Are you thinking about creating the ultimate digital magazine? You’ve got an amazing idea! But how do you begin? How can you ensure your magazine delivers valuable content and generates revenue? Learn from the best digital magazines listed in this article.
There’s a wealth of advice online, with everyone suggesting different ideas. But don’t give up. Starting a digital magazine might not be as challenging as you think.
To create the best digital magazine, simply take a look at what the top digital magazines are doing right and learn from their success. By avoiding their mistakes, you’ll be on the right track. Here are eight exceptional digital magazines that can serve as your inspiration.
1. Vogue
There’s a reason why Vogue is one of the biggest, most influential, and the best digital magazines in the world.
Not to spark the old debate about print vs. digital magazines (again), but unlike most fashion magazines out there, Vogue keeps its brand strong by making its magazine available digitally. They have a strong digital presence while keeping their print version alive.
Although they are well known for their fashion and beauty content, Vogue also went ahead and explored political and social issues in its features and editorials. Who can tell what the reasons are why they’ve explored these topics? But I believe that this is one of the reasons why they are still relevant today. Vogue doesn’t limit itself to be just one thing. They evolve with modern society.
Vogue’s digital magazines are available on various platforms, such as the Apple App Store, Nook, and Kindle Fire. Although, unfortunately, their app is only available in the US region and not available in the Google Play Store, especially considering that their readers are spread throughout the world(some of them should be using Android devices, right? 😉 )
What You Can Learn From Vogue
Make sure your digital magazines are available on multiple online/digital platforms to reach a wider range of audience.
Keep up with what’s happening around you and let your content reflect that, as this will help your magazine stay relevant with your readers.
2. National Geographic
As one of the most recognizable names and brands out there, it seems like National Geographic is in a league of its own with no competitor that even comes close.
Back then, using photos in magazines was considered taboo, and people preferred illustrations or simply text. National Geographic, which is also known as NatGeo, is one of, if not the best digital magazines that use photos in its magazine. They believed photos that highlighted the beauty of nature would get readers to focus even more.
Although the industry was skeptical at first, the public’s interest in photojournalism proved NatGeo right. Not surprisingly, they are now known for their specific standards and aesthetics for photojournalism.
NatGeo’s digital magazines are accessible on most digital platforms as well as their website. Their app has a fresh and unique layout that loads fast. You will be able to personalize the topics that you can see in your feed.
Each article is available for reading instantly which makes it easier for you to pick the ones that interest you. You can also choose to browse through photos and videos.
What You Can Learn From National Geographic
Choose the font that makes your article as easy as it can be to read. When necessary, link your articles to other internal content that is relevant/similar to engage your readers more.
Make sure to include high-quality photos and videos in your magazine as well to grab the attention of your readers and make your content more attractive and exciting.
3. The Atlantic
Started as a humble literary and cultural commentary magazine in 1857, The Atlantic is now known as one of the giants in the publishing industry and has become one of the best digital magazines in the world.
Their website provides daily coverage and analysis of various topics, from breaking news, and politics, to education, tech, health, science, and culture.
The Atlantic is available as an app in the Apple App Store. It is also available on Google News, Kindle, and Nook. Their iOS app features a great layout and is easy to navigate. It also comes with some of the best tech writing.
The content in their magazine is easily shareable and can also be browsed by topical sections.
What You Can Learn From The Atlantic
Categorizing your issues by topics can be very helpful for your readers, especially if your magazine has a wide range of content.
In this era of hyper-connected society, letting your readers share your articles easily will help you gain more exposure (and more readers).
4. Rolling Stone
As one of the most popular magazines for musical coverage and political reporting, Rolling Stone is not to be missed.
When they started to increase their coverage of popular culture (although music is still their dominant topic), there was criticism that the magazine prefers style over substance.
However, we believe that they simply adapt to constantly changing musical, cultural, and political climates.
Their app has a very simple layout but is practical. Instead of having static pages where you have to pinch in and zoom in every time you want to read, they make their articles responsive. It will adjust to your phone’s screen and you can simply scroll down to read longer articles.
You are also able to change the text sizes, switch to ‘night mode’, and bookmark pages in the articles. The article/page is also easily shareable from the app.
What You Can Learn From Rolling Stone
Offer as many reading settings as possible so your readers get more comfortable reading your articles. The more comfortable you can make their experience, the longer they stay in your magazine, and the more engaged they become.
Responsive content is always better than static print-like pages, always. Even though the content is the same, creating digital magazines means that you will need to adapt to digital features to offer a better user experience.
5. KROMA
With all the crises you’ve heard happening in Greece in the past few years, who would’ve thought that an arts magazine would bloom spectacularly in the middle of all that?
Kroma’s very own Yannis Spanoudis already had a big name in the development and design of digital publications, both in Greece and abroad. Which made the launch of Kroma one of the most awaited. And of course, they didn’t disappoint 😉
Their app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Being awarded 3 years in a row as the Best App, Best Mobile Edition, and Best Smartphone/Tablet magazine was something they have rightfully earned.
They always feature beautiful pictures and photos (as they should as an art magazine, duh) combined with a responsive layout, which makes their digital magazine all the more awesome.
What You Can Learn From KROMA
Don’t skimp on the design of your magazine! Content is important, yes, but a beautiful design will attract more attention and engagement from your readers.
