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Inoreader vs NetNewsWire

Inoreader logo

Inoreader

News

The content reader for power users

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
NetNewsWire logo

NetNewsWire

News

Free open source RSS reader for Mac and iOS, with no subscription, no ads and no feed limit

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Inoreader free plan limited to 150 RSS feeds and 20 web feeds; NetNewsWire it has no built in YouTube, Reddit or Mastodon integration, so a user wanting social feeds alongside RSS needs Reeder instead.
  • They diverge on capability: Inoreader covers RSS/Atom feeds, NetNewsWire covers RSS and Atom parsing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Inoreader and NetNewsWire actually diverge.

Attributes where Inoreader and NetNewsWire differ
AttributeInoreaderNetNewsWire
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidMac, iOS
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (News).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Inoreader

  • RSS/Atom feeds
  • Newsletter subscriptions
  • Advanced rules engine
  • Active search
  • Content translation
  • Zapier
  • IFTTT
  • Pocket

Only in NetNewsWire

  • RSS and Atom parsing
  • Third party sync
  • Unlimited feeds
  • Smart feeds
  • Local search
  • Open source

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Inoreader

  • RSS feed aggregation and monitoringnot NetNewsWire
  • Social media monitoring across multiple platformsnot NetNewsWire
  • AI-powered content summarisation and article analysisnot NetNewsWire

NetNewsWire

  • A reader who only wants traditional RSS and Atom feeds with no cap and no costnot Inoreader
  • Someone who tried Reeder free tier, hit the ten feed limit, and wants an unlimited free alternative insteadnot Inoreader
  • A developer who wants an open source reader they can inspect or contribute to on GitHubnot Inoreader
  • A user who wants feed sync through an existing Feedbin or Feedly account without paying for a separate reader subscriptionnot Inoreader

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Inoreader

  • Free plan limited to 150 RSS feeds and 20 web feeds
  • Free plan lacks advanced features like filters, rules, and social media monitoring
  • Text-to-speech limited to 5 articles per day on Pro plan
  • Article translation limited to 10 articles per day on Pro plan

NetNewsWire

  • It has no built in YouTube, Reddit or Mastodon integration, so a user wanting social feeds alongside RSS needs Reeder instead.
  • Cross-device sync requires a third party account such as Feedbin or Feedly for full functionality, which may itself carry its own cost.
  • As a volunteer-maintained project, new feature development and release cadence are slower than a funded commercial app.
  • It is Apple platforms only, with no Windows, Android or web client.
  • Its reading interface is more traditional and less gesture-driven than Reeder, which some users used to modern touch interactions find plainer.

Pricing, plan by plan

Inoreader

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 150 RSS feed subscriptions
    • Web search
    • Google News alerts
  • Pro$7.5/month
    • 2,500 RSS feed subscriptions
    • 20 web feeds
    • 20 newsletter feeds
  • Custom$null/custom
    • Flexible payment options
    • Special add-ons available
    • API access

NetNewsWire

Free
  • NetNewsWireFree
    • Free and open source, no account required
    • No feed limit
    • Optional third party sync services

Which should you pick?

Choose Inoreader if

  • You need rss/atom feeds.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want newsletter subscriptions.
Inoreader review

Choose NetNewsWire if

  • You need rss and atom parsing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, iOS.
  • You also want third party sync.
NetNewsWire review

Questions people ask

Is Inoreader or NetNewsWire better?
Neither clearly leads. Inoreader starts at Free and NetNewsWire at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Inoreader or NetNewsWire?
Inoreader starts at Free and NetNewsWire at Free.
Does Inoreader or NetNewsWire run on more platforms?
Inoreader runs on Web, iOS, Android. NetNewsWire runs on Mac, iOS.
Can I use Inoreader for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Inoreader best used for?
Inoreader is most often used for rss feed aggregation and monitoring, social media monitoring across multiple platforms, ai-powered content summarisation and article analysis. Of those, rss feed aggregation and monitoring and social media monitoring across multiple platforms are not what NetNewsWire is typically brought in for.
What can Inoreader do that NetNewsWire cannot?
Inoreader covers RSS/Atom feeds, Newsletter subscriptions, Advanced rules engine, Active search. NetNewsWire covers RSS and Atom parsing, Third party sync, Unlimited feeds, Smart feeds.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Inoreader: What is the difference between Inoreader Free and Pro plans?

Inoreader Free includes 150 RSS subscriptions, web search, and Google News alerts. Pro upgrades to 2,500 subscriptions, 20 web feeds, 20 newsletters, 30 social feeds per service, plus API access and higher limits on translations and text-to-speech conversions.

Source
NetNewsWire: Is NetNewsWire free?

Yes, entirely, and it is open source with no paid tier or ads.

Inoreader: How much does Inoreader Pro cost?

Inoreader Pro costs $7.50 per month when billed annually or $9.99 per month on a monthly plan. The annual plan is marked as the most popular option and offers a lower monthly rate.

Source
NetNewsWire: Does NetNewsWire sync across devices?

Yes, through third party sync services such as Feedbin, Feedly or iCloud, rather than a proprietary sync system of its own.

Inoreader: What payment methods does Inoreader accept?

Inoreader accepts all major credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. EU customers have VAT applied based on their country. Annual subscriptions have a 7-day refund window.

Source
NetNewsWire: Does it support YouTube or Reddit like the new Reeder?

No. It is focused purely on RSS and Atom feeds with no social feed integration.

Inoreader: Does Inoreader Pro include API access?

Yes, Inoreader Pro includes API access. Custom plans with flexible payment options and special add-ons are also available through a quote request.

Source
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