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NetNewsWire vs Reeder

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
Reeder logo

Reeder

News

Subscription RSS and social feed reader for Apple platforms, with a separate one-time Classic version

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Reeder the free tier caps at ten feeds, which is restrictive for anyone following more than a handful of sources.
  • They diverge on capability: NetNewsWire covers RSS and Atom parsing, Reeder covers Multi-source feeds.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NetNewsWire and Reeder actually diverge.

Attributes where NetNewsWire and Reeder differ
AttributeNetNewsWireReeder
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Mac, iOS), 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 Reeder

  • Multi-source feeds
  • Gesture-based triage
  • Shared feeds
  • Cross-device sync
  • Reeder Classic option
  • Custom themes

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

Reeder

  • A reader who wants YouTube, Reddit and Mastodon alongside RSS feeds in one triage-focused appnot NetNewsWire
  • Someone with more than ten feeds who is comfortable with a low cost subscription rather than a hard capnot NetNewsWire
  • A long time Reeder user who prefers the older interface and wants to avoid a subscription by using Reeder Classic insteadnot NetNewsWire
  • A user who wants shared curated feed lists with friends or colleagues, a Plus-only featurenot 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.

Reeder

  • The free tier caps at ten feeds, which is restrictive for anyone following more than a handful of sources.
  • Having two separately named and priced apps, Reeder and Reeder Classic, has confused users trying to work out which one to buy.
  • It depends on continued access to YouTube, Reddit and Mastodon APIs for its social feed features, any of which could change terms and reduce functionality.
  • It is Apple platforms only, with no Windows, Android or web version.
  • The subscription, while cheap, is still an ongoing cost compared with NetNewsWire, which does the core RSS job for free indefinitely.

Pricing, plan by plan

NetNewsWire

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

Reeder

Free
  • Reeder (free)Free
    • Up to 10 feeds
    • Core reading and triage features
  • Reeder Plus$1/month
    • Unlimited feeds
    • Shared feeds
    • Social timelines from Reddit and Mastodon
  • Reeder ClassicFree
    • Separate app, one-time purchase pricing
    • No subscription required
    • Traditional RSS-focused feature set

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 Reeder if

  • You need multi-source feeds.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, iOS.
  • You also want gesture-based triage.
Reeder review

Questions people ask

Is NetNewsWire or Reeder better?
Neither clearly leads. NetNewsWire starts at Free and Reeder at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NetNewsWire or Reeder?
NetNewsWire starts at Free and Reeder at Free.
Does NetNewsWire or Reeder run on more platforms?
Both run on Mac, iOS, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use NetNewsWire for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Reeder is typically brought in for.
What can NetNewsWire do that Reeder cannot?
NetNewsWire covers RSS and Atom parsing, Third party sync, Unlimited feeds, Smart feeds. Reeder covers Multi-source feeds, Gesture-based triage, Shared feeds, Cross-device sync.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

NetNewsWire: Is NetNewsWire free?

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

Reeder: Is Reeder free?

A free tier exists capped at ten feeds; unlimited feeds and social timelines require the Reeder Plus subscription.

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.

Reeder: What is Reeder Classic?

A separate, older Reeder app kept available as a one-time purchase for users who do not want the new subscription model.

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.

Reeder: Does Reeder support YouTube and Reddit, not just RSS?

Yes, the current version combines RSS with YouTube channels, Reddit communities and Mastodon timelines in one app.

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