News · head to head
NetNewsWire vs PR Newswire
NetNewsWire
News
Free open source RSS reader for Mac and iOS, with no subscription, no ads and no feed limit
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
PR Newswire
News
The global leader in press release distribution
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only NetNewsWire has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: NetNewsWire it has no built in YouTube, Reddit or Mastodon integration, so a user wanting social feeds alongside RSS needs Reeder instead.; PR Newswire pR Newswire is structured as an annual membership organization with a separate fee, on top of per-release distribution charges (archived pricing page, 8 September 2021)
- They diverge on capability: NetNewsWire covers RSS and Atom parsing, PR Newswire covers Press release distribution.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which NetNewsWire and PR Newswire actually diverge.
| Attribute | NetNewsWire | PR Newswire |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | usage-based |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Mac, iOS | Web |
| Founded | Unknown | 1954 |
Identical on both: 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 NetNewsWire
- RSS and Atom parsing
- Third party sync
- Unlimited feeds
- Smart feeds
- Local search
- Open source
Only in PR Newswire
- Press release distribution
- Multimedia support
- Analytics & reporting
- Targeted distribution
- Regulatory disclosure
- Cision platform
- Google News
- Yahoo Finance
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
NetNewsWire
- A reader who only wants traditional RSS and Atom feeds with no cap and no costnot PR Newswire
- Someone who tried Reeder free tier, hit the ten feed limit, and wants an unlimited free alternative insteadnot PR Newswire
- A developer who wants an open source reader they can inspect or contribute to on GitHubnot PR Newswire
- A user who wants feed sync through an existing Feedbin or Feedly account without paying for a separate reader subscriptionnot PR Newswire
PR Newswire
- Press release distributionnot NetNewsWire
- Product launchesnot NetNewsWire
- Earnings announcementsnot NetNewsWire
- Corporate newsnot NetNewsWire
- SEC filingsnot NetNewsWire
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
PR Newswire
- PR Newswire is structured as an annual membership organization with a separate fee, on top of per-release distribution charges (archived pricing page, 8 September 2021)
- Single state-level press release distribution starts at $355 USD for only a 400-word release, with pricing rising per additional word or wider circuit (archived pricing page, 8 September 2021)
- Top Markets distribution, a wider circuit than a single state, starts at $650 USD for a 400-word release, and a four-release Top Markets bundle is $3,095 USD (archived pricing page, 8 September 2021)
Pricing, plan by plan
NetNewsWire
Free- NetNewsWireFree
- Free and open source, no account required
- No feed limit
- Optional third party sync services
PR Newswire
On request- US1 - State$575/one-time
- State distribution
- Online posting
- Basic analytics
- US2 - Regional$825/one-time
- Regional distribution
- AP inclusion
- Enhanced analytics
- US3 - National$1475/one-time
- National distribution
- All wire services
- Multimedia options
- GlobalFree
- International distribution
- Translation services
- Global reach
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose PR Newswire if
- You need press release distribution.
- You also want multimedia support.
Questions people ask
- Is NetNewsWire or PR Newswire better?
- Neither clearly leads. NetNewsWire starts at Free and PR Newswire at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, NetNewsWire or PR Newswire?
- NetNewsWire has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for NetNewsWire and On request for PR Newswire.
- Does NetNewsWire or PR Newswire run on more platforms?
- NetNewsWire runs on Mac, iOS. PR Newswire runs on Web.
- Can I use NetNewsWire for free?
- Yes. NetNewsWire has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PR Newswire starts at On request.
- What is NetNewsWire best used for?
- NetNewsWire is most often used for a reader who only wants traditional rss and atom feeds with no cap and no cost, someone who tried reeder free tier, hit the ten feed limit, and wants an unlimited free alternative instead, a developer who wants an open source reader they can inspect or contribute to on github, a user who wants feed sync through an existing feedbin or feedly account without paying for a separate reader subscription. Of those, a reader who only wants traditional rss and atom feeds with no cap and no cost and someone who tried reeder free tier, hit the ten feed limit, and wants an unlimited free alternative instead are not what PR Newswire is typically brought in for.
- What can NetNewsWire do that PR Newswire cannot?
- NetNewsWire covers RSS and Atom parsing, Third party sync, Unlimited feeds, Smart feeds. PR Newswire covers Press release distribution, Multimedia support, Analytics & reporting, Targeted distribution.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
NetNewsWire: Is NetNewsWire free?
Yes, entirely, and it is open source with no paid tier or ads.
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.
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.
Related pages
More on NetNewsWire
More on PR Newswire
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