Comparison

Newsletter Reader by Meco vs SmartRSS

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

Head to head
About

Newsletter Reader by Meco

Organize and read all your newsletters in a dedicated space, free from inbox clutter. Connect existing accounts or use a personal Meco email. Enjoy features like highlighting, custom themes, podcast summaries, and easy unsubscribing.

Highlights
  • Declutter email inbox
  • Consolidate newsletters
  • Highlight and save content
  • Customizable reading themes
  • Newsletter podcast summaries
  • Instantly unsubscribe
  • Offline reading
Features
Read full description

Meco is your home for reading newsletters, allowing you to enjoy your favorite content in one place without cluttering your email inbox. DECLUTTER YOUR INBOX It’s time to move your newsletters to a space built for reading and declutter your inbox in seconds. You can connect your Gmail or Outlook to Meco to instantly add existing newsletters to the app while simultaneously decluttering your inbox. Alternatively you can get your own personal Meco email address just for newsletters, giving your newsletters complete separation from the inbox. READ NEWSLETTERS WITH SUPERPOWERS - Consolidate newsletters from multiple Gmail/Outlook accounts - Highlight key learnings and save interesting links for later - Consistent reading with custom fonts, themes including Dark Mode - Listen to daily personalized podcasts made from your newsletters - Group newsletters into themes and topics - Instantly unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters - Discover more newsletters based on your interests READ ANYTIME, ANYWHERE - Offline reading available by default - Available on iPhone, iPad and web YOU’RE IN SAFE HANDS We don’t sell data. We don’t store email data. Your newsletters are stored on your personal device and only accessible by you. —- Support: Check out meco.app/faq or email team@meco.app Privacy Policy: https://www.meco.app/terms Terms of Service: https://www.meco.app/privacy

About

SmartRSS

This app offers an intelligent RSS reading experience with AI-powered article summaries and text-to-speech functionality. It synchronizes across multiple platforms and services, providing a clean, customizable interface for modern content consumption.

Highlights
  • AI-powered article summaries
  • Natural text-to-speech audio
  • Cross-platform synchronization
  • Adaptive Material You Design
  • Intelligent feed organization
  • Offline reading support
  • OPML import/export
Features
Read full description

SmartRSS takes RSS reading beyond the ordinary. Bring all your favorite content into one place, from RSS feeds and blogs to podcasts, YouTube, Reddit, Substack, Mastodon, Bluesky, and more. Discover 80,000+ built-in sources and use AI to summarize, translate, and understand articles faster, while text-to-speech turns your reading list into high-quality audio. With powerful customization, offline reading, and seamless sync across popular RSS services, SmartRSS adapts to the way you read. Outstanding Features: • AI Customization: Generate smart summaries and translations with tailored prompts • Vast Content Library - 80,000+ built-in RSS subscription sources covering blogs, podcasts, Medium, Mastodon, Bluesky, Substack, YouTube, Reddit and more • Text to Speech - Convert articles into high-quality audio, with support for playback queue and background playback • Universal Sync - Works seamlessly with Miniflux, FreshRSS, Feedly, Folo, Feedbin, NewsBlur, Bazqux, Inoreader, Gobbler and Google Reader compatible services • Adaptive Design - Material You Design interface that supports multiple font and theme color settings • Intelligent Organization - Group feeds logically, star important articles, track reading progress • Offline Ready - Continue reading even without internet connection • Easy Migration - OPML import/export for seamless setup from other apps • Bionic Reading: Integrate for faster, more efficient text navigation. Comprehensive Sync Support: • Local Privacy Mode - Complete data control with device-only storage • Cloud Sync Support - Support Miniflux, FreshRSS, Feedly, Folo, Feedbin, NewsBlur, Bazqux, Inoreader and Google Reader API synchronization Smart Reading Experience: • AI Article Analysis - Understand content quickly with intelligent summaries • Full-Text Extraction - Get complete articles from truncated feeds • Gesture Navigation - Intuitive swipe actions and interactions • Reading Customization - Personalize fonts, sizes, and spacing Privacy & Security: • Local data storage with optional cloud sync • You control where your data lives Why Choose SmartRSS: • BYOK AI Integration: Enjoy premium AI features at a fraction of the cost—averaging less than $0.10 per week. • Minimalist Reading: A clean, native, and distraction-free environment designed for deep focus. • High Performance: Lightning-fast responsiveness with fluid, smooth animations. • Continuous Innovation: Frequent updates bringing you the latest features and optimizations. The ultimate tool for news enthusiasts, tech bloggers, and researchers to stay ahead of the curve and curate their favorite content in one place. Subscription Information: • This app offers optional premium subscriptions to unlock advanced features. • Monthly Subscription – $1.29 per month (auto-renewable) • Yearly Subscription – $11.99 per year (auto-renewable) • Lifetime Purchase – $19.99 (one-time payment) Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your App Store account settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://vinsonguo.github.io/smartrss_privacy_policy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Newsletter Reader by Meco4 screens
SmartRSS4 screens

Verdict

The call

Newsletter Reader by Meco and SmartRSS both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 91% of SmartRSS's written reviews are positive against 59% of Newsletter Reader by Meco's. Newsletter Reader by Meco's advantage is ratings volume (630 vs 17). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Newsletter Reader by Meco sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and SmartRSS sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.29 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Newsletter Reader by Meco against 4.6 for SmartRSS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Newsletter Reader by Meco has 630 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Newsletter Reader by Meco's written reviews are positive against 91% of SmartRSS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Newsletter Reader by Meco ships an update weekly, SmartRSS every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Newsletter Reader by Meco versus SmartRSS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNewsletter Reader by MecoSmartRSS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (630 ratings) — better4.6 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews58.9% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings630 — better17
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMeco Limited铫 刘

Customer experience

Newsletter Reader by Meco

All ratings619 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive58.9%
Neutral13.7%
Negative27.4%

SmartRSS

All ratings17 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative4.5%

Bugs and requests

Newsletter Reader by Meco

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to remove unwanted newsletters
  • Gmail account connection issues
  • Inconsistent behavior across devices
  • Disappearing newsletters and data loss

Requested features

4 requests
  • Text-to-speech functionality
  • Advanced filtering and sorting options
  • Improved dark mode experience
  • Better integration with other email providers

SmartRSS

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Newsletter Reader by Meco

Subscriptions8
  • Meco PRO - Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Meco - Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Meco PRO - Monthly$5.491 Month
Show 5 more
  • Meco PRO - Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Meco PRO - Monthly7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Meco PRO - Annually7 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • Meco PRO - Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Meco PRO - Yearly7 Days trial$44.991 Year
3 purchases

SmartRSS

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$1.291 Month
  • Premium Yearly$11.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is Newsletter Reader by Meco free?
Newsletter Reader by Meco is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SmartRSS free?
SmartRSS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Newsletter Reader by Meco or SmartRSS?
Newsletter Reader by Meco is rated higher. Newsletter Reader by Meco averages 4.7 out of 5 from 630 ratings, while SmartRSS averages 4.6 from 17 ratings.
Do Newsletter Reader by Meco or SmartRSS have ads?
Neither Newsletter Reader by Meco nor SmartRSS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Newsletter Reader by Meco or SmartRSS?
Newsletter Reader by Meco ships an update weekly, and SmartRSS every 6 days. Most recently, Newsletter Reader by Meco was updated on November 7, 2026 and SmartRSS on November 8, 2026.

Other comparisons