Tool profile
Vienna: cost, fit and limits
Vienna is a free, open-source RSS and Atom reader for macOS developed by the ViennaRSS Project under the Apache-2.0 license, with a layout modeled after Apple Mail, sync through the Open Reader API and no AI features named.
What to know first
Vienna is a Mac-only reader with no price. Version 3.11 needs macOS 10.15 or newer, and releases come from GitHub, SourceForge and Homebrew Cask. It reads RSS, Atom and JSON Feed, syncs through the Open Reader API and offers toolbar plugins, but no AI feature is named on its pages, so summaries need a separate tool. It suits Mac users who want a quiet reader.
Vienna at a glance
| Maker | ViennaRSS Project, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free (Apache-2.0) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI RSS Readers in 2026, rank 12 of 13 |
| Website | vienna-rss.com |
Who Vienna is best for
Mac users who like Apple Mail
The layout is modeled on Apple Mail: scan summaries in a list, then open articles in a simplified view, which feels familiar to long-time Mac users.
Readers with an Open Reader API service
Sync works with BazQux, FreshRSS, FeedHQ, Inoreader and TheOldReader, so a Mac client can sit in front of the service you already use.
Command-line installers
Homebrew Cask installs it with a single command, which suits people who manage their apps from the terminal and want updates through the same route.
Vienna plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Open source app | Free (Apache-2.0) | The Macintosh app is free, with releases on GitHub, SourceForge and Homebrew Cask. The pages opened show no price and no paid tier. |
Checked November 2026.
What Vienna does
- Mail-style layout
- Scan summaries in a list first, then open articles in a simplified view, with a layout modeled after Apple Mail that Mac users will recognize at once.
- Feed formats
- Reads RSS, Atom and JSON Feed, so most modern sources work without conversion, including the newer sites that publish only a JSON feed and no XML.
- Open Reader API sync
- Syncs with BazQux, FreshRSS, FeedHQ, Inoreader and TheOldReader through the Open Reader API, which keeps read state in step with your other devices and clients.
- Plugins
- Plugins are XML-based plist actions that appear in the toolbar, giving a light way to send an article to another app without writing a full extension.
- Homebrew install
- Install with brew install --cask vienna, and updates come through the same route, which suits people who already manage Mac software with Homebrew and scripts.
How Vienna handles your data
Vienna stores its feed data locally on your Mac, or on the sync server you connect through the Open Reader API. The pages we opened describe no vendor-hosted service, so retention, hosting region and certifications are not stated by the project. No AI feature is named, so article text is not described as going to a model provider. Sync services such as Inoreader or FreshRSS have their own policies, and the project's own policy was not checked.
Where Vienna falls short in practice
- macOS only. Vienna runs on Macintosh only, and version 3.11 needs macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or newer, so no iPhone, Windows or Linux version exists from the project.
- Sync through one API. Sync works through the Open Reader API only, so services that speak other protocols, such as iCloud, are not options for keeping read state across your devices.
- No AI named. The pages list reading and sync features but no summary or assistant feature, so AI would come from the sync service you pick or from another app entirely.
Works with
Alternatives to Vienna
Vienna: common questions
Is Vienna free?
Yes. The pages describe Vienna as an open-source Mac app under the Apache-2.0 license and show no price or paid tier. Releases come from GitHub, SourceForge and Homebrew Cask. A sync service you connect may have its own pricing. It has no subscription.
Which macOS version does Vienna need?
Version 3.11.x needs macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or newer according to the pages we read. Newer versions may raise that requirement, so check the release notes on GitHub before installing on an older Mac or planning an upgrade. Older Macs may need an earlier release.
Does Vienna have AI features?
No AI feature is named on the project pages. Vienna covers reading RSS, Atom and JSON Feed, mail-style layout, plugins and Open Reader API sync. Readers who want summaries should pair it with a service from the AI-focused part of this ranking.
What can Vienna sync with?
Vienna syncs through the Open Reader API with BazQux, FreshRSS, FeedHQ, Inoreader and TheOldReader. Without a sync account it reads locally on your Mac, so subscriptions stay on that one machine and need exporting to move. Export OPML to move them.
Who makes Vienna?
The pages name the ViennaRSS Project and show a copyright of 2010 to 2026. No company, country or support plan is stated, and the app is community-maintained open source, so help comes from the project's channels. There is no commercial support.