# Stream vs NetNewsWire

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NetNewsWire at none against Stream's 4. NetNewsWire also leads on ratings volume (882 vs 21) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stream sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. NetNewsWire asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Stream against 4.7 for NetNewsWire. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetNewsWire has 882 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Stream's written reviews are positive against 84% of NetNewsWire's.

Stream ships an update every 3 months, NetNewsWire monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stream | NetNewsWire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stream-a-feed-reader/id1377383950/reviews) | **[4.7 (882 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **882** |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 84.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#129** |
| Size | 16 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Rob Fahrni](https://appshunter.io/developer/321211293) | [Brent Simmons](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480640209) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### NetNewsWire

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

**Currently charting:** #129 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 Stream free?

Stream 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, Stream or NetNewsWire?

NetNewsWire is rated higher. Stream averages 4.6 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while NetNewsWire averages 4.7 from 882 ratings.

### Do Stream or NetNewsWire have ads?

Neither Stream nor NetNewsWire shows ads.

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

Stream ships an update every 3 months, and NetNewsWire monthly. Most recently, Stream was updated on September 21, 2026 and NetNewsWire on October 2, 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.*