RSS Reader vs Headly
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
RSS Reader
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Zers is a simple and powerful RSS reader that helps you stay up to date without distractions. Follow your favorite feeds, read articles in a clean format, and focus on the content that mattersβwithout ads, banners, or clutter. Instead of manually saving links, Zers automatically brings new articles from your RSS feeds and turns them into a calm, readable experience you can enjoy anytime. Key Features: - RSS Feed Reader: Add your favorite RSS feeds and get new articles delivered automatically. - Background Refresh & Notifications: Stay informed with background updates and notifications when new articles are available. - Folders & Organization: Organize feeds into folders to keep everything structured and easy to find. - Clean Reading View: Articles are displayed in a distraction-free layout for comfortable reading. - Customize Your Reading Experience: Adjust font style and size to match your preferences. - Offline Reading: Articles are saved on your device so you can read them without an internet connection. - Search Within Articles: Quickly search through article content to find what you need. - Text Highlight & Notes: Highlight important sections and add optional notes for later reference. - Listen to Articles: Let Zers read articles aloud using natural-sounding voices. - Dark Mode Support: Read comfortably at night or in low-light environments. - Home Screen Widgets: Keep track of unread articles and reading progress at a glance. - iCloud Sync: Your feeds and articles stay in sync across all your devices. - Shortcuts Integration: Use Siri Shortcuts to build powerful reading workflows. Zers lets you experience all features for free, with up to 3 RSS feeds. If you follow more sources, upgrading unlocks unlimited feeds while keeping the same simple and private experience. Zers is built for readers who want to stay informed without noise. Follow your feeds, read offline, and enjoy a calm way to keep up with the web. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Headly
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Stay informed in seconds, not hours. Headly is your intelligent news companion, delivering personalized briefings powered by Apple Intelligence. Built for busy people who want to stay current without the noise. WHY HEADLY? News never stops. When you open a news website later, you may not know if you have already read a story, which can waste your time. Headly solves this by collecting all your news into one clear, chronological timeline. The latest stories appear first, followed by earlier updates. All your sources are merged into a single continuous feed. Preview any story with one tap. When you are done reading, swipe left to mark it as read and keep your feed organized. Designed for professionals who rely on timely information, including CEO, founders, executives, and decision makers. Used by leaders in banking, technology, consulting, and media, as well as entrepreneurs, analysts, investors, and busy knowledge workers who need to stay informed without distraction. Perfect for morning commutes, coffee breaks, or staying informed throughout your day. Download Headly and transform how you consume news. Free to download with optional Premium subscription for advanced features. SMART NEWS DELIVERY β’ View all your news sources in one unified timeline β’ Stay focused with a clean and structured reading experience β’ Mark articles as read with a simple swipe β’ Undo actions instantly to recover important stories β’ Filter news by your preferred time range β’ Support small, medium, and large widgets PREMIUM β’ Receive AI-powered summaries from your trusted sources at your preferred time β’ Read or listen to news with a single tap, ideal for commutes and multitasking β’ Choose your preferred voice for audio playback β’ Translate summaries into your selected language, including English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, and Italian β’ Add and manage your own RSS feeds PERSONALIZED FOR YOU Choose from trusted publications across more than 15 countries: β’ United States: The New York Times, ABC, FOX, NPR, The Washington Post β’ United Kingdom: BBC, The Guardian, Sky News β’ Canada: CBC News, CityNews, Global News β’ Belgium: HLN, GVA, VRT NWS, De Standaard, Nieuwsblad β’ Netherlands: NOS, NU.nl, AD, De Telegraaf β’ Germany: DER SPIEGEL, Die Zeit, Tagesschau β’ France: Le Monde, Le Figaro, France 24 β’ Spain: El PaΓs, El Mundo, ABC β’ Also available in Australia, Japan, India, Brazil, and more FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS Your feedback matters. Share your thoughts, suggestions, or report any issues, and Iβll use them to improve Headly. Contact me directly at https://www.stefanvd.net/support/ SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION A Headly Premium subscription is required for full access. Payment will be charged to your App Store account upon confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.stefanvd.net/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://www.stefanvd.net/privacy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: RSS Reader at every 2 weeks against Headly's every 6 weeks. RSS Reader also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Headly's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. RSS Reader sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month and Headly sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
RSS Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, Headly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RSS Reader | Headly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks β better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch β better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 β better | 26.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | FoxfortMobile | Stefan Van Damme |
In-app purchases
RSS Reader
- Zers Premium Monthly$2.001 Month
- Zers Premium Weekly$2.007 Days
- Zers Premium Weekly 2$3.997 Days
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- Zers Premium Yearly$8.001 Year
- Zers Premium Yearly 2$12.001 Year
- Zers Premium Lifetime$12.00
- Zers Premium Lifetime 2$20.00
Headly
- Monthly Premium$1.991 Month
- Yearly Premium$17.991 Year









