Ad-Free NetNewsWire Will Cost $15-20
10:54 pm, August 5th, 2009, Giles Turnbull
Yesterday I posted an interview with NetNewsWire developer Brent Simmons about the addition of advertising to the app.
I’d sent a follow-up question, asking Newsgator’s VP of Marketing about the expected pricing structure; here’s the answer, directly from Brent Simmons himself.
“The switch to in-app ads for NetNewsWire is not to make up for lost revenue from NewsGator Online nor is it about the economy.
“It’s common for consumer products to feature free, ad-supported versions and paid, ad-free versions. For example, Tweetie and Twitterrific — two very popular Twitter clients, as you know — offer free and paid versions. And FeedDemon, our RSS reader for Windows, has had ads for some time.
“This strategy gives people the chance to still use the app for free — while still giving a company a way to make money, which is a good thing. We felt the time was right to do follow this strategy with NetNewsWire. So there will be a free ad-supported version, and soon we will release a paid, ad-free version. (The two will have the same features: the only difference will be the ads.)
“We haven’t finalized pricing yet, but we’re looking at a range of $15 to $20, with special introductory pricing at first.”
So there you have it. Will you pay 15 to 20 bucks to remove ads from NetNewsWire? Your thoughts, as always, are welcomed.
Posted by Giles Turnbull in News, Software | Comment on this article
I’ll stick with the current free, ad-free version until it dies…
dave, on August 5th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
My thoughts on this have less to do with getting rid of the ads as giving some moola to those who make great products. But to be be honest, I think the ad removal option makes it easier for me to “remember” to give them the moola in a more timely fashion. I think it is a wise move on their part.
Steven, on August 5th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Ads suck. I’ll keep the current version too, until it is no longer able to run.
Kirk, on August 6th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Well, several things. I wouldn’t mind paying for the ad-free version BUT most feeds already come with advertising in them and also, doesn’t Rupert Murdoch predict that most official news outlets online will start charging for feeds. (via http://mashable.com/2009/08/05/murdoch-chargy-news ) I think it’ll just kill the whole experience.
Sebastian, on August 6th, 2009 at 1:37 am
As long as they keep serving ads via The Deck, I’m happy to go with the free version.
That said, the latest build does everything I need and has the ads disabled, so the incentive to install the final version isn’t that compelling.
$10, I’ll probably buy it anyway just to support independent software, $15 maybe not.
Stuart Gibson, on August 6th, 2009 at 1:56 am
As a long time user of NetNewsWIre ( I had paid for it before it became a free app ) I have “upgraded” from the 3.2b to 3.1. The Google Reader sync does not work. The iPhone/iPod Touch version has not been updated to sync so … 3.2b is useless for real user. I’m sticking with 3.1 until I can find a new newsreader.
Khürt Williams, on August 6th, 2009 at 2:36 am
1. Go Free.

2. Kill the rss.app maeket.
3. Update your app every 2 years!!!

4. Charge $$$ again.
Swiched to Vienna and couldn’t be happier☺
Look, on August 6th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Ad-supported free software business models are for Windows app. I’m disappointed in Brent for going down this path (although it may not have been his decision). The man has done some great things for the Mac development community which is why it’s a shame to see him defending this business model.
Scott, on August 6th, 2009 at 3:32 am
What about those of us who paid for NetNewsWire before it was a free app?
Seb, on August 6th, 2009 at 4:04 am
I’ll pay for it as long as it works as advertised (including the iPhone app). It’s a great piece of software that I use heavily every day.
I hope the people who paid for it before it was free will get the paid version for free.
AndyM, on August 6th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Good question, Seb. I paid for NetNewsWire at the end of 2007, use NetNewsWire on my phone and tolerate FeedDemon on the one PC I have to use on occasion (one client demands it, and I haven’t bothered to fight them yet).
Am I going to have to pay for it again to get rid of the ads?
eric, on August 6th, 2009 at 5:26 am
I moved to NetNewsWire from Vienna when they became free precisely for the syncing. It’s awesome that I can read my feeds at work, pick up where I left off on the iPhone and have everything synced when I get home. Vienna is a great program, but I’m not sure I could give that functionality up and switch back.
Would I pay $10? Probably – I hate adds. Would I pay more then $15? Probably not.
Dan S, on August 6th, 2009 at 6:20 am
If the GReader sync is seamless and it’s able to Star (and work with starred), Like and Share items, I’ll pay the price wholeheartedly…
Daniel, on August 6th, 2009 at 7:39 am
The mac client is great, but the iPhone version is quite buggy (”mark all as read” button does not always appear). They haven’t had an update to either version in a very long time until just now (the mac client) due to the imminent arrival of the ad-version and a paid version. I will stick to the ad-version until I get a better sense of their committment to a quality product which requires timely updates… and that remains to be seen..
derek, on August 6th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Like seb, I too payed for NetNewsWire back in the day, it would be nice to get at least a token of thanks, just give me 10-50% off and I would be happy.
fnurl, on August 6th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Since NNW now syncs to Google Reader, I can use ByLine on the iPhone. Which is nearly everything I wished NNW for iPhone was.
Greg Smith, on August 6th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
It’s a bit much to just drop ads into a feedreader that’s already delivering ads within RSS feeds – and considering I’ve paid for NNW once already, I’ll be looking for a new reader (or just switching to Google). Shame. I’ve been using the software forever, and it’s been part of my daily routine for the best part of 8 years or so…
As for the iPhone app – completely unusable. I find it hard to understand how a company that used to make such user-friendly software managed to release something so buggy and badly thought-out…
Stephen Barber, on September 2nd, 2009 at 12:09 am
I’m another annoyed (paying) customer who is now seeing ads. I won’t pay again, and I am now on the hunt for another client.
Way to sink the ship, Brent!
karl, on September 17th, 2009 at 10:28 am
The ad’s bug me but I don’t see any problem with having them in the free version. I wish though that they had not been introduced before there was an option to get rid of them. I may switch before the paid version comes out just because I CAN”T stand the little moving ads all the time.
Anyone who would switch from an app they like and use all the time because the developer wanted to make a little (couple of drinks, bridge tolls, a few rides on the subway, 3- coffee’s, 1/4 of a parking ticket…) money from his work were just moochers anyway.
Scott, on September 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I, too, bought and paid for NetNewsWire in 2007, when it was not a free app. Cost me $30, and i did it to support an independent software developer that was doing great things (I know, I’m a sucker).
So, the way to show appreciation is to give me a new version where I can’t remove the ads, and it looks like that I’d have to pay once more, if I want that ability?
“Nice little RSS Reader you got there, it would be a pitty if something happened to it and you had to watch ads all the time…”
To me, that’s unacceptable. I’m moving on.
Flavio, on November 17th, 2009 at 8:07 pm