Best RSS Feed Readers in 2026

Last updated: January 2026

RSS feed readers aggregate content from websites, blogs, and newsletters into one place. Top options include Feedly ($6/month Pro, best for beginners), Inoreader ($7.50/month, best for power users), NetNewsWire (free, best native Mac/iOS app), and Readwise Reader ($9.99/month, best for read-it-later + RSS). Self-hosted options like FreshRSS and Miniflux are free.

RSS isn't dead. It's how you escape algorithmic feeds and take control of what you read. No ads, no tracking, no "suggested content." Just the sources you choose.

This guide covers 15 readers from free options to self-hosted solutions.

RSS Feed Reader Comparison Table 2026

Web-Based Readers

Feedly

The most popular RSS reader. Clean, magazine-style interface that makes RSS approachable. AI assistant (Leo) can filter and prioritize content. Good mobile apps. Best starting point for RSS newcomers.

Best for: Beginners and casual RSS users

Key features:

• Magazine-style layout
• Leo AI for filtering and prioritization
• YouTube video support
• Newsletter integration (Pro)
• Boards for organizing content
• Mobile apps (iOS, Android)

Pricing:

• Free: 100 feeds, 3 folders
• Pro: $6/month (1,000 feeds, AI features, notes)
• Pro+: $12/month (AI feeds, keyword alerts)
• Enterprise: Custom

Strengths: Most beginner-friendly, clean UI, good AI features Weaknesses: Free tier limited to 100 feeds, full features require paid plan

Inoreader

The power user's choice. 150 feeds on free tier (vs Feedly's 100). Advanced filtering, rules, and automation. Can pull content beyond RSS: Reddit, Twitter/X, email newsletters. Permanent article archive.

Best for: Power users who want advanced features

Key features:

• 150 feeds on free tier
• Rules and automation
• Reddit/Twitter/newsletter integration
• Permanent archive (content never expires)
• AI summaries and tagging (Pro)
• Web scraping for non-RSS sites

Pricing:

• Free: 150 feeds, custom views, alerts
• Pro: $7.50/month annual ($10/month monthly), 2,500 feeds
• Enterprise: Custom

Strengths: Most powerful filtering, permanent archives, non-RSS sources Weaknesses: Can feel overwhelming, steeper learning curve

Feedly vs Inoreader: Feedly for simplicity, Inoreader for power. Beginners start with Feedly; switch to Inoreader when you need more control.

NewsBlur

Indie reader with sophisticated AI filtering. Train it by marking stories as liked/disliked, and it learns your preferences. Highlights or hides stories automatically. Open source, so you can self-host.

Best for: Users who want intelligent filtering

Key features:

• AI intelligence training
• Phrase-level filtering (Premium)
• Story sharing and blurblogs
• Open source (self-host option)
• Native mobile apps
• Offline reading

Pricing:

• Free: 64 feeds
• Premium: $36/year (1,000 feeds, search, advanced training)

Strengths: Best AI filtering, learns your preferences, open source Weaknesses: Free tier limited to 64 feeds, UI feels dated

Feedbin

Clean, privacy-focused reader. No tracking, no ads, no AI training on your data. Simple interface focused on reading. Email newsletter support. Integrates with many third-party apps.

Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want simplicity

Key features:

• No tracking or ads
• Newsletter subscriptions via email
• Sharing and starring
• Full-text search
• Third-party app support
• JSON Feed support

Pricing: $5/month (no free tier)

Strengths: Privacy-focused, clean interface, good integrations Weaknesses: No free tier, fewer advanced features than Inoreader

Read-It-Later + RSS

Readwise Reader

Combines RSS reading with read-it-later functionality. Save articles, highlights sync to note-taking apps (Notion, Obsidian, Roam). AI summaries. Spaced repetition to remember what you read.

Best for: Knowledge workers who want RSS + highlighting + note-taking

Key features:

• RSS feeds + web saving
• Highlight and annotation
• AI summaries and insights
• Spaced repetition review
• Export to Notion, Obsidian, Roam, etc.
• Newsletter management

Pricing:

• 30-day free trial
• Lite: $5.59/month (basic features)
• Full: $9.99/month (all features, exports)

Strengths: Best for knowledge management, powerful highlighting, great integrations Weaknesses: No free tier, more expensive than pure RSS readers

Native Apps

NetNewsWire

Free, open-source RSS reader for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Native performance, clean interface. Syncs via iCloud or third-party services (Feedbin, Feedly, etc.). No ads, no tracking.

Best for: Mac/iOS users who want a free, native app

Key features:

• Native Mac and iOS apps
• iCloud sync (free)
• Third-party sync support
• Safari extension
• AppleScript support (Mac)
• Today widget

Pricing: Free (open source)

Strengths: Completely free, fast native performance, no tracking Weaknesses: Apple platforms only, no web interface, fewer advanced features

Reeder

Premium RSS experience for Mac and iOS. Beautiful design, gesture-based navigation, customizable interface. Supports multiple sync services. One-time purchase.

Best for: Users who want a polished, premium reading experience

Key features:

• Beautiful native UI
• Gesture navigation
• Multiple account support
• Bionic Reading mode
• Share extensions
• Read-it-later integration

Pricing:

• iOS: $5 one-time
• Mac: $10 one-time

Strengths: Best-designed RSS app, one-time purchase, highly customizable Weaknesses: Apple only, requires separate sync service

Unread

Focused on beautiful typography and distraction-free reading. Gesture-based navigation, multiple color themes. Syncs with Feedly, Feedbin, Inoreader, NewsBlur.

