# Unread vs NetNewsWire

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NetNewsWire at none against Unread's 4. NetNewsWire also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 72%) and chart position (#137 vs unranked). Unread's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Unread sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. NetNewsWire asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Unread against 4.7 for NetNewsWire. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 442 and 882 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Unread's written reviews are positive against 85% of NetNewsWire's.

Unread ships an update every 8 days, NetNewsWire monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Unread | NetNewsWire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (442 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unread-an-rss-reader/id1363637349/reviews) | **[4.7 (882 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 442 | **882** |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | **84.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#137** |
| Size | 39 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Golden Hill Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/404445480) | [Brent Simmons](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480640209) |

## 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


### NetNewsWire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210)

**Currently charting:** #137 Top Free · News (US App Store)

This app aggregates articles from your favorite blogs and news sites, offering a faster and more organized way to consume content. It provides control over your news feed, eliminating the need to visit multiple websites or rely on social media algorithms. Enjoy a streamlined reading experience with customizable features and syncing capabilities.

**Highlights:** Direct feed downloading, iCloud and third-party syncing, Customizable article themes, Reader view, Starred articles, Smart feeds, Home screen widgets

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Unread free?

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

### Is NetNewsWire free?

NetNewsWire is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

NetNewsWire is rated higher. Unread averages 4.6 out of 5 from 442 ratings, while NetNewsWire averages 4.7 from 882 ratings.

### Do Unread or NetNewsWire have ads?

Neither Unread nor NetNewsWire shows ads.

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

Unread ships an update every 8 days, and NetNewsWire monthly. Most recently, Unread was updated on October 1, 2026 and NetNewsWire on September 29, 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.*