When comparing Flipboard vs Pulse , the Slant community recommends Flipboard for most people. In the question“What are the best news readers for Android?” Flipboard is ranked 7th while Pulse is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Flipboard is:
This app has a very polished, magazine-style layout, that is flipped through by swiping. Because of its layout, Flipboard is especially nice on tablets.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Very polished UI that is organized like a magazine
This app has a very polished, magazine-style layout, that is flipped through by swiping. Because of its layout, Flipboard is especially nice on tablets.
Pro Personalized magazines
Magazines is a features by Flipboard that can allow anyone to create their own personalized magazine by collecting the content from various websites and collate them into a magazine that can also be shared to other readers. Magazines can be set to either public or private access and anyone can follow the magazine.
Pro Free
Pro Cross-platform
Flipboard is available on Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows and web app.
Pro Google Reader import
There is also a simple import from Google Reader.
Pro Social network integration
Flipboard pulls information from Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, etc. Everything is aggregated in one app, which can then be flipped through and shared, either directly on Flipboard or on social networks.
Pro Easily discover stories based on topics
Flipboard has millions of Magazines that anyone can follow, covering various subjects. Some cover general topics like home decoration, while others are immensely specific: for example, there’s one just about technological advances that extend human lifespan. All users can create their own Magazines and share them publicly, with friends, or keep them for private use.
Pro Syncs with LinkedIn to deliver content from chanels you follow and people in your network
Unlike other readers, Pulse allows users to follow LinkedIn influencers on top of blogs and publications
Pro Allows integration with more social feeds than similar apps
In addition to letting you pull from Facebook and Twitter, Pulse lets users add feeds from YouTube and Digg.com.
Pro Syncs with Pocket, Evernote, Instapaper, and Readability
What you follow and save on Pulse can become available on Pocket, Evernote, Instapaper, and Readability.
Pro Works without internet
When connected to WiFi, pulse downloads articles so you can read them when you are on the go.
Pro Fits more on the screen than similar readers
With Pulse, every pixel on the screen seems to be utilized. Depending on your preferences, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. While some users want a screen packed full of information, others have found it overwhelming.
Cons
Con Excessive ads with no way to remove them
Flipboard doesn’t offer subscription plans, having only the completely free full version. However, it does feature ads that appear between articles and there’s no way of removing this function.
Con Needs better organization of topics, mags, users followed
When you follow 3-5 magazines per topic (sometimes more) it would be nice to be able to group some of these together in a way that constricts the 'fire hose' of content.
Con Low quality news sources
The default content is from low quality sources such as Mashable.
Con Forces users to login with LinkedIn
Many users don't want or need a LinkedIn account. In order to use Pulse, they must create a LinkedIn account. This has made many people unhappy because it blurs the line between their personal and professional lives.
Con More bulky and less accessible after most recent update
Pulse's reviews are littered with unhappy users after their most recent update. Many users are reporting that the new layout is too busy or too bulky.
Con Unstable
Some users have reported that Pulse has started to crash after its most recent update.