Both The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian offer valuable news coverage, but they cater to different audiences with distinct editorial stances and areas of focus. The Wall Street Journal is ideal for those interested in business and finance with a center-right perspective, while The Guardian appeals to readers seeking broader coverage with a left-leaning viewpoint. The choice depends on individual preferences and priorities.
| Attribute | The Wall Street Journal | The Guardian |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription Cost | Introductory rates: $2/week for 1 year, then $38.99 + tax every 4 weeks. Digital subscriptions: $1 for the first two months, then $19.50 a month for six months, or $15.60 a month for a yearly package. | Digital Subscription: In the UK, a digital subscription costs £11.99 a month or £119 a year after introductory offers. Newspaper Subscriptions (Home Delivery): Every day (Guardian + Observer): £83.99 per month. Six day (Guardian): £73.99 per month. Weekend (Guardian + Observer): £34.99 per month. Saturday (Guardian, Greater London only): £20.99 per month. Sunday (Observer, Greater London only): £20.99 per month. Guardian Weekly Magazine Subscription: 13 Issues (3 Months): £109.82. 26 Issues (6 Months): £219.50. 52 Issues (12 Months): £438.86. Guardian Weekly Digital Edition: 1 year: £90.00. 6 months: £45.00. 3 months: £23.00. |
| Breadth of Coverage | Extensive coverage of business and finance, U.S. and world news, politics, arts, culture, lifestyle, sports, and health. | The Guardian covers politics, environment, science, social justice, sport, culture, business, and international news. |
| Depth of Reporting and Analysis | Known for objective reporting and in-depth analysis. Provides real-time stock quotes, market indexes, and detailed information on investments. | The Guardian is known for in-depth reporting and analysis. It combines storytelling with insightful analysis and personal testimonies. |
| Editorial Stance and Bias | Editorial pages: center-right to right-wing slant. News reporting: generally considered non-partisan. | The Guardian has a left-leaning editorial bias. It emphasizes progressive issues such as environmental activism, social justice, and human rights. |
| Website and App User Experience | Customizable app interface with adjustable font size, color scheme, and other visual elements. Preference center for customizing digital experience. | The Guardian launched a redesigned app and global homepage in May 2025, focusing on a more engaging, personalized, and seamless digital experience. The redesign prioritizes mobile users. |
| Quality of Investigative Journalism | Winner of 39 Pulitzer Prizes. | The Guardian is praised for its investigative journalism. |
| International Coverage | Includes major foreign-language editions on its website. Global news staff with bureaus across 51 countries. | The Guardian has international editions and offers international news coverage. It has a global network of over 900 journalists. The newspaper has dedicated correspondents for the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. |
| Fact-Checking Accuracy | Rated as mostly factual in reporting. | The Guardian has a mixed record with factual reporting due to some failed fact checks. |
| Readership Demographics | Historically, 60% in top management, average income of $191,000, average household net worth of $2.1 million, average age of 55 (2005 data). More recent data indicates an average household income of $300,000. | The Guardian targets a well-educated, affluent, digitally-savvy, liberal audience. In 2021, the Guardian had a monthly print readership of 3.2 million and a monthly digital readership of 18.4 million. The audience is relatively evenly split between male and female. The average age of The Guardian reader is approximately 44. A large majority of readers vote for either the Labour or Liberal Democratic Parties. |
| Availability of Historical Archives | Not available | Free access to the digital archive dating back to 2007 is available with a Guardian Weekly subscription. |
| Multimedia Content (Podcasts, Videos) | Includes podcasts featuring interviews with WSJ editors and notable influencers. Also utilizes video. | The Guardian offers award-winning podcasts, video documentaries, infographics, and visuals. |
| Personalization Options (Newsfeed Customization) | Offers personalization options through a preference center. "My WSJ" feed uses AI to offer customized story lists based on reading habits. | The redesigned "My Guardian" tab allows readers to follow topics and writers that matter to them. |