Common unix newsreaders are rn, tin, trn, nn, and mxrn. With the exception of mxrn, these are command line readers, which means that you have to enter commands and read messages through a terminal interface. On Macs and Windows you have a choice of GUI readers. For the Mac, there are News Watcher and The News. For Windows, you can use WinVN and Free Agent.
Most news readers are either shareware or freeware and easily available on the Internet.
The latest in newsreaders is that web browsers, such as Netscape and Internet Explorer, can handle the news protocol. That means that you can browse the web and news with the same program. That way you can log off your Internet provider and read the messages in your leisure without worrying about running up your monthly Internet bill.