Guide
What is the difference between Google News and Google Discover?
Both are among the largest traffic sources for news sites, but they work differently: Google News follows searches and the news cycle, Discover follows each reader's interests. Here are the differences and what you need to appear in both.
Where it appears
- Google News
- news.google.com, the Google News app, the News tab and Top stories in Search
- Google Discover
- The Google app, google.com on mobile and the home screen feed on some Android devices
What triggers it
- Google News
- Searches and the news cycle
- Google Discover
- No search; based on interests
Content type
- Google News
- Current news
- Google Discover
- News and evergreen content
Application required?
- Google News
- No; eligible sites are evaluated automatically
- Google Discover
- No; indexed pages that follow policies can appear
Key technical points
- Google News
- News sitemap, structured data, dates and bylines
- Google Discover
- Images at least 1200 px wide and large preview allowed
Headlines
- Google News
- Clear headlines that describe the story
- Google Discover
- Clickbait and sensational headlines reduce visibility
Traffic pattern
- Google News
- Tied to the news cycle, relatively steady
- Google Discover
- Can spike and drop quickly
Search Console report
- Google News
- Google News performance report
- Google Discover
- Discover performance report
AMP
- Google News
- Not required
- Google Discover
- Not required
Google's rules change from time to time; check the Google Search Central documentation for current guidance.
What are Google News and Google Discover?
Google News is Google's news aggregator. It appears at news.google.com, in the Google News app, in the News tab of search results and in Top stories. When readers search a topic or follow the news, it ranks stories by freshness, relevance and source trustworthiness.
Google Discover is a personalized feed that works without a search. It recommends content in the Google app and on mobile devices based on each reader's interests. It can bring very high traffic to news sites, but that traffic fluctuates.
Neither requires an application; your site needs to be technically ready and follow Google's content policies. A news sitemap, correct structured data, large quality images, clear bylines and dates, and original content help visibility in both.
Shared checklist for both
- News sitemap (articles from the last 2 days)
- Structured data and accurate publish dates
- Author pages, masthead and contact details
- Images at least 1200 px wide
- Fast, mobile-friendly pages
- Clear headlines, no clickbait
Strategy
How to focus on each
Breaking news
Speed matters: sites that publish first and accurately, with clear headlines and correct structured data, stand out in Google News and Top stories.
Features, analysis and guides
Evergreen content with strong images can circulate in Discover for days. Image quality and curious but honest headlines matter.
Topics you own
Publishing regularly and in depth on a topic makes it easier for Discover to show you to readers interested in it.
On Ulakom
Everything Google News and Discover need, built in
News sitemap
Problem
The news sitemap is not kept current or fills up with old articles.
With Ulakom
A news sitemap with the latest articles is generated automatically and submitted to Search Console in one click.
Structured data
Problem
Missing or incorrect structured data makes stories harder to understand.
With Ulakom
Structured data with author, date and image is added to every article automatically.
Images
Problem
Small or heavy images hurt Discover visibility and page speed.
With Ulakom
Images are compressed automatically and large previews are allowed by default.
Trend tracking
Problem
Catching trends late means missing News and Discover traffic.
With Ulakom
The Discover page tracks Google Trends for any country and city; send a topic to drafts in one click.
FAQ
Questions you might have
No. Google evaluates news sites automatically. You can manage your publication details in Publisher Center, but it is not an inclusion requirement. What matters is following Google News content policies and having the technical setup ready.
Discover traffic is volatile by nature; impressions change as reader interests and the news cycle change. Clickbait headlines, misleading images or policy-violating content can also reduce impressions.
Our free Google News checker reviews your news sitemap, structured data, robots.txt, masthead and image settings in seconds. The final decision is always Google's.
No. Google removed the AMP requirement for Top stories. Fast, mobile-friendly regular pages are enough.
Discover has no special markup requirement; pages need to be indexed and follow policies. Still, large images, clear headlines and accurate dates improve your chances.
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