NetNewsWire review
A free, open-source RSS reader with strong Apple platform support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
NetNewsWire is a free, open-source RSS reader for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It collects articles from blogs and news sites, tracks read status, and supports direct RSS feed downloading. Apple users who want a focused way to follow subscriptions across macOS and iOS will find a mature reader with a product history dating to 2002. It also supports Reader View for retrieving full article text, helping keep reading inside the app rather than sending every article back to its source site.
Its strongest area is the combination of organization and reading controls. Folders and smart feeds help group subscriptions, while article and feed filtering can narrow what appears in the reading workflow. Article search, background refreshing, keyboard navigation, and shortcuts add useful controls for regular reading. OPML import and export also supports moving subscription lists into or out of the reader. Safari feed-adding extensions make it easier to add sources while browsing. Together, these features make NetNewsWire a practical fit for individual readers managing a personal collection of feeds.
Syncing is flexible within its Apple-centered ecosystem. Users can sync through iCloud or supported RSS services including Feedbin, Feedly, BazQux, Inoreader, NewsBlur, The Old Reader, and FreshRSS. Direct downloads provide another way to retrieve feeds, while service syncing can connect reading status and subscriptions across supported setups. The trade-off is platform scope: NetNewsWire is designed for macOS and iOS, so it is a better choice for Apple users than for readers seeking broader device coverage. Pick it for a free, focused reader with open-source availability and strong feed-management features; choose an alternative if cross-platform access or team sharing is central to the buying decision.
NetNewsWire pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source with direct feed downloads
- iCloud and major RSS service syncing
- Reader View, smart feeds, filtering, and search
- Where it doesn't
- Limited to macOS and iOS
- No paid tiers for expanded capabilities
- Team-sharing capabilities are not part of its stated focus
NetNewsWire fact sheet, pricing and score →
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