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NetNewsWire vs Prowly

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
Prowly logo

Prowly

News

PR software to tell your story and track results

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Prowly no pricing published on the website
  • They diverge on capability: NetNewsWire covers RSS and Atom parsing, Prowly covers Media database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NetNewsWire and Prowly actually diverge.

Attributes where NetNewsWire and Prowly differ
AttributeNetNewsWireProwly
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMac, iOSWeb
FoundedUnknown2013

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 Prowly

  • Media database
  • Press release builder
  • Online newsroom
  • Email pitching
  • Coverage tracking
  • Semrush
  • Google Analytics
  • Slack

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 Prowly
  • Someone who tried Reeder free tier, hit the ten feed limit, and wants an unlimited free alternative insteadnot Prowly
  • A developer who wants an open source reader they can inspect or contribute to on GitHubnot Prowly
  • A user who wants feed sync through an existing Feedbin or Feedly account without paying for a separate reader subscriptionnot Prowly

Prowly

  • Media outreachnot NetNewsWire
  • Press release creationnot NetNewsWire
  • Journalist discoverynot NetNewsWire
  • PR measurementnot 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.

Prowly

  • No pricing published on the website
  • Pricing tiers and costs must be requested through signup or sales inquiry

Pricing, plan by plan

NetNewsWire

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

Prowly

On request
  • Essential$369/month
    • Media database
    • Press release creator
    • Online newsroom
  • Professional$589/month
    • All Essential features
    • Coverage tracking
    • Advanced analytics
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Unlimited features
    • API access
    • Custom integrations

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.
NetNewsWire review

Choose Prowly if

  • You need media database.
  • You also want press release builder.
Prowly review

Questions people ask

Is NetNewsWire or Prowly better?
Neither clearly leads. NetNewsWire starts at Free and Prowly at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NetNewsWire or Prowly?
NetNewsWire has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for NetNewsWire and On request for Prowly.
Does NetNewsWire or Prowly run on more platforms?
NetNewsWire runs on Mac, iOS. Prowly runs on Web.
Can I use NetNewsWire for free?
Yes. NetNewsWire has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Prowly 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 Prowly is typically brought in for.
What can NetNewsWire do that Prowly cannot?
NetNewsWire covers RSS and Atom parsing, Third party sync, Unlimited feeds, Smart feeds. Prowly covers Media database, Press release builder, Online newsroom, Email pitching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

NetNewsWire: Is NetNewsWire free?

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

Prowly: How much does Prowly cost?

Prowly does not display pricing on its website. Users must sign up for the platform or contact the sales team to learn about available plans and pricing.

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.

Prowly: What payment model does Prowly use?

The pricing page references plan selection but does not display available tiers, pricing models, or billing options. Contact Prowly sales for details on subscription or usage-based pricing.

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.

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