# What is the difference between Google News and Google Discover?

> The differences between Google News and Google Discover: where traffic comes from, how to get included and which rules apply. A short guide for publishers.

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.

## Google News vs Google Discover

| Topic | Google News | Google Discover |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Where it appears | news.google.com, the Google News app, the News tab and Top stories in Search | The Google app, google.com on mobile and the home screen feed on some Android devices |
| What triggers it | Searches and the news cycle | No search; based on interests |
| Content type | Current news | News and evergreen content |
| Application required? | No; eligible sites are evaluated automatically | No; indexed pages that follow policies can appear |
| Key technical points | News sitemap, structured data, dates and bylines | Images at least 1200 px wide and large preview allowed |
| Headlines | Clear headlines that describe the story | Clickbait and sensational headlines reduce visibility |
| Traffic pattern | Tied to the news cycle, relatively steady | Can spike and drop quickly |
| Search Console report | Google News performance report | Discover performance report |
| AMP | Not required | Not required |

*Note: 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

## 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.

## Everything Google News and Discover need, built in

### News sitemap

- **Problem:** The news sitemap is not kept current or fills up with old articles.
- **On 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.
- **On 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.
- **On Ulakom:** Images are compressed automatically and large previews are allowed by default.

### Trend tracking

- **Problem:** Catching trends late means missing News and Discover traffic.
- **On Ulakom:** The Discover page tracks Google Trends for any country and city; send a topic to drafts in one click.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need to apply to appear in Google News?

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.

### Why did my Discover traffic suddenly drop?

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.

### How do I know if my site is eligible for Google News?

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.

### Is AMP required?

No. Google removed the AMP requirement for Top stories. Fast, mobile-friendly regular pages are enough.

### Do I need structured data for Discover?

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.

---

Source page: https://ulakom.com/en/compare/google-news-vs-discover