The Best RSS Readers in 2023
One of my most-used tools on the internet is a good RSS reader. For those who haven’t yet discovered this venerable, classic tool, RSS readers allow you to keep caught up on the latest news and blog posts from your favorite sources without having to go to each one individually. If you want to join me in being able to read all my news from one place, read on as I outline the best RSS readers in 2023.
Features Required for a Good RSS Reader
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication. RSS feeds are automatically created by blogs, news sites, and other web pages to provide a way to see a summary of new content. It’s also commonly referred to simply as a news feed.
Since RSS has been around since 1999, you can well imagine several really solid apps have made enjoying the feeds a polished, easy experience. That being said, there are a few characteristics that an RSS reader absolutely has to meet for me to recommend it.
It’s Gotta Be Free, at Least In Its Most Basic Form
Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not opposed to paying for a high-quality, well-supported app. However, reading news feeds really shouldn’t cost anything, in my opinion.
So, every app or service you see here is going to at least have a great free option that will meet most readers’ needs. These may also include subscriptions, but that’s to get away from advertisements or enjoy more features.
You Need Control Over the Order Articles are Displayed
RSS readers, those trusty old guardians of online content, have been around the block a few times. Their mission? Simple. They bring you the latest content, fresh off the press, in a neat reverse chronological lineup.
Think of them as your personal content concierges, letting you pick and choose exactly what you want to dive into. Now, for this roundup, I’ve steered clear of any apps that try to outsmart us with algorithms deciding what we should see first (you know, the ones that push popular posts to the top).
If the Feed Offers Full Text, So Should the Free Version of the Reader
When crafting an RSS feed, our publisher pals have a choice: give us a sneak peek of their content or go big and show the whole shebang. Now, this means our trusty RSS readers can’t always see the full article because, well, they can only work with what they’re given.
But hey, when a site decides to share everything, the RSS reader becomes a storytelling superstar, showing every word. And just so you know, I gave the boot to any apps that tried to hide this full-text fiesta behind a paywall. If the publisher says it’s free, it should stay free – no VIP pass is needed!
The Top RSS Readers in 2023
With that information out of the way, it’s time to outline the best RSS readers available in 2023. I’ve personally tested each of these (and even a few others…), including the premium features of a few, to see if they were worth opening up your wallet.
Inoreader, a Free RSS Reader with Amazing Search and Archiving Functionality
Meet Inoreader, the Swiss Army knife of free RSS readers on our list! It’s like a buffet where you can gorge on up to 150 feeds without spending a dime. Plus, you can play detective and search within your subscriptions.
Now, most RSS apps treat content like a Snapchat message — here now, gone in a flash. But Inoreader is more like a memory vault. Everything you’ve read is kept safe and sound for as long as you want to retain it. You can even tidy up your feeds into folders and slap tags on articles for super easy sorting.
Inoreader is like a superhero app for the RSS pros, but it’s as friendly as a puppy for beginners. Newbies get a cozy tutorial tour, making it a piece of cake to start, even if RSS sounds like alphabet soup to you.
Premium Features That Don’t Break the Bank
Thinking of going premium with Inoreader? As of this writing, you can sign up for the Pro plan for $9.99 per month or just $7.50/month if you pay annually. Once you upgrade, it’s like unlocking a treasure chest of additional features. Follow newsletters, YouTube channels, and Facebook Pages; set up ninja-level rules for auto-sorting content; and tweak your dashboard to only show what tickles your fancy.
As a tech writer, I use it to filter feeds to my liking and dig up articles faster than a squirrel finding nuts. No more swimming through a sea of blah to find the gold.
If you’re a Zapier user, you might be glad to know that Inoreader plays nice with the automation and integration service. This helps you hook Inoreader up with thousands of other apps. Imagine automagically sending your favorite articles to Pocket or Instapaper or even lining them up in a Google spreadsheet. It’s like having your own personal internet butler!
Availability
Inoreader Pros
- Available on the web as well as in iOS and Android apps.
- It’s great for power users since it’s packed with filters, advanced rules, archives, and more.
- Allows you to save the articles you read permanently, which is great for future research.
- Zapier integration allows you to take even more control over the content you consume.
Inoreader Cons
- The free plan inserts advertisements into the RSS feeds you subscribe to.
- If you import subscriptions as an OPML file, the free plan only refreshes the feeds once a day. You can, however, manually refresh as often as you wish.
Feedly: the OG of Web-Based RSS Readers
Feedly is seen by many as the LeBron James of web-based RSS readers — it’s been at the top of its game for ages. Why? Well, it’s got a clean, no-fuss interface that works whether you’re just a casual “let’s-keep-everything-in-one-place” reader or a “give-me-all-the-bells-and-whistles” power user.
On the house, Feedly lets you follow up to 100 sources, sort your favorite sites into three folders, binge-watch YouTube, and enjoy full-text articles (when they’re up for grabs) in a zen-like, minimalist view. Plus, it’s got mobile apps for Android and iOS, so you can dive into your feeds whether you’re chilling on the couch or hustling through your commute.
