- RSS readers side by side
- Eleven RSS readers worth trying
- Where to start for your situation
- What every RSS feed has to include
- Self-hosted readers versus hosted apps
- Questions to ask before you choose a feed reader
- Signs your reading setup needs a rethink
- My plain advice on choosing an RSS reader
- Frequently asked questions
The best RSS readers pull new posts from the sites you choose into one place, so you read them on your schedule instead of an algorithm's. Some are free and open source, others are polished premium apps with newsletters and podcasts built in. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Social feeds decide what you see. An RSS reader hands that choice back to you, which is why so many marketers, researchers and business owners still swear by one for keeping up with their industry.
The eleven readers below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the tool's own website, read this week. If you follow sources to find ideas for your own content, my guide on how to curate content like a pro pairs nicely with a good reader.
RSS readers side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free account, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| BazQux Reader | Web RSS reader | A fast, simple reading list | Trial only |
| Feedbin | RSS, newsletter and podcast reader | Feeds, newsletters and YouTube together | Trial only |
| Feedly | News reader for feeds and topics | Taking control of a busy newsfeed | Not stated |
| Feedspot | Fast, free, modern RSS reader | Tracking the websites you follow | Yes |
| FreshRSS | Free self-hosted feed aggregator | Running your own feed server | Yes |
| Inoreader | RSS reader and news aggregator | Power users and research teams | Trial only |
| NetNewsWire | Free open source reader for Apple devices | Mac, iPhone and iPad readers | Yes |
| NewsBlur | Personal news reader with training | Teaching the reader your taste | Yes |
| Reeder | Reading inbox app for Apple devices | One inbox for many sources | Not stated |
| Unread | RSS reader for Mac, iPhone and iPad | Comfortable reading on Apple devices | Not stated |
| Vienna RSS | Free open source RSS and Atom reader for macOS | A free desktop reader on macOS | Yes |
Eleven RSS readers worth trying
BazQux Reader
Best for: Busy readers who want one quick web page for every site they follow, with a free trial before they commit to a yearly plan.
Feedbin
Best for: Anyone who wants RSS feeds, email newsletters, podcasts and YouTube channels to arrive in one calm reading space.
Feedly
Best for: Business owners who follow lots of publications and want one familiar place to organise sources, topics and saved articles.
Feedspot
Best for: Marketers who want a simple web reader to keep track of the websites and blogs they follow, all in one place.
FreshRSS
Best for: Technically confident people who want to host their own RSS and Atom aggregator and keep full control of their reading data.
Inoreader
Best for: Researchers and content teams who want rules, filters and feed tools on top of a large, well organised reading list.
NetNewsWire
Best for: Apple users who want a free, open source RSS app that feels native on their Mac, iPhone and iPad.
NewsBlur
Best for: Fussy readers who want to train the app with a tap, hide what bores them and see more of the stories they like.
Reeder
Best for: Fans of a single inbox who want articles, videos and other content from many sources gathered into one tidy reading inbox.
Unread
Best for: Apple users who care most about a comfortable, attractive reading experience on their Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Vienna RSS
Best for: Mac users who want a free, open source desktop RSS and Atom reader that runs on their own computer.
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Where to start for your situation
- Free on a Mac, iPhone or iPad: NetNewsWire or Vienna RSS.
- Feeds, newsletters and YouTube together: Feedbin.
- Research with filters and rules: Inoreader.
- Running your own server: FreshRSS.
- A simple web reader for work: Feedspot or BazQux Reader.
What every RSS feed has to include
The RSS Advisory Board publishes the RSS 2.0 specification, and it lists three required channel elements for every feed: a title, a link and a description. That's the whole minimum.
It sounds dry, but it's handy. Any site with a valid feed gives your reader enough to name it, link to it and tell you what it's about, so you can follow blogs that never offer a newsletter. Try adding /feed to the end of a blog's address and see what appears.
Self-hosted readers versus hosted apps
Self-hosted readers run on your own server. You keep complete control of your reading list and data, but you also look after updates and backups yourself.
Hosted readers do that work for you and usually sync across your phone, laptop and tablet without any fuss. Most business owners are happier with a hosted app, while developers and privacy-minded readers often prefer to run their own.
Questions to ask before you choose a feed reader
- Does it sync across all my devices?
- Can I follow email newsletters as well as feeds?
- Can I import my existing list as an OPML file?
- Does it offer filters or rules to hide noise?
- Can I save articles to read offline?
- Is there an app for the phone I use?
Signs your reading setup needs a rethink
- You check ten sites every morning. A reader brings them to you.
- Your unread count never falls. Unfollow the noisiest sources.
- You miss posts from smaller blogs. Follow their feeds directly.
- You read only on one device. Pick a reader that syncs.
Do you make an RSS reader or news app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing an RSS reader
Start small. Add the ten or fifteen sources you'd hate to miss, read them for a fortnight, and only then add more. A reader with three hundred unread posts every morning becomes another inbox you dread opening.
If you also run a newsletter, notice which posts you save and share, because that's a free list of ideas your audience will probably like too. My comparison of newsletter platforms for small businesses can help you turn that reading habit into a list of your own.
Frequently asked questions
What is an RSS reader?
An RSS reader is an app that collects new posts from the websites you follow and shows them in one place, in the order they were published.
Are RSS readers free?
Several are free or open source, and others offer free plans or trials. The free plan column above shows what each tool's own site says.
Is RSS still used?
Yes. Many blogs, news sites and podcasts still publish feeds, and podcasts in particular rely on them.
How do I find a website's RSS feed?
Look for an RSS icon or try adding /feed or /rss to the end of the address. Many readers can also find the feed for you if you paste in the site's main address.
Can I move my feeds from one reader to another?
Usually, yes. Most readers can export and import your list as an OPML file, so switching doesn't mean starting again.
What's the difference between an RSS reader and a news aggregator?
An RSS reader shows only the sources you choose. A news aggregator usually picks stories for you from many sources.
