Alternatives · Read Later
News Explorer alternatives
News Explorer compared with 5 alternatives: Reeder, NetNewsWire, Unread, Fiery Feeds and Newsify.
News Explorer is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $4.99 one-time for the mobile edition; $9.99 one-time for the Mac edition. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| News ExplorerThis tool | Free trial · from $4.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Reeder | Free plan · from $14.99/yr | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| NetNewsWire | Free | Free | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Unread | Free plan · from $29.99/yr | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Fiery Feeds | Free plan · from $1.99 | Yes | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Newsify | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS |
How each one differs from News Explorer
- Free plan · from $14.99/yr
Reeder
Feed reader for Apple devices with a synced timeline
- Reeder starts at $14.99 per year, or $1.99 per month (US App Store). News Explorer starts at $4.99 one-time for the mobile edition; $9.99 one-time for the Mac edition.
- Reeder has a free plan. News Explorer does not, though it has a free trial.
- News Explorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Reeder also covers read later and bookmarks.
Suits: Apple users who want feeds, videos and podcasts in one timeline
- Free
NetNewsWire
Free, open-source RSS reader for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- NetNewsWire is free. News Explorer starts at $4.99 one-time for the mobile edition; $9.99 one-time for the Mac edition.
- NetNewsWire has a free plan. News Explorer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NetNewsWire lists a browser extension.
- NetNewsWire is open source, according to its own site.
- News Explorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Mac, iPhone and iPad users who want a free reader with no account
- Free plan · from $29.99/yr
Unread
RSS reader for Mac, iPhone and iPad with full-text retrieval
- Unread starts at $29.99 per year, or $4.99 per month. News Explorer starts at $4.99 one-time for the mobile edition; $9.99 one-time for the Mac edition.
- Unread has a free plan. News Explorer does not, though it has a free trial.
- News Explorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Mac, iPhone and iPad readers who follow feeds that publish only summaries
- Free plan · from $1.99
Fiery Feeds
Customizable feed reader and read-later client for Apple devices
- Fiery Feeds starts at $1.99 to $9.99 for Pro; billing periods not shown on the US App Store. News Explorer starts at $4.99 one-time for the mobile edition; $9.99 one-time for the Mac edition.
- Fiery Feeds has a free plan. News Explorer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Fiery Feeds lists a browser extension.
- News Explorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Fiery Feeds also covers read later.
Suits: People who already use a feed service and want an Apple client for it
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Newsify
RSS reader with a newspaper-style layout for Apple devices and web
- Newsify starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year (US App Store). News Explorer starts at $4.99 one-time for the mobile edition; $9.99 one-time for the Mac edition.
- Newsify has a free plan. News Explorer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Newsify lists a web app.
- News Explorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: iPhone, iPad and Mac users who like a newspaper-style layout for feeds
Limits worth knowing in News Explorer
- Built only for Apple platforms, with syncing that relies on iCloud; there is no web, Windows or Android version.
- The Mac app and the mobile app are separate purchases, listed at $9.99 and $4.99 on the US App Store.
- The 14-day trial is a download of the Mac edition; the App Store editions are paid up front.
- Current versions need macOS 15.6 or iOS and iPadOS 18 or later, and the Apple Watch app needs a paired iPhone.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to News Explorer?
The alternatives to News Explorer in this directory are Reeder, NetNewsWire, Unread, Fiery Feeds and Newsify. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with News Explorer.
Is there a free alternative to News Explorer?
Yes. NetNewsWire is free to use. Reeder, Unread, Fiery Feeds and Newsify have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to News Explorer?
NetNewsWire is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 6, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.