# NetNewsWire vs NewsBlock

The clearest difference is ads: NetNewsWire at none against NewsBlock's shown. NetNewsWire also leads on ratings volume (889 vs 17) and chart position (#106 vs unranked). NewsBlock's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NewsBlock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetNewsWire has 889 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of NetNewsWire's written reviews are positive against 100% of NewsBlock's.

NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, NewsBlock every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetNewsWire | NewsBlock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (889 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210/reviews) | **[5.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsblock/id6766168195/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **889** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#106** | — |
| Size | 27 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Brent Simmons](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480640209) | [ZHAOHUA GAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896161770) |

## What reviewers say

### NetNewsWire

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

**Currently charting:** #106 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


### NewsBlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsblock/id6766168195)

Get news quickly and easily without ads or paywalls. Choose your favorite topics and read full stories in a clean format. Engage with other readers by liking and commenting on articles.

**Highlights:** Ad-free reading experience, No paywalls or subscriptions, Personalized topic selection, Browse dozens of categories, Like and comment on stories, Clean, card-based layout

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetNewsWire free?

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

### Is NewsBlock free?

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

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

NewsBlock is rated higher. NetNewsWire averages 4.7 out of 5 from 889 ratings, while NewsBlock averages 5.0 from 17 ratings.

### Do NetNewsWire or NewsBlock have ads?

NewsBlock shows ads; NetNewsWire does not.

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

NetNewsWire ships an update monthly, and NewsBlock every 3 days. Most recently, NetNewsWire was updated on October 26, 2026 and NewsBlock on October 24, 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.*