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Comparison · Collab

Miniflux vs NetNewsWire

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Miniflux and NetNewsWire — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Shared themes:rss

Miniflux vs NetNewsWire: at a glance

FeatureMinifluxNetNewsWire
SectorCollabCollab
Velocity score5.05.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesrss, passkeys, oidc, self-hostedrss, mac, ios, reader ui
Last editorial update15h ago6h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is Miniflux?

Miniflux adds group-based admin roles and lets passkeys be the only login.

Miniflux 2.3.5 adds OpenID Connect admin role mapping from group claims, a force option on the feed refresh API and validation of CSS selectors in rewrite and scraper rules. Passkeys can now serve as the only login method when local authentication is disabled. The security list is long again, covering session sign-out on password change, feed cookie scoping and SSRF bypass blocks, following similar work in 2.3.4.

Read the full Miniflux trajectory →

What is NetNewsWire?

NetNewsWire 7.2 adds a column layout and unread-count controls; 7.3 beta brings back the status bar.

NetNewsWire shipped 7.2 on Mac and iOS in mid-October: a column layout for the timeline, settings for where unread counts appear, more sort options and faster Today and unread queries on iOS. A 7.2.1 Mac patch followed, and the 7.3 Mac beta restores the status bar with last-refresh time.

Read the full NetNewsWire trajectory →

Miniflux vs NetNewsWire: editorial side-by-side

M
Miniflux
COLLAB
5.0

Miniflux adds group-based admin roles and lets passkeys be the only login.

◆ Current state

Miniflux 2.3.5 adds OpenID Connect admin role mapping from group claims, a force option on the feed refresh API and validation of CSS selectors in rewrite and scraper rules. Passkeys can now serve as the only login method when local authentication is disabled. The security list is long again, covering session sign-out on password change, feed cookie scoping and SSRF bypass blocks, following similar work in 2.3.4.

◆ Where it's heading

The two threads from earlier this year continue, but the security work has broadened from authentication strictness to the server's network and session behavior. SSO is the new thread: admin mapping and an authentication settings page make Miniflux easier to run for a group rather than one person. API additions and validation messages keep serving people driving it from other software.

◆ Prediction

The next release likely adds more identity options around OIDC and further SSRF hardening, since both have moved in consecutive releases. Neither is promised in these notes.

N5.0

NetNewsWire 7.2 adds a column layout and unread-count controls; 7.3 beta brings back the status bar.

◆ Current state

NetNewsWire shipped 7.2 on Mac and iOS in mid-October: a column layout for the timeline, settings for where unread counts appear, more sort options and faster Today and unread queries on iOS. A 7.2.1 Mac patch followed, and the 7.3 Mac beta restores the status bar with last-refresh time.

◆ Where it's heading

After a 7.1.x cycle spent fixing Feedly sync, the app is back to visible but modest UI work, mostly on Mac first with iOS a few days behind. Betas move quickly to finals, and each release stays small.

◆ Prediction

Expect 7.3 final for Mac within weeks, given two betas landed in three days, with an iOS counterpart if it follows the 7.2 pattern.

Alternatives to Miniflux and NetNewsWire

Other Collab products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Miniflux or NetNewsWire.

See all Miniflux alternatives → · See all NetNewsWire alternatives →

Recent activity from Miniflux and NetNewsWire

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 17h agoMiniflux2.3.5 adds OIDC admin role mapping and passkey-only login
  2. 11d agoNetNewsWireNetNewsWire 7.3b2 for Mac
  3. 13d agoNetNewsWireNetNewsWire 7.3b1 for Mac
  4. 13d agoNetNewsWireNetNewsWire 7.2.1 for Mac
  5. 13d agoMiniflux2.3.4 adds Gotify and tightens SSRF protections
  6. 15d agoNetNewsWireNetNewsWire 7.2.1b1 for Mac
  7. 18d agoNetNewsWireNetNewsWire 7.2 (7221) for iOS
  8. 19d agoNetNewsWireNetNewsWire 7.2 for Mac
  9. 3mo agoMinifluxFeeds and entries now carry declared language
  10. 4mo agoMinifluxSearch gains phrases, OR and negation; new bulk entry endpoints
  11. 5mo agoMinifluxOAuth binding, open redirect and SQL injection issues fixed
  12. 5mo agoMinifluxWebAuthn login restricted to passkeys only ⚡

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Miniflux and NetNewsWire?

Both compete on the same themes — rss — within Collab. Miniflux and NetNewsWire are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Miniflux better than NetNewsWire?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Miniflux and NetNewsWire are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Collab products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Miniflux?

Top Miniflux alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Miniflux alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/miniflux for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to NetNewsWire?

Top NetNewsWire alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "NetNewsWire alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/netnewswire for the full list with editorial commentary on each.