6. Kinfolk
If you’ve been on Instagram for the last five years, you surely will notice that there’s a certain aesthetic trend that people aim for.
It was Kinfolk’s doing.
We also like to point out, that there was a moment when you wouldn’t be able to scroll through your Instagram feed/explore without seeing Kinfolk’s magazine paired with a cup of coffee.
Called “The Martha Stewart of Portland set”, what is it about Kinfolk that is so powerful that makes it become one of the most influential forces in the modern design world?
With its clean design and unique photographic aesthetic, combined with its focus on home and communities (slow lifestyle, as they call it), Kinfolk was a breath of fresh air when they first launched their magazine.
Unfortunately though, at the moment Kinfolk’s digital magazine is only available via their website. Their website is optimized for smartphones, but it feels like such a miss that they don’t have native mobile apps for their magazine.
What You Can Learn From Kinfolk
Build strong branding. Rather than following a trend, try to come up with a unique concept for your magazine. Make sure your magazine has something different to offer.
7. Harvard Business Review
Carrying the name of one of the best schools in the world, it’s hard to not be at least a little bit curious about Harvard Business Review.
Although it seemed to start that way, Harvard Business Review was always meant to be more than just a typical school publication.
The magazine focuses on general management issues that affect business leaders, and calls itself a ‘magazine for decision-makers’. This is probably one of the best digital magazines for business decision-makers. If you’ve ever asked anyone who works in American corporations what to read, they will probably lead you this way.
Harvard Business Review’s apps are available worldwide in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Their content is displayed per article, so you can directly go to the ones that interest you instead of having to flip through the whole issue.
They also offer a feature where you can directly screenshot their articles, which we love, as well as the ability to share their articles easily.
What You Can Learn From Harvard Business Review
Be the authority on your magazine’s topics. If your content is always high quality (and factual), even the experts will refer to your magazine when asked for references.
8. Forbes
For a magazine to be able to exist for more than 100 years, there must be something that Forbes is doing right, right?
The magazine itself focuses mostly on finance, investing, and marketing topics. But it seems that Forbes is most known for its lists and rankings, such as 30 under 30 and The World’s Billionaires (which we like to scroll through, more than we’d like to admit).
Forbes apps allow you to download the issue as PDF so you can read it later offline, which is awesome. You can also easily switch the view from PDF to text which allows you to read the content easier.
What You Can Learn From Forbes
Allowing your readers to download your issue on their phone to read offline later is always a good idea. Not everyone can spare the time to read magazines right away.
Final thoughts:
Starting a digital magazine can be confusing and challenging. We know how overwhelming it can be, but that should not intimidate you!
Take your time and study the strengths and weaknesses of the best digital magazines out there. If you do so, you’ll be able to establish a digital magazine that your target readers will love and subscribe to.
With MagLoft, you will be able to focus on your content and branding. Let us take care of the technical part! Your digital magazine will have all of the awesome features mentioned above.
Did that intrigue you? Learn more about creating and publishing your digital magazines with MagLoft! Feel free to contact us now.
What is the best E magazine?
The Atlantic: Known for its in-depth analysis and thought-provoking articles on politics, culture, and society.
The New Yorker: A literary and cultural magazine with a focus on fiction, humor, and commentary.
National Geographic: A global magazine with stunning visuals and informative articles on science, nature, and exploration.
What magazines are digital only?
Slate: Known for its commentary and analysis on politics, culture, and technology.
The Daily Beast: Offers a mix of news, opinion, and entertainment.
The Intercept: Focused on investigative journalism and accountability.
Are digital magazines still relevant?
Yes, digital magazines are still highly relevant in today’s world. They offer several advantages over traditional print magazines:
Accessibility: Digital magazines can be accessed on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This makes them more convenient and accessible to readers.
Convenience: Digital magazines are often available as subscriptions or can be purchased individually, eliminating the need for physical storage.
Interactivity: Digital magazines can include interactive elements such as videos, animations, and links, enhancing the reader’s experience.
Environmental friendliness: Digital magazines reduce paper waste, making them a more sustainable option.
Timeliness: Digital magazines can be updated more frequently than print magazines, providing readers with timely information.
While print magazines still have their appeal, digital magazines have become a popular and convenient way to consume content.
How successful are digital magazines?
Digital magazines have achieved significant success in recent years. While they may not have completely replaced print magazines, they have grown in popularity due to their convenience, accessibility, and ability to offer interactive features.
Here are some factors contributing to the success of digital magazines:
Increased internet penetration: As more people gain access to the internet, the demand for digital content, including magazines, has grown.
Mobile devices: Smartphones and tablets have become essential tools for many people, and digital magazines are easily accessible on these devices.
Interactive features: Digital magazines can offer features like videos, animations, and links, enhancing the reader’s experience and making them more engaging.
Subscription services: Platforms like Apple News+, Amazon Kindle Unlimited, and Scribd have made it easier for readers to subscribe to multiple digital magazines at once.
Cost-effectiveness: Digital magazines are often more affordable than print magazines, especially when subscribed to in bulk.
While the success of digital magazines varies depending on the specific publication and target audience, it’s clear that they have become a significant part of the publishing industry.
