Outside the top 100
- Chart position
- Not on the top charts
- Developer
- USA TODAY Co., Inc.
App Store screenshotsObserved
Loading the full report…
Top News apps
The most successful News apps MRRBeam tracks in the United States.
The Desert Sun: common questions
- What is The Desert Sun?
- The Desert Sun is a News app developed by USA TODAY Co., Inc., available on the App Store. It was first released on Aug 2, 2012.
- How is The Desert Sun rated?
- The Desert Sun has a 4.4-star average rating from 1,732 ratings on the United States App Store as of Oct 12, 2026.
- How much does The Desert Sun cost?
- The Desert Sun is free to download.
- Is The Desert Sun successful?
- MRRBeam rates the success of The Desert Sun 40/100 (rising). The success score combines rating volume, chart position and average rating.
- When was The Desert Sun last updated?
- The Desert Sun was last updated on Sep 26, 2026 (version 8.13.2).
- What are alternatives to The Desert Sun?
- Similar News apps tracked by MRRBeam include X, Reddit, Nextdoor: Neighborhood Network, NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts and Substack.
- Is there room to build a competitor to The Desert Sun?
- MRRBeam's opportunity score for The Desert Sun is 13/100. Limited opening: an older app, a crowded category with entrenched leaders and a strong 4.4★ rating.