The Newsboat Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Newsboat in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Newsboat
The Insider’s Guide
Free RSS and Atom feed reader that runs in the terminal
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among read-later and bookmark apps, read from Newsboat’s own pages.
Made by Newsboat project · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Newsboat’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Newsboat’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 28 of the 52 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Newsboat, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It has no graphical, web or phone version.
- 1
Best for an RSS reader that runs in the terminal
It's set up through a config file and key bindings, so expect some editing.
- 2
It is free
Newsboat has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Linux and macOS.
- 4
Built-in HTML renderer
Text-only entries display inside the terminal, so there is no need to start a web browser to read them.
- 5
Filters and killfiles
Drop articles by title, author or contents, and build meta-feeds that gather articles by any criteria you write.
- 6
Service client mode
Connects to The Old Reader, NewsBlur, FeedHQ, BazQux, Feedbin, FreshRSS, Tiny Tiny RSS, Inoreader, Miniflux and others.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 28 of 52
That is against the other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Newsboat is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Newsboat at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Linux
- Made by
- Newsboat project
- Category
- Read Later & Bookmarks
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under the MIT license, distributed as source and through package managers, against a $2.50 start for the cheaper quarter of reading apps. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole program is free, with no paid plans and nothing held back. |
| Features | B | Filters, 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. |
| Ease of use | D | No rating on record. It's a command-line program set up by config file and key bindings, which takes some editing. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Linux and macOS, plus FreeBSD per the docs, and text only. No Windows, graphical, web or phone version. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Terminal users who live in a shell all day
- People who want to script how feeds are filtered and saved
- Readers who keep feeds on a server and read them from a console
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Newsboat is free to use.
The whole program is free, with no paid plans and nothing held back.
Free
$0
Free software under the MIT license, distributed as source and through package managers; no paid plans.
Read from newsboat.org on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Linux
Free RSS and Atom feed reader that runs in the terminal. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, bookmarks, rSS reader.
Filters, killfiles, a built-in HTML renderer, scripts, bookmarking, macros, podcasts and client mode for outside services.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Linux
What it works with
- The Old Reader
- NewsBlur
- Feedbin
- FreshRSS
- Tiny Tiny RSS
- Inoreader
- Miniflux
- BazQux Reader
Newsboat is made by Newsboat project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
28/52
Other read-later and bookmark apps it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 38 of 52
- BFeaturesAbove 20 of 52
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 52
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 52
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 47 read-later and bookmark apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Newsboat is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
RSS Guard, Miniflux, FreshRSS, Tiny Tiny RSS and Fluent Reader
The 5 tools Newsboat is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
RSS Guard
Free
Open-source desktop feed reader and podcast player.
- Only RSS Guard lists a Windows app.
- Newsboat also covers bookmarks.
- 3.2GPA
Miniflux
Free plan · from $15/yr
Minimalist open-source feed reader, self-hosted or hosted.
- Only Newsboat lists Linux and macOS apps.
- Only Miniflux lists a web app.
- Miniflux is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
FreshRSS
Free
Free, self-hosted RSS and Atom feed aggregator.
- Only Newsboat lists Linux and macOS apps.
- Only FreshRSS lists a web app.
- FreshRSS is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Tiny Tiny RSS
Free
Free, self-hosted web feed reader with filters and plugins.
- Only Newsboat lists Linux and macOS apps.
- Only Tiny Tiny RSS lists a web app.
- Tiny Tiny RSS is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Fluent Reader
Free
Open-source desktop RSS reader for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Only Fluent Reader lists a Windows app.
- Newsboat also covers bookmarks.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Newsboat free?
Yes. Newsboat is free to use.
How much does Newsboat cost?
Newsboat lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Newsboat work on?
Newsboat is available on Linux and macOS.
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.
What does Newsboat integrate with?
Newsboat's listing names The Old Reader, NewsBlur, Feedbin, FreshRSS, Tiny Tiny RSS, Inoreader, Miniflux and BazQux Reader.
Who makes Newsboat?
Newsboat is made by Newsboat project.
What are the alternatives to Newsboat?
The closest alternatives to Newsboat in our directory are RSS Guard, Miniflux, FreshRSS, Tiny Tiny RSS and Fluent Reader.
How does Newsboat compare with other 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.
Is Newsboat good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Newsboat A for value for money. Newsboat has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Newsboat?
Newsboat is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A real app for macOS and Linux.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Newsboat’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Newsboat project. Prices change, so check newsboat.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Newsboat, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/newsboat
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Newsboat: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/newsboat
Know someone choosing between read-later and bookmark apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/newsboat/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded read-later and bookmark apps after Newsboat, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Read Later & Bookmarks Insider's GuideEvery one of the 53 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, compared
- FeedFlow Insider's GuideFree, open-source RSS reader for mobile and desktop3.2 GPA
- Flipboard Insider's GuideFree news aggregator built around topics and shared Magazines3.2 GPA
- Miniflux Insider's GuideMinimalist open-source feed reader, self-hosted or hosted3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Newsboat’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Newsboat is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Newsboat project. Prices and plans change: check newsboat.org before you buy.