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Reeder vs SmartNews

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
SmartNews logo

SmartNews

News

Local news and breaking news from top sources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Reeder the free tier caps at ten feeds, which is restrictive for anyone following more than a handful of sources.; SmartNews no specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Reeder covers Multi-source feeds, SmartNews covers Machine learning curation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Reeder and SmartNews actually diverge.

Attributes where Reeder and SmartNews differ
AttributeReederSmartNews
Pricing modelPer user per monthfree
PlatformsMac, iOSIos, Android
FoundedUnknown2012

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 Reeder

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

Only in SmartNews

  • Machine learning curation
  • Smart Mode
  • Local news
  • Breaking alerts
  • Offline reading
  • Social sharing
  • News publishers
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Reeder

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

SmartNews

  • Daily newsnot Reeder
  • Local newsnot Reeder
  • Breaking newsnot Reeder
  • Quick readingnot Reeder

Where each one falls short

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

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.

SmartNews

  • No specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • Requires visiting separate product page for pricing details
  • Subscription service model described but not detailed with costs

Pricing, plan by plan

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

SmartNews

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Trending news
    • Local news
    • Smart Mode reading

Which should you pick?

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

Choose SmartNews if

  • You need machine learning curation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want smart mode.
SmartNews review

Questions people ask

Is Reeder or SmartNews better?
Neither clearly leads. Reeder starts at Free and SmartNews at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Reeder or SmartNews?
Reeder starts at Free and SmartNews at Free.
Does Reeder or SmartNews run on more platforms?
Reeder runs on Mac, iOS. SmartNews runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use Reeder for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Reeder best used for?
Reeder is most often used for a reader who wants youtube, reddit and mastodon alongside rss feeds in one triage-focused app, someone with more than ten feeds who is comfortable with a low cost subscription rather than a hard cap, a long time reeder user who prefers the older interface and wants to avoid a subscription by using reeder classic instead, a user who wants shared curated feed lists with friends or colleagues, a plus-only feature. Of those, a reader who wants youtube, reddit and mastodon alongside rss feeds in one triage-focused app and someone with more than ten feeds who is comfortable with a low cost subscription rather than a hard cap are not what SmartNews is typically brought in for.
What can Reeder do that SmartNews cannot?
Reeder covers Multi-source feeds, Gesture-based triage, Shared feeds, Cross-device sync. SmartNews covers Machine learning curation, Smart Mode, Local news, Breaking alerts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Reeder: Is Reeder free?

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

SmartNews: How much does SmartNews cost?

SmartNews does not publish specific subscription pricing on its main website. The vendor offers SmartNews+, described as a subscription service aggregating paid business news and coupons, but cost details must be found on the dedicated SmartNews+ product page.

Source
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.

SmartNews: Does SmartNews offer a free tier?

SmartNews provides free access to curated news content. For additional business news and coupons, the vendor offers SmartNews+ as a paid subscription service. Pricing and trial details for SmartNews+ are available on the dedicated subscription product page.

Source
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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