NetNewsWire vs Ground News
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
NetNewsWire is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.0. NetNewsWire wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Ground News on 1.
Apple users who want to follow blogs and news sites without an algorithm
News readers who want to see past any one outlet's framing
Score by score
The details
| Feature | NetNewsWire | Ground News |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reading & News | Reading & News |
| Category rank | #2 of 7 | #7 of 7 |
| Developer | Brent Simmons | Snapwise Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is NetNewsWire better than Ground News?
NetNewsWire is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.0. NetNewsWire wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Ground News on 1.
Which is cheaper, NetNewsWire or Ground News?
NetNewsWire: Completely free, with no in-app purchases. Ground News: Free tier; in the iOS app, Pro starts at $0.99 a month and Vantage is $9.99. On value for money, NetNewsWire scores higher.
Do NetNewsWire and Ground News work on the same devices?
Only NetNewsWire runs on Mac. Only Ground News runs on Android, Web.
Which is more private, NetNewsWire or Ground News?
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
Ground News
- Shows how each side covers the same story
- Blindspot feed catches stories you'd miss
- Free tier covers the basics
- Bias ratings are per outlet, not per article
- Factuality and ownership data need a paid plan
- Doesn't get you past publishers' paywalls
Ground News groups coverage of the same story from more than 50,000 sources and shows you who's covering it: how much comes from the left, center and right, how factual each outlet is rated, and who owns it. The Blindspot feed surfaces stories one side barely covers. It's a useful check on your own bubble. Ratings are per outlet, not per article, and the best data needs a subscription.
Full Ground News review
