Monthly Update: Top 50 News Websites in the U.S. See Traffic Fluctuations Post-Inauguration
Overview of February Traffic Trends
In the competitive landscape of online news, the traffic dynamics of the top 50 news websites in the United States experienced notable shifts in February 2025, as reported by Press Gazette. Following the heightened activity in January due to the presidential inauguration, many of the most visited news sites saw a significant decline in web traffic.
According to Similarweb, February’s data revealed that out of the 50 most-visited news brands, 11 websites experienced traffic growth compared to January, while 19 sites suffered declines of 10% or more. This contrasts sharply with January, where only nine sites faced traffic losses, and 21 enjoyed increases of 10% or greater.
Significant Monthly Changes
The sharpest decline was recorded by The Los Angeles Times, which, after a remarkable surge of nearly 120% to 42.3 million visits in January due to the city’s wildfires, saw its traffic plummet to 20.8 million in February—a staggering 51% drop from the previous month and a 27% decrease year-over-year.
Yet, not all news sites followed a downward trend. The Hill, a political news site, saw a notable increase of 17% month on month, bringing in 42.9 million visits. Similarly, The Independent, a UK-based publication, gained 12%, reaching 26.5 million visits. The Gateway Pundit also showed growth, rising by 9% to 29.5 million visits.
Top Ten News Websites – A Closer Look
Among the ten most-visited news sites, the Associated Press stood out as the only outlet to increase traffic, reaching 122.8 million visits—up 5.7% from January. Other major players, such as USA Today, CNN, and BBC News all saw declines in their visitor numbers, with USA Today experiencing the sharpest drop of 19%, landing at 128.8 million visits. CNN followed closely behind, recording a traffic decrease of 14%, dropping to 345.1 million visits.
People magazine’s traffic fell by 5%, yet it maintained a stronger footing compared to other top ten outlets. Year-over-year comparisons further highlighted a mixed performance among these sites. The AP saw exceptional growth of 76% compared to February 2024, while the BBC recorded a 30% increase. The New York Times, still the most-visited site in the U.S., saw modest growth of 6.4%, hitting 452.4 million visits.
Year-over-Year Performance
The broader landscape of the top 50 unveiled more fluctuations. Athlon Sports soared with an astronomical 854% increase in visits year-on-year, followed by India Times with an 82% rise. The Associated Press and Substack also demonstrated robust growth of 71% and 71%, respectively.
Conversely, several sites faced substantial year-on-year declines. Notably, The Sun plunged by 62% to just 21.6 million visits, while Business Insider’s traffic fell by 33% to 48 million. The Los Angeles Times and Yahoo News also recorded declines of 27% and 19%, respectively.
Distinctive Data Analysis
The insights provided by Similarweb stem from a sophisticated blend of machine learning and comprehensive measurement techniques, drawing from direct analytics shared by websites, aggregating device data, and various partnerships.
For context, it’s important to recognize that the data used by Similarweb is designed to reflect a holistic understanding of digital media consumption. This specific ranking focuses on news and media publishers, allowing viewers to grasp evolving trends in online news consumption reliably.
Conclusion
As the digital news landscape continues to evolve in response to current events and audience engagement patterns, February proved a transformative month for the leading news websites in the United States. The fluctuations in traffic illustrate the volatility inherent in the news industry, especially following significant political events and crises. As publishers adjust their strategies to capture audience attention in an increasingly competitive market, the continued evolution of web traffic trends will be a focal point for journalists, advertisers, and media executives alike.
For previous months’ coverage and insights into the top websites for news, readers are encouraged to explore the archives of Press Gazette’s monthly reports.
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