Tool profile
Unread: cost, fit and limits
Unread is an RSS reader for Mac, iPhone and iPad made by Golden Hill Software that fetches full article text, caches pages for offline reading and syncs with Unread Cloud, Feedbin, Feedly or NewsBlur, without any AI feature named.
What to know first
Unread is built for reading comfort on Apple devices. It pulls full webpage text for feeds that only show summaries, lets you log in to paywalled sites inside the app and caches text and images. Unread Cloud, the sync service, is free, while the app price sits on the App Store and was not on the vendor pages we opened.
Unread at a glance
| Maker | Golden Hill Software, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Entry price | Not published on the vendor pages |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI RSS Readers in 2026, rank 9 of 13 |
| Website | goldenhillsoftware.com/unread |
Who Unread is best for
iPhone and iPad readers
The app is designed for Apple devices and caches text and images, so saved articles stay readable without a connection on a train or flight.
Readers with paywalled subscriptions
Logging into a site inside Unread lets you read articles from publishers you already pay, within the same reading view.
Feedbin, Feedly or NewsBlur users
Sync options include those three services, so you can change the client without moving your subscriptions or losing the read state held by the service.
Unread plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Unread Cloud | Free | A free sync service across devices with sign in with Apple. Syncing with Feedbin, Feedly or NewsBlur instead uses those services' own accounts and pricing. |
Checked November 2026.
What Unread does
- Automatic webpage text
- Fetches the full text for feeds that carry only summaries, so the article opens in one reading view without a trip to the browser or the publisher's page.
- Paywalled articles
- Log in to a site inside Unread to read paywalled articles that your subscription already covers, with the same reading view as any other article.
- Offline caching
- Stores webpage text and images for offline reading, which helps on a flight or in a place with poor coverage, and avoids fetching the same page twice.
- Multiple sync options
- Syncs with Unread Cloud, a local library, Feedbin, Feedly or NewsBlur accounts, so the choice of backend is yours and can change later without a new app.
- Saving and Shortcuts
- Saves links to Instapaper, Pinboard, Raindrop.io, Readwise and wallabag, and runs Apple Shortcuts on articles, which is the route to external summary tools on iPhone or Mac.
How Unread handles your data
The product page describes Unread Cloud as a free sync service with sign in with Apple, which limits what account details are shared. It does not state hosting region, retention, certifications or any use of customer content for training, and the privacy policy link returned 404 on the path tried. Because no AI is named, no article text is described as going to a model provider, and the vendor's policy was not checked beyond the opened pages.
Where Unread falls short in practice
- App price not shown. The vendor pages opened do not show what the app costs, which sits on the App Store, so a buyer must check there before deciding.
- Apple platforms only. Unread runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad, so Windows, Android and Linux readers cannot use it and a household with mixed devices needs a second reader on those.
- No AI named. The pages we read name no summary or assistant feature, so AI would come through Shortcuts or a connected service rather than from inside the app.
Works with
Alternatives to Unread
Unread: common questions
How much does Unread cost?
The vendor pages we opened do not show the price of the Unread app, which is listed on the App Store. Unread Cloud, the sync service, is described as free. Check the App Store listing for the current app price before you commit.
Does Unread have AI summaries?
No AI feature is named on the pages we read. Unread focuses on full-text fetching, caching, paywalled article access and sync. If you want summaries, use Shortcuts or save articles to a service such as Readwise, which Unread lists for saving.
What can Unread sync with?
The product page lists Unread Cloud, a local library, Feedbin, Feedly and NewsBlur accounts. Unread Cloud is free and signs you in with Apple. The other three use their own accounts and pricing, so costs depend on the service you choose.
Which devices does Unread support?
Unread runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad. The pages do not list Windows, Android or Linux versions. Readers on those systems should look at web-based readers or Fluent Reader on desktop instead. The pages say nothing about a web version, so assume Apple devices only.
Can Unread read paywalled articles?
Yes, the product page says you can log into a site inside Unread to read paywalled articles. This needs a subscription you already hold with that publisher. The app does not provide access on its own, only a way to view what you have paid for.