NetNewsWire vs Byline
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NetNewsWire
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.
- Direct feed downloading
- iCloud and third-party syncing
- Customizable article themes
- Reader view
- Starred articles
- Smart feeds
- Home screen widgets
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It’s like podcasts, but for reading. NetNewsWire is a free and open source RSS reader. It shows you articles from your favorite blogs and news sites and keeps track of what you’ve read. It’s fast, stable, and accessible. If you’ve been going from site to site in your browser looking for new articles to read — or counting on the unreliable algorithms of corporate social media — let NetNewsWire bring you the news you want. It’s easy and fun. And it puts you, not billionaires, in control of your news. Features: * Direct feed downloading * Syncing via iCloud, Feedbin, Feedly, BazQux, Inoreader, NewsBlur, The Old Reader, and FreshRSS * Multiple accounts * Custom article themes * Reader view * Share sheet * Starred articles * All Unread and Today smart feeds * Folders * Importing and exporting OPML feed lists * Background refreshing * Searching * Hiding read articles * Timeline customization * Keyboard shortcuts * Context menus * Home screen widgets for today, unread, and starred articles * Share extension
Byline
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Byline is a read-later app for people who want to actually read what they save — and see it in context. Save articles from Safari, Chrome, or the web app. Byline strips away the clutter and gives you a quiet, beautifully typeset reading space — plus natural-sounding audio so your reading list can travel with you. SAVE FROM ANYWHERE • Share sheet on iPhone and iPad — save straight from Safari • Chrome extension and web app for your desktop • Your library syncs across all your devices READ WITHOUT NOISE • Clean, distraction-free reader with careful typography • Archive articles when you're done; favorites stay at hand • Light and dark themes LISTEN LIKE A PODCAST • Turn any article into audio with text-to-speech • Lock-screen and AirPods controls; skip between articles • Keeps playing in the background FOLLOW YOUR SOURCES • Subscribe to your favorite outlets and see new pieces in your Inbox • Credibility context drawn from public datasets, so you know who you're reading • Paywall labels before you tap AND MORE • Ask Siri to play your articles • Fast, private, and built for readers first BYLINE PREMIUM An optional monthly auto-renewing subscription (with a 2-week free trial) unlocks premium natural voices and a deeper source inbox. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account; subscriptions renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings. Terms of Use: https://byline.cc/terms Privacy Policy: https://byline.cc/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NetNewsWire at none against Byline's 1. NetNewsWire also leads on chart position (#108 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Byline sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. NetNewsWire asks for nothing beyond the download.
NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, Byline every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NetNewsWire | Byline |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (890 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 890 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | #108 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 74 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Brent Simmons | Pavel Hamrik |
In-app purchases
NetNewsWire
No in-app purchases
Byline
- Premium Monthly14 Days trial$7.991 Month









