NetNewsWire vs Reeder

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

NetNewsWire

A free, open-source RSS reader for Mac, iPhone and iPad from Brent Simmons.

Open source

Visit NetNewsWire NetNewsWire profile

Reeder

A polished Apple reader whose new version merges feeds, videos and social posts into one timeline.

Paid

Visit Reeder Reeder profile

The short answer

Both are native feed readers for Apple devices only. Choose NetNewsWire for a free, open-source, traditional reader with unread counts, folders and sync through iCloud or services like Feedly, Inoreader and FreshRSS. Choose Reeder for a polished, paid App Store app that merges feeds, YouTube, podcasts and social posts into one timeline synced by iCloud. The main difference is a classic unread-count reader versus a unified timeline.

NetNewsWire or Reeder: our take

NetNewsWire, first released in 2002 and now an open-source project led by its original creator, keeps to a focused set of features: folders, smart feeds for Today, All Unread and Starred, a reader view, article themes, search and single-key shortcuts. On the Mac it adds multiple windows, AppleScript and a Safari extension for adding feeds. It is free under the MIT licence, with no ads, tracking or paid tier, and is known for being fast, stable and accessible.

The current Reeder was rebuilt around a different idea. Instead of unread counts, it presents RSS feeds, YouTube videos, podcasts and social media posts in a single timeline and syncs your reading position through iCloud. Filters build custom timelines by keyword or media type, and any tag can become a public JSON feed. It collects no data and is sold through the App Store. People who want a traditional reader can use Reeder Classic, which keeps unread counts and connects to Feedbin, Feedly, NewsBlur, Inoreader, FreshRSS and others; having two separate apps can be confusing.

Sync is the practical dividing line. NetNewsWire reads feeds on the device, through iCloud, or via Feedbin, Feedly, BazQux, Inoreader, NewsBlur, The Old Reader and FreshRSS, so it fits an existing hosted account. The new Reeder uses iCloud only. NetNewsWire requires recent systems (macOS 15 and iOS 26 or later), while Reeder needs iOS 17 and macOS 14 or later, so older devices favour Reeder.

Choose NetNewsWire if you want a free reader that works with your feed service and tracks what is unread. Choose Reeder if you want one calm timeline for articles, videos and podcasts and are fine with iCloud-only sync.

Choose NetNewsWire if…

Apple users who want a free, fast, no-nonsense native reader
You want open-source software
You want a free option (Reeder is paid only)
Free and open source with no ads or tracking
Fast, stable and accessible native apps

Choose Reeder if…

Apple users who want a beautiful, unified timeline of feeds, videos and posts
Polished, fast native design
Unified timeline of RSS, video, podcasts and social posts

What is NetNewsWire?

NetNewsWire is one of the oldest Mac feed readers, first released in 2002 and revived as a free, open-source project led by its original creator, Brent Simmons. It shows articles from the blogs and news sites you follow and tracks what you have read, with a deliberately focused feature set: folders, smart feeds for Today, All Unread and Starred, a reader view, customisable article themes, search and single-key shortcuts. It can read feeds directly on the device, sync through iCloud, or connect to Feedbin, Feedly, BazQux, Inoreader, NewsBlur, The Old Reader and FreshRSS. On the Mac it supports multiple windows and AppleScript, and a Safari extension makes adding feeds easy. It has no ads, no tracking and no paid tier, and it is known for being fast, stable and accessible. The trade-offs are that it runs only on Apple devices and leaves out newsletters, AI features and other extras found in commercial apps.

What is Reeder?

Reeder by Silvio Rizzi has been a favourite RSS app on iPhone, iPad and Mac for over 15 years. The current Reeder was rebuilt as an inbox for reading, watching and listening: RSS feeds, YouTube videos, podcasts and social media posts flow into a single timeline, and instead of unread counts it syncs your position across devices through iCloud. Filters create custom timelines by keyword or media type, links can be saved with the share extension, and any tag can become a public JSON feed. The previous app remains available as Reeder Classic, a traditional RSS reader and read-later client with a built-in iCloud feed service and support for Feedbin, Feedly, NewsBlur, The Old Reader, Inoreader, BazQux, FreshRSS and Instapaper. Reeder collects no data. It is sold through the App Store and runs only on Apple devices. People who rely on unread counts or third-party sync often prefer Reeder Classic or another app.

Side by side

Attribute	NetNewsWire	Reeder
Pricing	Open source	Paid
Open source	Yes	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	macOS, iOS	iOS, macOS
Best for	Apple users who want a free, fast, no-nonsense native reader	Apple users who want a beautiful, unified timeline of feeds, videos and posts
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	NetNewsWire	Reeder
System requirements	macOS 15+, iOS 26+	iOS 17+, macOS 14+