# NetNewsWire vs StarCat

The clearest difference is price: NetNewsWire at Free against StarCat's $1.99. NetNewsWire also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (882 vs 1). StarCat's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and chart position there is nothing between them.

NetNewsWire is free to download; StarCat costs $1.99 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 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetNewsWire has 882 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, StarCat every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetNewsWire | StarCat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (882 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starcat-launch-tracker/id6469060028/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **882** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 84.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #147 | **#112** |
| Size | 27 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brent Simmons](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480640209) | [Hubert Jozwiak](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526690991) |

## What reviewers say

### NetNewsWire

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

**Currently charting:** #147 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


### StarCat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starcat-launch-tracker/id6469060028)

**Currently charting:** #112 Top Paid · News (US App Store)

Stay updated on global rocket launches with real-time information and detailed mission specifics. Receive launch reminders and access a dedicated news section for spaceflight updates. Features Dynamic Island integration for live tracking.

**Highlights:** Live Activity tracking on Dynamic Island, Detailed mission information, Launch reminders and notifications, Spaceflight news section, Starship development updates, Reusable rocket landing info

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetNewsWire free?

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

### Is StarCat free?

StarCat costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

NetNewsWire is rated higher. NetNewsWire averages 4.7 out of 5 from 882 ratings, while StarCat averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do NetNewsWire or StarCat have ads?

Neither NetNewsWire nor StarCat shows ads.

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

NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, and StarCat every 5 weeks. Most recently, NetNewsWire was updated on October 12, 2026 and StarCat on October 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, NetNewsWire or StarCat?

NetNewsWire currently peaks at #147 in the App Store charts, and StarCat at #112. 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.*