Comparison

Current vs WIRED

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

Head to head
About

Current

This app offers a peaceful way to consume RSS feeds without the pressure of unread counts or overdue articles. It prioritizes a calm, unhurried reading experience with beautiful typography and intuitive navigation. Sync with various providers or use local feeds for a personalized content stream.

Highlights
  • No unread counts or badges
  • Calm and unhurried design
  • Beautiful article presentation
  • Support for multiple sync providers
  • Full-text article extraction
  • Universal app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Current is an RSS reader built on a simple idea: your feed should never make you feel behind. There are no unread counts. No red badges. No number climbing while you sleep, silently tallying everything you haven't read. Current shows you what's new right now, and that's it. Nothing is owed. Nothing is overdue. You open it when you want to read, and whatever's there is what's there. The design is intentional. Every screen, every interaction, every animation was built to feel calm and unhurried. Articles are presented beautifully with clean typography and generous whitespace. Navigation is fluid and intuitive. The app gets out of the way and lets you focus on what matters: the writing. Current supports multiple sync providers so you can bring your existing subscriptions: - Feedbin - Inoreader - MiniFlux - FreshRSS - The Old Reader - NewsBlur - Local RSS (on-device, no account needed) Features: - Universal app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Beautiful article reader with smart formatting - Full-text article extraction - Light and dark themes - Background refresh - OPML import and export - Share extension - Keyboard shortcuts on iPad and Mac - iCloud sync for local feeds Current is a one-time purchase. No subscription. No ads. No tracking. Just an app you buy once and own forever. Built by an indie developer who wanted to love RSS again.

About

WIRED

Currently charting
Read full description

Download the WIRED app for breaking tech news, expert analysis, and the stories shaping tomorrow. WIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, WIRED tells the stories of the people, technologies, and forces transforming our world. A WIRED EXPERIENCE BUILT FOR YOU * Start your day with a personalized Daily Digest, curated around the topics and journalists that matter most to you. * Get notified the moment new stories go live that will be of greatest interest to you. * Explore dedicated channels for AI, security, science, culture, business, and more. LISTEN TO WIRED * Listen to narrated versions of WIRED articles, hands-free, on any commute. * Explore the Audio tab for curated playlists and suggestions for what to listen to next. * Listen for as long as you’d like and pick up right where you left off. WATCH AND GO DEEPER * Tune into original WIRED video in a dedicated Watch tab. * Join interactive livestreams hosted by WIRED staff and expert guests. * Watch interviews, explainers, and behind-the-story video journalism that brings WIRED’s reporting to life. SAVE, SHARE, AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION * Save articles to read later, on your schedule. * Share stories instantly with friends, colleagues, and followers. * Join the WIRED community and take part in conversations with WIRED reporters and readers in our moderated comments. From the latest breakthroughs in AI to the forces reshaping science, business, culture, and society, WIRED helps you understand not just what's happening now, but what it means for what comes next. By downloading the WIRED app, you agree to: * Our User Agreement: http://condenast.com/user-agreement * Our Class Action Waiver and Arbitration Provisions: https://www.condenast.com/user-agreement#introduction-arbitration-notice * Our Privacy Policy: https://www.condenast.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Current4 screens
WIRED4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: WIRED at Free against Current's $9.99. WIRED also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Current's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). On in-app purchases and chart position 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

WIRED is free to download; Current costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Current versus WIRED: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCurrentWIRED
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (111 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews68.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings111 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#26 — better#54
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB76 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJupiter Interactive Group LLCAdvance Magazine Publishers Inc.

In-app purchases

None

Current

No in-app purchases

None

WIRED

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Current free?
Current costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is WIRED free?
WIRED is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Current or WIRED have ads?
WIRED shows ads; Current does not.
Which is more popular, Current or WIRED?
Current currently peaks at #26 in the App Store charts, and WIRED at #54. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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