Follow websites with RSS
Choose between a conventional unread queue and a mixed-source timeline.
The short answer
Try NetNewsWire for a conventional feed-reading workflow. Investigate current Reeder if a mixed-source timeline suits you better. Neither app can guarantee that a website publishes a feed, and a subscription list is not a backup of every article.
Which app fits your job?
NetNewsWire
iPhone · iPad · macOSRead RSS without a paid reader subscription
A practical starting point for following websites in a native Apple RSS client.
The tradeoff: Feed synchronization and permanent full-article archiving solve different problems.
Free open-source reader
Official website · no app fee · 2026-10-18 · Plan details & source
Explore NetNewsWire →Reeder
iPhone · iPad · macOSFollow sources in a dedicated reading inbox
Consider it for following feeds and keeping up with sources, rather than managing academic references.
The tradeoff: Reeder and Reeder Classic are different products; match any review to the edition you intend to use.
Free download · $1.99/month or $14.99/year
US App Store · USD · 2026-10-18 · Plan details & source
Explore Reeder →Readwise Reader
iPhone · iPad · macOS · WebConnect reading to a highlight workflow
Shortlist it when saved documents and highlights feed an ongoing research or knowledge-management routine.
The tradeoff: A recurring subscription makes more sense for an active workflow than a rarely opened reading queue.
30-day trial · Full $9.99/month billed annually
Vendor website · USD · 2026-10-18 · Plan details & source
Explore Readwise Reader →Editorial selection advice based on the linked product documentation, attributed feedback and any explicitly labeled test results—not a universal winner.
See the apps, not just the feature list
Developer-published product images. Captions identify the platform and source; these are not our test captures.
NetNewsWire
Reeder
Readwise Reader
What reviewers and users say
Our summaries of linked accounts—not our own experience or a vote-based ranking. Older versions and different platforms are labeled. Sources reviewed October 18, 2026.
MacStories · John Voorhees
NetNewsWire 5 for Mac · historical release
The review presents NetNewsWire as a solid native RSS foundation and discusses its article list and sharing workflow.
Read in context: Version 5 context; not a current feature inventory or an iPhone review.
Defiant Sloth · Paul Williams
Sep 11, 2024 · new Reeder launch
After a week, Williams likes returning to a timeline position instead of managing unread counts and combining media sources. He still uses NetNewsWire for work-related RSS.
Read in context: A launch-era workflow preference, not a current feature inventory or a claim that everyone should replace a traditional reader.
Tao of Mac · Rui Carmo
Sep 5, 2024 · new Reeder launch
Carmo likes the interface but does not find the unified multimedia inbox valuable enough for his own reading priorities to justify subscribing.
Read in context: The contrast with Williams is a difference in preferred reading workflow, not a factual conflict requiring a benchmark. Both accounts predate the 2026 release.
r/readwise community
Historical worth-it discussion · varied workflows
Participants differ over whether Reader earns its subscription: some value reading and highlight workflows; others mainly want the original daily highlight review.
Read in context: A self-selected discussion, not a representative survey or a current price source. Readwise and Reader are related but distinct workflows.
App Store · thesupremecourt
US listing · displayed Jun 30; year not shown
This subscriber praises selectable reading voices and support, and asks for Kobo integration.
Read in context: A single accessibility-related experience; the displayed date omits a year. It does not establish general reliability or current integration availability.
NetNewsWire · App Store reader examples
US feed · 50 recent entries retrieved 2026-10-18. Up to one positive and one critical example selected from that feed; not a representative sentiment survey.
Bird0fHermes · 2026-09-23 · 5/5 · v7.1.4
“Syncs great with my personal Miniflux server. I like how…”Read the source feed ↗
UnhappyCommenter · 2026-10-07 · 3/5 · v7.1.4
“InoReader and Newsblur fail to import, feedly and feedbin both…”Read the source feed ↗
Reeder · App Store reader examples
US feed · 50 recent entries retrieved 2026-10-18. Up to one positive and one critical example selected from that feed; not a representative sentiment survey.
M.James · 2026-10-02 · 5/5 · v2026.10
“The craftsmanship behind this app is mind blowing and that…”Read the source feed ↗
asentientai · 2026-10-16 · 2/5 · v2026.10
“C’mon man, let’s have a control that tones down the…”Read the source feed ↗
How to read disagreement
Different opinions can reflect different jobs, versions, devices or paid plans. We do not call a few comments “the consensus.” A consequential factual conflict that remains after checking those differences is a candidate for a focused hands-on test. A preference for one interface over another usually is not.
Compare your options
| Approach | Intended result | Tradeoff | Evidence boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| NetNewsWire | A conventional subscription queue | Source availability and chosen sync service still matter. | Official feature and setup documentation. |
| Current Reeder | A mixed-source timeline | Different progress model; not Classic. | Current product page and help. |
| Reader | Feeds alongside saved documents | Broader paid reading workspace. | Official Reader overview. |
Start with sources, not an app collection
Pick five websites you actually want to follow. A useful subscription is one you would otherwise revisit manually. Avoid importing hundreds of old feeds before discovering whether you prefer a daily queue or occasional browsing; an oversized unread count can recreate the pressure of an inbox.
Resolve the feed first
If website discovery fails, look for an explicitly published RSS, Atom or JSON feed URL. Paste that address rather than repeatedly guessing. Some sites publish excerpts or separate feeds for sections. Confirm that the sample items belong to the section you intended to follow.
Choose how progress should work
NetNewsWire presents a traditional read/unread model. Current Reeder uses timeline position rather than the Classic model. This difference matters more than theme preferences: test what happens after skipping ten posts, changing devices and returning the following day.
Protect your exit route
Export the subscription list and inspect it before committing. OPML represents feed subscriptions, not necessarily saved article text, tags or all service-specific source types. Keep a small reference list so you can detect an omitted feed after moving to another application.
Limitations & considerations
- NetNewsWire: The app is free, but an external synchronization service can have its own terms.
- Reeder: Current Reeder and Reeder Classic are separate products. Historical Classic reviews do not describe this timeline-based edition.
- Readwise Reader: Reader is included in Readwise Full, not Lite. The $9.99 monthly equivalent is billed annually.
Documented features, attributed opinions and explicitly labeled hands-on observations are different kinds of evidence. We do not infer unmeasured performance or privacy guarantees.
Sources & scope
Reviewed October 18, 2026. These are provider-published sources; listings and feature access can change. This article uses the linked documentation; any hands-on observations are separately labeled.
- NetNewsWire feed setup
Version 6.1 iPhone/iPad instructions; current version 7 interface requires verification.
- Current Reeder help
Configuration, saved links, data export and timeline behavior for current Reeder.
- Readwise Reader overview
Official supported-content overview; not a recommendation based on testing.