# Unread vs Circles Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Circles Reader at none against Unread's 4. Circles Reader also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). Unread's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Unread ships an update every 8 days, Circles Reader fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Unread | Circles Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (442 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unread-an-rss-reader/id1363637349/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **442** | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Golden Hill Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/404445480) | [Circles Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/1748502655) |

## 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


### Circles Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles-reader-rss-reader/id6503230954)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Unread free?

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

### Is Circles Reader free?

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

### Do Unread or Circles Reader have ads?

Circles Reader shows ads; Unread does not.

### Which is updated more often, Unread or Circles Reader?

Unread ships an update every 8 days, and Circles Reader fortnightly. Most recently, Unread was updated on October 1, 2026 and Circles Reader on September 20, 2026.

---

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