# NetNewsWire vs Reeder Classic

The clearest difference is price: NetNewsWire at Free against Reeder Classic's $4.99. NetNewsWire also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (85% vs 61%). Reeder Classic's advantage is chart position (#2 vs #181) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

NetNewsWire is free to download; Reeder Classic costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NetNewsWire holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 882 and 821 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of NetNewsWire's written reviews are positive against 61% of Reeder Classic's.

NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, Reeder Classic every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetNewsWire | Reeder Classic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (882 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210/reviews)** | [4.1 (821 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reeder-classic/id1529445840/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **882** | 821 |
| Positive reviews | **84.7% of reviews** | 60.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #181 | **#2** |
| Size | 27 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Brent Simmons](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480640209) | [Silvio Rizzi](https://appshunter.io/developer/325502382) |

## What reviewers say

### NetNewsWire

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

**Currently charting:** #181 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


### Reeder Classic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reeder-classic/id1529445840)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Paid · News (US App Store)

This app combines an RSS reader and a read-later client, offering iCloud syncing for your news feeds and saved articles. It features a focus-enhancing reading mode, customizable widgets, and the ability to mark items as read while scrolling. Enjoy a clutter-free reading experience with its reader view.

**Highlights:** RSS feed reader, Read later client, iCloud syncing, Bionic Reading mode, Customizable widgets, Mark as read on scroll, Reader view

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and fast
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🔒 Secure with iCloud sync
- 💡 Useful read later feature
- 👍 Minimalist and clean design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues with iCloud
- 🐛 Background refresh not working
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices
- 🐛 Slow sync for large feed counts

**Reported bugs**

- Articles not loading properly
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between articles
- Unreliable background sync
- Issues with Twitter integration

**Requested features**

- Ability to filter feeds by keywords
- Option to change app icon
- Support for more languages
- Tighter integration with Matter app
- Offline reading mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetNewsWire free?

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

### Is Reeder Classic free?

Reeder Classic costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NetNewsWire or Reeder Classic?

NetNewsWire is rated higher. NetNewsWire averages 4.7 out of 5 from 882 ratings, while Reeder Classic averages 4.1 from 821 ratings.

### Do NetNewsWire or Reeder Classic have ads?

Neither NetNewsWire nor Reeder Classic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NetNewsWire or Reeder Classic?

NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, and Reeder Classic every 3 weeks. Most recently, NetNewsWire was updated on September 23, 2026 and Reeder Classic on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, NetNewsWire or Reeder Classic?

NetNewsWire currently peaks at #181 in the App Store charts, and Reeder Classic at #2. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*