NetNewsWire vs Audible
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
NetNewsWire is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.2. NetNewsWire wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Audible on 1.
Apple users who want to follow blogs and news sites without an algorithm
Regular listeners who want new releases and Originals they can keep
Score by score
The details
| Feature | NetNewsWire | Audible |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reading & News | Reading & News |
| Category rank | #2 of 11 | #9 of 11 |
| Developer | Brent Simmons | Audible, Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Subscription |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is NetNewsWire better than Audible?
NetNewsWire is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.2. NetNewsWire wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Audible on 1.
Which is cheaper, NetNewsWire or Audible?
NetNewsWire: Completely free, with no in-app purchases. Audible: Standard is $8.99 a month; Premium Plus is $14.95 with a credit; 30-day free trial. On value for money, NetNewsWire scores higher.
Do NetNewsWire and Audible work on the same devices?
Only NetNewsWire runs on Mac. Only Audible runs on Android, Web.
Which is more private, NetNewsWire or Audible?
NetNewsWire scores higher on privacy (9.8/10). App Store label: no tracking and no data linked to you, only a user ID not tied to your identity. Crash logs are opt-in, and the website uses no cookies or trackers.
Strengths and weaknesses
NetNewsWire
- Free, open source and ad-free
- Collects almost no data about you
- Fast native apps for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- No Android, Windows or web version
- Reader view isn't guaranteed to work on every site
- Long backlog of requested features
NetNewsWire is an RSS reader that does one job very well: it shows you new posts from the sites you choose, in order, with nothing pushed by an algorithm. It's native on Mac, iPhone and iPad, and syncs through iCloud, Feedbin, Feedly, Inoreader and others. It's free and open source, with no ads and no tracking. The catch: it's Apple-only, and its feature set stays deliberately simple.
Full NetNewsWire review
Audible
- Huge catalog with exclusive Originals
- Premium Plus books stay yours even if you cancel
- Syncs your place with Kindle ebooks
- Credits get pricey if you finish many books
- Standard plan books vanish when you cancel
- Lots of data linked to your Amazon account
Audible has one of the largest audiobook libraries, with over a million titles and Originals you won't find anywhere else. Premium Plus gives you a monthly credit for any book you keep forever, plus the Plus Catalog to stream. The new $8.99 Standard plan costs less, but those books disappear if you cancel. The app handles the basics well: speed control, a sleep timer, offline downloads and syncing with Kindle ebooks.
Full Audible review
