Skip to content
ToolGPA

Newsboat review (2026): is it any good?

Free RSS and Atom feed reader that runs in the terminal

FreeRead LaterChecked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Visit newsboat.orgFree guide

Newsboat report card

2.8GPA

Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026

Best for an RSS reader that runs in the terminal

Newsboat is a free, open-source RSS reader that runs in the terminal, with filters, macros, podcast support and sync with services like Feedbin and Miniflux. It's set up through a config file and key bindings, so expect some editing. It has no graphical, web or phone version.

Who Newsboat is for

  • Fits if you live in a terminal and want feeds there too
  • Works for people who like scripting what happens to an article

Who Newsboat is not for

  • Skip it if you want a point-and-click app, because it's text only
  • Not for you if you use Windows, as the docs list Linux, FreeBSD and macOS and don't mention it
  • Too light for phone reading, since there's no mobile version
  • Watch out: setup is by config file and key bindings, and NetBSD is unsupported
See the alternatives

Why Newsboat gets a 2.8

Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.

  • AValue for moneyFree under the MIT license, distributed as source and through package managers, against a $2.50 start for the cheaper quarter of reading apps.
  • AFree plan and trialThe whole program is free, with no paid plans and nothing held back.
  • BFeaturesFilters, killfiles, a built-in HTML renderer, scripts, bookmarking, macros, podcasts and client mode for outside services. Nothing in the listing is missing for feed reading.
  • DEase of useNo rating on record. It's a command-line program set up by config file and key bindings, which takes some editing.
  • CPlatforms and integrationsLinux and macOS, plus FreeBSD per the docs, and text only. No Windows, graphical, web or phone version.

What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Newsboat's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.

Make Newsboat? Put this grade on your site
Newsboat: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA

Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges

<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/newsboat#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/newsboat.svg" alt="Newsboat: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>

Where Newsboat stands among read-later and bookmark apps

Newsboat's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 28 of the 52 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 6.

It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 38 of 52) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).

Newsboat has no paid plan.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 53 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Newsboat’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 34 of 52, level with 18
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 38 of 52, level with 14
  • BFeaturesAbove 20 of 52, level with 28
  • DEase of useAbove 0 of 52, level with 5
  • CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 52, level with 15

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 47 read-later and bookmark apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$1$2$5$10$20More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessNewsboat

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart, and the best read-later and bookmark apps at every price

Keep Newsboat, or make your own?

Keep it

Newsboat is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

What you could make

  • RSS reader and bookmarks: an app builder makes these well.

What you could not

  • A real app for macOS and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • It plugs into other products, The Old Reader, NewsBlur and Feedbin among them.
  • The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. Newsboat’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

What is Newsboat?

Newsboat is a text-console feed reader for Unix-like systems, and an actively maintained fork of Newsbeuter. It renders articles in the terminal, filters and groups them with a query language, and can send links to bookmarking scripts. It can also act as a client for several online feed services.

Worth knowing

  • It is a text interface only; there is no graphical, web or mobile version.
  • The documentation lists Linux, FreeBSD and macOS as tested; Windows is not mentioned and NetBSD is unsupported.
  • Setup is by config file and key bindings, which takes some editing.

Key features

Built-in HTML renderer
Text-only entries display inside the terminal, so there is no need to start a web browser to read them.
Filters and killfiles
Drop articles by title, author or contents, and build meta-feeds that gather articles by any criteria you write.
Service client mode
Connects to The Old Reader, NewsBlur, FeedHQ, BazQux, Feedbin, FreshRSS, Tiny Tiny RSS, Inoreader, Miniflux and others.
Scripts and bookmarking
Pipe links or whole articles to bookmarking scripts, and run feeds through transforming scripts before display.
Macros and podcasts
Chain several actions behind two keystrokes. Podboat, a companion tool, gives basic podcast downloading.

Newsboat pricing

As of Nov 12, 2026, Newsboat is free to use.

Starts at
Free
Free plan
None
Free trial
None listed
Free$0Free software under the MIT license, distributed as source and through package managers; no paid plans.

Read from newsboat.org on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Newsboat before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Works with

Newsboat alternatives

All Newsboat alternatives comparedAll read-later and bookmark apps

Common questions

Does Newsboat have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Newsboat is listed for Linux and macOS.

Does Newsboat have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Newsboat is listed for Linux and macOS.

Is Newsboat open source?

Yes. Newsboat is open source, according to its own site.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.