Comparison

Relative News vs SmartRSS

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

Head to head
About

Relative News

Get a comprehensive view of news by comparing coverage from trusted sources. This app offers AI-powered search, instant alerts, and a distraction-free reader to help you understand complex stories with multiple perspectives.

Highlights
  • Daily news summaries
  • AI-powered news search
  • Compare coverage from different outlets
  • Real-time news alerts
  • Save and follow stories
  • Distraction-free reading mode
Features
Read full description

See the full picture, fast. Compare coverage across trusted sources, follow breaking updates, and read in a clean, distraction-free reader. --Key features-- • Daily Brief: Summaries of top stories, updated throughout the day. • AI Search: Ask questions, get instant answers backed by real articles. • Compare Coverage: View how different outlets report the same story. • Instant Alerts: Get real-time notifications for trending news. • Save & Follow: Bookmark stories and track updates as they evolve. • Explore by Topic: Politics, Technology, Business, Health, and more. • Distraction-Free Reader: Clear headlines and a focused reading mode. • Sync Across Devices: Your saved stories stay with you wherever you sign in. • Free & Ad-Free: Enjoy all features without costs or clutter. --Why Relative?-- We help you see beyond one source. By putting reputable reporting in one place and making comparison effortless, you get context, not spin. Stay informed with multiple viewpoints, avoid sensationalism, and never miss a breaking story. Download Relative - news clarity starts here.

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

Relative News4 screens
SmartRSS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Relative News at none against SmartRSS's 3. SmartRSS's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 75%) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. SmartRSS sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.29 per month. Relative News asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Relative News holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 17 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Relative News's written reviews are positive against 91% of SmartRSS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Relative News ships an update weekly, SmartRSS every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Relative News versus SmartRSS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRelative NewsSmartRSS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (31 ratings) — better4.6 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings31 — better17
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB85 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRelative LLC铫 刘

Customer experience

Relative News

All ratings31 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral3.2%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative18.8%

SmartRSS

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

In-app purchases

None

Relative News

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

SmartRSS

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

Questions

Is Relative News free?
Relative News is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SmartRSS free?
SmartRSS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Relative News or SmartRSS?
Relative News is rated higher. Relative News averages 4.8 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while SmartRSS averages 4.6 from 17 ratings.
Do Relative News or SmartRSS have ads?
Neither Relative News nor SmartRSS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Relative News or SmartRSS?
Relative News ships an update weekly, and SmartRSS every 6 days. Most recently, Relative News was updated on November 4, 2026 and SmartRSS on November 6, 2026.

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