Comparison

TidBITS News vs RSS Reader for Safari

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

Head to head
About

TidBITS News

Access the latest news and product updates for Mac and iOS devices from a long-standing internet publication. Read full articles with graphics and embedded videos, and follow links to external resources. Content is downloaded for offline reading.

Highlights
  • Headline and summary display
  • Pull-to-refresh functionality
  • Full article reading with graphics and video
  • Adjustable font sizes
  • In-app web browsing
  • Offline content access
Features
Read full description

Stay up to date with the latest news and products in the Mac and iOS worlds with TidBITS (tidbits.com), the oldest Internet-only publication on the planet! The award-winning publication was founded in 1990 by Adam Engst, regularly voted one of the most influential figures in the Macintosh industry. Displays headlines and summaries for the most recent TidBITS stories. At the top of the headline screen, pull to refresh the list. Tap to read the full text of any recent TidBITS article, complete with graphics and embedded movies. Choose among font sizes for reading articles. Follow links to referenced Web sites and other Internet resources in Safari. All headlines and articles are downloaded to your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch so you can catch up on TidBITS while on the subway or on an iPad/iPod touch that's out of range of a Wi-Fi network.

About

RSS Reader for Safari

Take control of your news consumption with this app that aggregates content from your favorite blogs and news sites. Enjoy a clean, distraction-free interface that prioritizes chronological content and respects your privacy. Seamlessly integrated with Safari, it offers powerful organization and smart article management.

Highlights
  • Native Safari extension
  • Clean reading interface
  • Smart article management
  • Automatic feed refresh
  • OPML import/export
  • Privacy-focused
  • Unlimited feed management
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

RSS Reader brings the power of RSS and Atom feeds directly to Safari on your Mac and iOS devices. Cut through the noise of social media algorithms and take control of your content consumption. Subscribe to your favorite blogs, news sites, and podcasts in one clean, distraction-free interface that respects your time and privacy. Your Content. Your Control. No algorithms deciding what you see. No tracking your reading habits for advertisers. Just pure, chronological content from the sources you trust, delivered exactly when they publish. KEY FEATURES: • Native Safari Extension Seamlessly integrated into Safari for Mac and iOS. Detect RSS feeds on any website with one click and subscribe instantly. • Clean Reading Experience Beautiful, dark-themed interface designed for comfortable reading. View full article content inline without leaving the app or opening dozens of tabs. • Smart Article Management Mark articles as read automatically when you view them. Filter between all articles and unread only. Search across all your content to find exactly what you need. • Never Miss an Update Automatic feed refresh keeps your content fresh. Visual indicators show unread articles at a glance with smart badges and highlighting. • OPML Import & Export Migrate from other RSS readers in seconds. Export your subscription list anytime to keep a backup or transfer to another device. • Powerful Organization Manage unlimited feeds with ease. See article counts per feed. Delete feeds and associated articles cleanly. All your subscriptions organized in one place. • Privacy First All your data stays on your device. No cloud sync means no tracking, no data collection, no privacy concerns. Your reading habits are yours alone. • Fast & Efficient Built specifically for Safari with native web extension technology. Lightweight, responsive, and optimized for both Mac and iOS performance. PERFECT FOR: • News enthusiasts who want to follow multiple sources without switching apps • Bloggers and content creators tracking industry news and competitor updates • Researchers and academics monitoring journal feeds and publication updates • Anyone tired of algorithmic feeds who wants chronological, unfiltered content • Privacy-conscious users who want to keep their reading habits private Take Back Your Reading Experience RSS Reader gives you the tools to curate your own information diet. No ads, no distractions, no manipulation. Just the content you choose, delivered the way it should be. Download RSS Reader today and rediscover the joy of focused, intentional reading. Terms & Conditions: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pmstani.github.io/#privacy

Screenshots

TidBITS News2 screens
RSS Reader for Safari2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TidBITS News at Free against RSS Reader for Safari's $4.99. RSS Reader for Safari's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and chart position (#106 vs unranked). On ads and in-app purchases 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

TidBITS News is free to download; RSS Reader for Safari costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
TidBITS News versus RSS Reader for Safari: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTidBITS NewsRSS Reader for Safari
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating3.4 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews62.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#106 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatt NeuburgPierre Stanislas

Customer experience

TidBITS News

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive62.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative34.9%

RSS Reader for Safari

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

TidBITS News

No in-app purchases

None

RSS Reader for Safari

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TidBITS News free?
TidBITS News is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RSS Reader for Safari free?
RSS Reader for Safari costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do TidBITS News or RSS Reader for Safari have ads?
Neither TidBITS News nor RSS Reader for Safari shows ads.

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