Best for: Users who prioritize reading experience over features

Key features:

• Beautiful typography
• Gesture navigation
• Multiple themes
• Unread Cloud sync (free)
• Third-party sync support

Pricing:

• Free: Basic features with Unread Cloud
• Premium: $20/year (all features)

Strengths: Best typography, focused reading experience Weaknesses: iOS/Mac only, fewer organizational features

ReadKit (Mac)

All-in-one reading app for Mac. RSS feeds, read-it-later services (Pocket, Instapaper), and webpage archives in one interface.

Best for: Mac users who want everything in one app

Key features:

• RSS + read-it-later combined
• Multiple service support
• Offline reading
• Smart folders
• Full-text search

Pricing: $12 one-time (Mac App Store)

Strengths: Combines multiple services, one-time purchase Weaknesses: Mac only

Self-Hosted Options

FreshRSS

The leading self-hosted RSS reader. Feature-rich, looks and feels like commercial alternatives. Extensions, themes, search, filters. Easy Docker installation.

Best for: Self-hosters who want full features

Key features:

• Full-featured web interface
• Extensions and themes
• WebSub support
• API for third-party clients
• SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MySQL
• Docker or bare metal install

Pricing: Free (self-hosted)

Requirements: PHP, web server, database

Strengths: Most feature-rich self-hosted option, easy to install, fast Weaknesses: Requires server maintenance

Miniflux

Minimalist self-hosted reader. Fast, lightweight, focused on reading. No bloat, no unnecessary features. PWA for mobile access.

Best for: Self-hosters who want simplicity and speed

Key features:

• Minimal, fast interface
• PWA (works like an app)
• Fever API for third-party clients
• Automatic HTTPS
• PostgreSQL only
• Docker or binary install

Pricing: Free (self-hosted) or $15/year hosted

Strengths: Fastest self-hosted option, minimal resource usage, clean Weaknesses: PostgreSQL only, fewer features than FreshRSS

Tiny Tiny RSS

Full-featured self-hosted reader with extensive plugins and themes. Powerful filtering and scoring. Android app available. Steeper learning curve.

Best for: Self-hosters who want maximum customization

Key features:

• Extensive plugin system
• Themes
• Article scoring
• Content filtering
• Android app
• Sharing features

Pricing: Free (self-hosted)

Requirements: PHP, MySQL, more complex setup

Strengths: Most customizable, extensive plugins Weaknesses: Complex installation, occasionally difficult community

Mobile-First Options

Android

iOS

How to Choose

By Use Case

By Budget

By Platform

Getting Started with RSS

Finding Feeds

Most blogs and news sites have RSS feeds. Look for:

• RSS icon on the site
• /feed, /rss, or /atom.xml added to the URL
• Browser extensions that detect feeds

Building Your Feed List

Start small. 10-20 feeds is enough. Add more as you find valuable sources. Organize into folders by topic.

Avoiding Overload

• Use folders to prioritize
• Mark as read liberally
• Unsubscribe from noisy feeds
• Use "mark all as read" without guilt

Which RSS Feed Reader Should You Choose?

For beginners: Feedly. Clean interface, good free tier, easy to understand.

For power users: Inoreader. More feeds, better automation, permanent archives.

For Apple users: NetNewsWire (free) or Reeder (paid). Native performance, great design.

For knowledge workers: Readwise Reader. RSS plus highlighting plus note-taking integration.

For privacy/control: Self-hosted (FreshRSS or Miniflux). Your data, your server.

RSS is the antidote to algorithmic feeds. Pick a reader, subscribe to sources you trust, and take back control of your information diet.

FAQs About RSS Feed Readers

Is RSS still relevant in 2026?

Yes. RSS is how you follow websites without relying on social media algorithms. No ads, no tracking, no "suggested" content, no algorithmic manipulation. For anyone who wants to control their information intake, RSS remains essential. Millions of sites still publish RSS feeds, including most news outlets, blogs, and podcasts.

What's the best free RSS reader?

NetNewsWire for Mac/iOS users (completely free, open source, no account required). Feedly for web users (100 feeds free). Inoreader for power users (150 feeds free). NewsBlur for AI filtering (64 feeds free). All free tiers have limitations, but NetNewsWire is genuinely unlimited and ad-free.

Feedly vs Inoreader: which is better?

Feedly is simpler and more beginner-friendly. Inoreader has more features, better automation, and permanent archives. Feedly: 100 feeds free, clean interface, AI assistant (Leo) on paid plans. Inoreader: 150 feeds free, advanced rules, pulls from Reddit/Twitter, permanent archive. Start with Feedly; switch to Inoreader when you need more power.

Can I self-host an RSS reader?

Yes. FreshRSS is the most popular option (feature-rich, easy setup). Miniflux is faster and more minimal. Both are free, open-source, and work with third-party mobile apps via Fever API. Self-hosting gives you complete control, unlimited feeds, and no subscription costs. Requires a server (VPS from $5/month works fine).

How many RSS feeds is too many?

50-100 feeds is manageable for most people. Over 200 feeds often leads to feed bankruptcy. Quality over quantity. Unsubscribe ruthlessly from sites you skip. Use folders or tags to organize by priority. Power users with 500+ feeds exist but typically use aggressive filtering and AI assistance.

Do RSS readers work with newsletters?

Some do. Readwise Reader handles newsletters well (dedicated newsletter email address). Inoreader can convert some email newsletters to feeds. Feedbin provides an email address for newsletter subscriptions. Kill the Newsletter converts newsletters to RSS. Most readers focus on RSS/Atom feeds only.