Traffic Trends: Top 50 News Websites in the U.S. for February 2025
The landscape of online news consumption continues to shift, as highlighted in the latest monthly ranking by Press Gazette, which tracks traffic trends across the top 50 news websites in the United States using data from Similarweb. The February 2025 report shows a notable decline in traffic for many of these prominent news outlets following a busy January that coincided with significant political events, including the inauguration of Donald Trump.
Overview of Traffic Changes
In February 2025, 11 of the top 50 news websites experienced increased traffic, while 19 reported declines exceeding 10%. This contrasts starkly with January, where only nine sites saw any losses and 21 recorded notable gains. Key events during February, such as an airplane crash in Washington D.C. and diplomatic tensions between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, seemingly failed to sustain interest at many major news outlets.
The Biggest Decliners
Among the most significant shifts, The Los Angeles Times saw the steepest decline. After a surge of 120% growth in January, driven by coverage of the city’s historic wildfires, the publication’s traffic plummeted by 51% in February, settling at 20.8 million visits — a stark 27% decrease compared to the same period last year. USA Today, once a leading news website, also faced a substantial drop, experiencing a 19% decline in traffic to 128.8 million.
CNN followed closely, with a 14% decrease in visits, amounting to 345.1 million. The BBC News and People magazine also reported declines of 11% and 5%, respectively.
Notable Increases
Conversely, political news site The Hill witnessed impressive growth, increasing its traffic by 17% to 42.9 million visits. The Independent, a UK-based news source, also gained traction with a 12% rise to 26.5 million. Additionally, The Gateway Pundit, known for its controversial takes, saw a 9% increase in traffic, reaching 29.5 million.
The Associated Press (AP) remained a standout performer among the top ten, reporting a 5.7% increase in traffic to 122.8 million visits. The AP experienced the most significant year-on-year growth among the top sites, with an impressive 76% increase compared to a year ago.
Year-on-Year Comparisons
Looking at the data from February 2024 to February 2025 reveals a mixed picture. While the AP, BBC News, and People magazine managed to maintain growth, the landscape was more complex for other major sites. The New York Times remains the most-visited news site, drawing in 452.4 million visits — up 6.4% from last February. In contrast, several other top players saw their audience dwindle compared to the prior year.
Highlights and Adaptive Strategies
Notably, traffic patterns reflect broader trends across the media landscape, including an evolving audience preference for diverse news sources, particularly in niche areas like sports and politics. Athlon Sports, for instance, demonstrated extraordinary growth with an 854% increase in traffic year-on-year, reaching 41.4 million visits. India Times also enjoyed a remarkable increase of 82% in traffic, highlighting the impact of global news dynamics.
Despite losses across several well-known platforms, seven sites within the top 50 recorded growth exceeding 10% year-on-year. Yet, significant year-on-year declines struck some familiar names, including The Sun and Business Insider, underscoring the competitive nature of digital news media today.
Conclusion
The ever-changing landscape of online news consumption demonstrates the fragility and dynamism of digital media. As audience preferences continue to shift, news outlets must adapt effectively to retain and grow their readerships. Observations from February 2025 reveal not only the immediate traffic changes but also point to ongoing trends that will likely shape the future of news media in the United States.
For ongoing updates and in-depth analysis, readers can explore more information on the top 50 news websites in the U.S. as tracked by Press Gazette and Similarweb.
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