# Unread vs ReadKit

Unread and ReadKit both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of Unread's written reviews are positive against 57% of ReadKit's. Unread also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (442 vs 124). ReadKit's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 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 ReadKit sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Unread holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 442 and 124 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Unread's written reviews are positive against 57% of ReadKit's.

Unread ships an update every 8 days, ReadKit every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Unread | ReadKit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (442 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unread-an-rss-reader/id1363637349/reviews)** | [4.4 (124 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readkit-reading-hub/id1615798039/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **442** | 124 |
| Positive reviews | **72.4% of reviews** | 56.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 39 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Golden Hill Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/404445480) | [Balazs Varkonyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/338541078) |

## 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


### ReadKit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readkit-reading-hub/id1615798039)

This app consolidates your favorite news, articles, and feeds into a single, distraction-free reading hub. Save articles to read later, organize content with smart folders, and enjoy offline access. Customize your reading experience with themes and gestures.

**Highlights:** All-in-one reading hub, Cross-platform support, Flexible syncing options, Advanced organization with smart folders, Offline article access, Enhanced reader mode, Customizable interface

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime macOS | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium Lifetime iOS | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium Lifetime Universal | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Stunning modern design with excellent customization options
- 📱 Great iOS platform citizen with robust state restoration
- 🚀 Fast and reliable performance across devices
- ✨ Apple Intelligence AI summary feature implementation
- 🔄 Excellent gesture controls and natural navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Persistent toolbars that cannot be hidden in reading view
- 🔄 Inconsistent sync functionality across devices
- 💾 No iCloud sync support for local feeds
- 🔒 OPML import/export locked behind paywall
- 📊 Mac version feels like iPad port, not native macOS app

**Reported bugs**

- Persistent toolbars blocking distraction-free reading
- Background refresh not working reliably
- Wallabag sync errors and failures
- App crashes when integrating multiple services
- Reading articles not marking as read automatically

**Requested features**

- iCloud sync support for feeds and data
- Raindrop read-later service integration
- Sepia background option for light mode
- Widgets support
- Automatic reader view option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Unread free?

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

### Is ReadKit free?

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

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

Unread is rated higher. Unread averages 4.6 out of 5 from 442 ratings, while ReadKit averages 4.4 from 124 ratings.

### Do Unread or ReadKit have ads?

Neither Unread nor ReadKit shows ads.

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

Unread ships an update every 8 days, and ReadKit every 2 weeks. Most recently, Unread was updated on September 21, 2026 and ReadKit on September 24, 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.*