Comparison

NetNewsWire vs Byline

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Direct feed downloading
  • iCloud and third-party syncing
  • Customizable article themes
  • Reader view
  • Starred articles
  • Smart feeds
  • Home screen widgets
Currently charting
Read full description

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

About

Byline

Features
Read full description

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

NetNewsWire4 screens
Byline4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Byline sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. NetNewsWire asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, Byline every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
NetNewsWire versus Byline: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNetNewsWireByline
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (890 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings890 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#108 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB74 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperBrent SimmonsPavel Hamrik

In-app purchases

None

NetNewsWire

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Byline

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Monthly14 Days trial$7.991 Month

Questions

Is NetNewsWire free?
NetNewsWire is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Byline free?
Byline is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do NetNewsWire or Byline have ads?
Neither NetNewsWire nor Byline shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NetNewsWire or Byline?
NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, and Byline every 3 weeks. Most recently, NetNewsWire was updated on November 7, 2026 and Byline on October 31, 2026.

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