# NewsTap Lite (Usenet Reader)

> iOS Usenet newsreader with offline capabilities and discussion threading. (iPhone/iPad app by Alexander Clauss.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newstap-lite-usenet-reader/id297063247 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Alexander Clauss](https://appshunter.io/developer/286091996)
- Category: News, Social Networking
- Price: Free
- Rating: 2.60/5 from 8 App Store ratings · 81 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 5 MB
- Languages: American English, German (Germany)
- Released: 2008-11-19
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newstap-lite-usenet-reader/id297063247/reviews.md

## What is NewsTap Lite (Usenet Reader)?

NewsTap Lite is a Usenet Newsreader for the iPhone, iPad and the iPod Touch.

"NewsTap Lite" is the free version of the "NewsTap" App. "NewsTap Lite" is a fully functional Usenet Newsreader, but it does not support all features of the "NewsTap" App. The Lite version only supports one server and can only subscribe to two group.

Features of NewsTap Lite:
- Optimized for offline usage. Download and send out articles in one go and then you can read and write articles completely offline.
- Supports binary groups with photos and other files. 
- Supports filters to mark articles as read or mark them with a certain color.
- Hyperlinks are automatically detected and can be opened in a web browser.
- Optimized article layout for the small iPhone display. The original article layout is also available. 
- A „tree view“ of a whole discussion makes is super easy to follow even large discussions.
- Highly customizable.
- Post new articles or send follow-ups.  
- Build-in help.

For more screenshots please look at the developers web site.

Please check out the full version if you want to read more than 2 groups, need newsrc syncing and if you do not want to see iAds.

## Key features

- Optimized for offline usage
- Supports binary groups
- Article filters
- Automatic hyperlink detection
- Discussion tree view
- Post new articles/follow-ups

## Recent user reviews (10 of 81)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newstap-lite-usenet-reader/id297063247/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Decent overall

*2025-07-22, version 5.5*

As others have said it’s the best USENET reader available. It has many good functions and works well overall. Honestly it’s one of the main reasons I’m not switching from iOS to Android at this time. 

I would like to see a few enhancements though:
— quote selected text. This is a vital function of newsreaders which helps trim down long messages. 
— the internal browser has stopped working reliably. It will bring up a website but never complete rendering it. 
— an Android version.

### 4/5 — Limited but useful free version

*2023-07-02*

Free version is limited but still does what I need.

### 1/5 — Can’t see articles

*2023-06-24*

The app does a ton of work downloading groups and showing how many articles are in them, but it stops there. I’d like a simple way to see a list of those articles and then read some. Those areas do not populate.

### 3/5 — Good news reader

*2022-01-15*

Works pretty well. The author has done a fine job. It’s not perfect though. And it’s very limited. Below comments are intended to be constructive not negative. 

The limit of one server and two groups is pretty stingy, even for a trial version.  I would suggest 2 servers and 6 groups would be less scrooge-like. 

The help function is fairly good but a nice touch would be a downloadable tutorial. This is a complicated app so takes a little study to master.

### 1/5 — UI wenig intuitiv eher für Informatiker

*2021-09-28*

Gute Idee ein Lite Version ausprobieren zu können. Damit konnte ich mir die voll Version erstmal sparen.

### 5/5 — Buon reader per newsgroup Usenet

*2021-03-12, version 5.4.1*

Quest versione gratuita permette di caricare max due gruppi per volta.

### 4/5 — Decent overall

*2020-11-01, version 5.4.1*

As others have said it’s the best USENET reader available. It has many good functions and works well overall. Honestly it’s one of the main reasons I’m not switching from iOS to Android at this time. 

I would like to see a few enhancements though:
— quote selected text. This is a vital function of newsreaders which helps trim down long messages. 
— the internal browser has stopped working reliably. It will bring up a website but never complete rendering it. 
— an Android version.

### 1/5 — Mal programmato

*2019-09-17, version 5.3.5*

È incredibile come il livello della batteria cominci a scendere quando si scaricano i messaggi.

### 1/5 — Photo Album?

*2019-08-17*

where is that? I can’t save any pics now, have to save via other app.
Having brought back saving to photos this update has removed that function and even the view full screen.
still have no idea how to view/save a picture that is too large to post as single file and is split in multiple parts eg …jpgA[1/2],…jpgA[2/2]

### 5/5 — This is not spam!

*2019-04-13, version 5.3.3*

That dude who wrote it's spam, I tell y'all it is not! It is lite version, it displays some ads on the bottom, I don't mind that. Small space. 

Again, it's lite version so you can use only two news groups. I just use two so what evs, but if you use more then you have to pay for it :)

The app. Fast, lightweight, no problems, works like all usenet readers should work. I recommend, 5 stars.

## Frequently asked questions about NewsTap Lite (Usenet Reader)

### What is NewsTap Lite?

NewsTap Lite is a free Usenet newsreader application for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. It allows users to download, read, and post articles to Usenet newsgroups. While fully functional, it has limitations compared to the full version, such as supporting only one server and subscribing to a maximum of two groups.

### What are the key features of NewsTap Lite?

Key features include optimization for offline usage, allowing you to download and read articles without an internet connection. It also supports binary groups for photos and files, article filters, automatic hyperlink detection, a clear discussion tree view, and the ability to post new articles or send follow-ups.

### Is NewsTap Lite free to use?

NewsTap Lite is the free version of the NewsTap app. It offers core Usenet newsreading functionality. For users who need to read more than two groups, require newsrc syncing, or wish to avoid iAds, a full version is available.

### What devices is NewsTap Lite compatible with?

NewsTap Lite is designed for Apple iOS devices, specifically the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Its article layout is optimized for the smaller iPhone display, though the original layout is also accessible.

### How can I follow discussions with NewsTap Lite?

The app features a 'tree view' that organizes entire discussions, making it very easy to follow even large or complex conversation threads. This structured view helps users keep track of replies and the flow of conversations within newsgroups.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.5 — 2021-03-19

Because of a bug in iOS 14 very large and deep threads could not be read properly anymore. So articles of the groups could not be accessed. The new release will include a workaround for this iOS 14 issue, so articles do no longer get lost. There was no such problem under iOS 13 or older.

### 5.4.1 — 2020-01-06

Fixes an issue with the keyboard which is sometimes covering the text when editing postings.

### 5.4 — 2019-12-29

- Adds support for the dark mode of iOS 13
- Fixes a rare crash when processing links in postings

### 5.3.5 — 2019-08-15

Fixes an issue with the iCloud sync

### 5.3.4 — 2019-05-02

- There are a few usenet servers which send the groups list in an invalid or malformed format. NewsTap is now able to get the groups list from these servers as well.
- Fixes an issue where additional text could be interpreted as link, if the link was not delimited properly.

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## More apps by Alexander Clauss

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All apps by Alexander Clauss: https://appshunter.io/developer/286091996

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*