# Unread vs Stream

The clearest difference is update cadence: Unread at every 8 days against Stream's every 3 months. Unread also leads on ratings volume (442 vs 21). Stream's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 72%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Unread sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Stream sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Unread against 4.6 for Stream. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Unread has 442 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Unread's written reviews are positive against 86% of Stream's.

Unread ships an update every 8 days, Stream every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Unread | Stream |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (442 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unread-an-rss-reader/id1363637349/reviews) | [4.6 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stream-a-feed-reader/id1377383950/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **442** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Golden Hill Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/404445480) | [Rob Fahrni](https://appshunter.io/developer/321211293) |

## What reviewers say

### Unread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unread-an-rss-reader/id1363637349)

This app is a beautifully designed RSS reader that focuses on a clean reading experience with customizable typography and themes. It offers seamless syncing across devices and integrates with various read-later services, allowing for offline access to cached content.

**Highlights:** Gesture-based navigation, Customizable color themes, Cross-device syncing, Automatic webpage text display, Offline access with caching, Integration with read-later services, Widgets for unread counts

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unread Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Unread Annual Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Unread: Free first year | $29.99 | per year |
| Unread: Discounted first year | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Elegant and intuitive UI
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 Secure login integration
- 📚 Excellent article formatting and readability
- 💡 Automated full-text article retrieval

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model seen as too expensive
- 🔀 Inconsistent experience between iOS and iPad versions
- 🔍 Difficult to discover certain features
- 🔠 Lack of customization options (e.g., font, theme)

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional article duplication
- Issues with 'Keep Unread' feature
- Text formatting problems in dark mode

**Requested features**

- Add support for more RSS providers (e.g., Miniflux, FreshRSS)
- Implement keyboard shortcuts and power-user features
- Improve information density on iPad layout
- Introduce a one-time purchase option


### Stream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stream-a-feed-reader/id1377383950)

Consolidate all your news feeds into a single, unified timeline. Offers a clean interface, easy import of existing lists, and support for open reading standards for a fresh user experience.

**Highlights:** Unified feed timeline, Simple user interface, Import existing lists, Supports open reading standards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Enormous Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Unread free?

Unread is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Stream free?

Stream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Unread or Stream?

Unread and Stream are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 442 and 21 ratings respectively.

### Do Unread or Stream have ads?

Neither Unread nor Stream shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Unread or Stream?

Unread ships an update every 8 days, and Stream every 3 months. Most recently, Unread was updated on September 26, 2026 and Stream on August 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*