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Reviews for NetNewsWire

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avery_smith61
Avery Smith
May 31, 2026
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3.67/5
A Solid Free Reader, But Lacking Polish in Some Areas
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I appreciate NetNewsWire’s clean, native-feeling interface and the fact that it's completely free and open source. The syncing between my Mac and iPhone works reliably, and offline reading is a lifesaver. However, the podcast management feels like an afterthought compared to dedicated apps, and I've encountered a few minor but persistent bugs, like occasional duplicate articles in my feed. It's a great free option, but power users might find it a bit basic.

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dakota_white20
Dakota White
May 29, 2026
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2.50/5
Great Concept, Frustrating Sync
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I really wanted to like NetNewsWire, especially being free and open source. However, the sync between my Mac and iPhone is unreliable; articles I read on one device constantly reappear as unread on the other. The interface is clean, but the core functionality of keeping my reading position synced is broken, making it unusable for my multi-device workflow.

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aking3168
Anna King
May 26, 2026
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3.67/5
Simple and Familiar, But Could Use Some Polish
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I appreciate what NetNewsWire is doing as a free, open-source RSS reader with reliable syncing across my Mac and iPhone. The interface is clean and the basic functionality works well for subscribing to feeds and reading offline. However, the podcast management feels like an afterthought compared to dedicated apps, and I've experienced a few odd bugs with scrolling and feed refresh. It's a solid choice for pure RSS reading, but it lacks some modern conveniences.

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llopez1994
Liam Lopez
May 25, 2026
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4.67/5
A Rock-Solid, No-Nonsense RSS Reader
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NetNewsWire has completely replaced my other feed readers. It’s incredibly fast, clean, and just gets out of my way so I can focus on reading. The seamless iCloud sync between my Mac and iPhone means I never lose my place, and the fact that it’s free and open source is just the cherry on top. It handles my massive list of subscriptions without a hiccup.

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lmiller6896
Lisa Miller
May 21, 2026
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4.67/5
The Clean, Fast, and Free RSS Reader I've Been Waiting For
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NetNewsWire has completely streamlined how I keep up with my favorite blogs and news sites. The interface is beautifully simple and clutter-free, making it a joy to read without distractions. I love how reliably it syncs my subscriptions between my Mac and iPhone, so I can pick up right where I left off. As a free and open-source app, the value is unbeatable.

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shall1083
Skyler Hall
May 21, 2026
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2.50/5
Free but Frustratingly Basic and Buggy
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While I appreciate that NetNewsWire is free and open source, its simplicity feels more like a limitation than a feature. The syncing across my devices is frequently unreliable, causing feeds to appear or disappear at random. For managing a large podcast library, its tools are far too basic compared to dedicated apps, and I've encountered several crashes on iOS that have left me scrambling for alternatives.

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river_taylor52
River Taylor
May 20, 2026
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4.00/5
A Clean, Capable Reader with Some Syncing Hiccups
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NetNewsWire is a fantastic, no-fuss RSS reader. The interface is clean and intuitive, and it's incredibly fast at fetching and displaying articles, even offline. However, the syncing between my Mac and iPhone can be unreliable, sometimes missing read statuses or new subscriptions, which is frustrating for a core feature.

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emma_jackson13
Emma Jackson
May 20, 2026
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4.00/5
A Solid, No-Frills Reader with Room for Improvement
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NetNewsWire is my go-to for its clean, native Mac interface and the fact that it's completely free and open source. It reliably syncs my feeds between devices and handles podcasts well enough for my needs. However, I sometimes find its feature set a bit basic compared to some competitorsβ€”I'd love more advanced filtering and customization options. The developer community is active, but there's no formal customer support, which can be a downside.

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liamweb931
Liam Lee
May 14, 2026
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4.50/5
My Go-To RSS Reader That Just Works
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NetNewsWire has been my daily driver for RSS for years now. It's fast, incredibly clean, and syncs perfectly between my Mac and iPhone. The fact that it's free and open source feels like a gift to the community, offering a premium experience without any of the bloat or subscription fees.

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mthomas5561
Morgan Thomas
May 12, 2026
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3.67/5
Essential but occasionally frustrating free RSS reader
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NetNewsWire is my go-to for RSS because it's free, open-source, and syncs perfectly between my Mac and iPhone. The interface is clean and it's great for offline reading. However, managing a large number of feeds can feel clunky, and I've had occasional syncing hiccups where read articles reappear.

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Review Summary
3.6
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Based on 20 reviews

Ease of Use 4.3/5
Features 3.2/5
Value for Money 4.5/5
Customer Support 2.9/5
Overall Experience 3.4/5
Rating Distribution
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NetNewsWire
NetNewsWire

NetNewsWire is a free and open source RSS reader and podcast manager for Mac, iOS, and iPadOS devices. It allows …

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