A quick heads-up: if you’re hopping out of your RSS app to read the full text on a website, it’s usually the publisher’s doing, not Feedly playing hard to get. But hey, if you’re looking to level up, Feedly morphs into a powerhouse. With Pro or Pro+ plans, you get to search your feeds, mix newsletters into your reading list, annotate content, and highlight the juicy bits.
Then there’s the AI wizardry: it can sift through articles to find exactly what you’re into (or totally not into), suggest similar reads, or spotlight cool stuff like product launches. It’s like RSS got an upgrade, turning into a research goldmine minus the social media algorithm vibes. Perfect for pros who want their RSS reader to be a one-stop information shop.
Want to make Feedly play nice with your other apps? Zapier’s got your back. With their integration, you can do neat tricks like send articles to your Buffer queue, share stuff on Slack, or neatly file tagged articles in a Google Sheet. It’s like giving your Feedly a high-five with your other apps!
Feedly’s free plan is going to suit most folks’ needs, but the paid options offer tons of additional features and functionality without breaking the bank. The Pro plan is $6/month with annual billing. Feedly’s Pro+ plan is slightly more, but still only $8.25 per month on an annual billing cycle.
Availability
Feedly’s Pros
- The free plan offers plenty of features and functionality to suit most people’s needs.
- Feedly’s mobile apps, on both iOS and Android, are top-notch.
- The service can integrate with just about any other third-party feed-reading app you prefer.
Precious Few Cons
- The sponsored ads on the free plan can be distracting and look like “real” content.
NewsBlur: A Great Honorable Mention, but a Bit Too Limited
NewsBlur is like the all-you-can-eat buffet of RSS readers but with a limited selection of dishes. With a free account, you can load up on 64 different feeds.
Imagine kicking back and reading full-text content right in its web reader, storing stories for a later snack. And guess what? You can keep your clicking finger on vacation because NewsBlur rolls out articles one after another. Just keep scrolling for a seamless story marathon! (But hey, if you want the deluxe “River of News” feature that mixes all your sites together, that’s a premium perk.)
The coolest thing about NewsBlur? It’s like having a super-smart butler for your news. Its fancy filtering system learns your taste — maybe you’re a fan of certain authors or topics. Train it a bit, and voila! It’ll handpick stories you’ll love, filtering out the noise. So, even if you’re subscribed to a site that’s churning out articles like there’s no tomorrow, you’ll only see the stuff that makes your brain happy.
Want to play show-and-tell with your favorite reads? NewsBlur lets you share stories on social networks or right inside the app. Create your own “blurblog” of awesome articles, or peek into others’ blurblogs to find like-minded news junkies. And for the DIY enthusiasts, you can even run NewsBlur on your own server, totally free.
Now, about its look — NewsBlur’s got this retro charm, like it’s straight out of the late-2000s, despite its recent facelift. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s got a certain nostalgic vibe. If you’re craving something more 2020s, maybe give Feedly or Inoreader a whirl. But don’t judge a book by its cover — or an RSS reader by its interface! NewsBlur packs a punch feature-wise.
If you do decide to upgrade to a paid plan, NewsBlur offers some of the best prices. The premium subscription is $36 per year. If you want to maintain a permanent archive, the Premium Archive Subscription is $99/year.
Availability
The Good of NewsBlur
- The platform is open source, even allowing you to run your own NewsBlur server.
- The premium subscription is the most reasonably priced of all my picks.
- Supports third-party apps such as Reeder, ReadKit, Unread, and more.
The Cons, Every App or Service Has ‘em
- Only 64 subscriptions for the free plan.
- River of Stories only works well for premium subscribers. Otherwise, you have to scroll through each of your subscriptions individually.
- Even after a redesign in 2022, the interface is still going to feel very dated for many.
Why Should You Care About RSS?
Think of RSS as the unsung hero of the internet, kind of like the email of the web world. And just like those trusty emails, it’s stood the test of time, unfazed by all the shiny new tech on the block. RSS is like your trusty news butler, making sure you never miss a beat from your favorite websites. The still-ongoing Twitter/X soap opera is a classic example of the strength of RSS!
Social media might be the cool kid in town for most folks. Unfortunately, we’ve seen just what algorithms mean as far as keeping up with the news: the best content can get buried if the publishers aren’t willing to pay a premium. That’s why, for writers, researchers, and anyone keen on staying in the know, RSS is like a secret superpower.
The best part? All three apps we’ve discussed are free! I suggest going on a little adventure and setting up feeds in each one, starting with the groovyPost feed. Play around and see which one feels like your tech soulmate. And hey, while you’re at it, don’t just stick to the basics. Dive into the extra goodies Feedly, NewsBlur, and Inoreader have whipped up on top of RSS. We’re talking AI, machine learning, and snazzy filtering tools that can turn a wild jungle of sources into a neat, lovely garden of information. It’s like having a magic wand for your newsfeed.
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