Ranked 5 of 7 in best RSS readers
A free, self-hosted AGPL-3.0 reader with feed scraping, saved searches and support for third-party mobile apps. It needs a server and setup, so it suits people comfortable running their own software.
Best for Self-hosted feed reading with scraping and search
About FreshRSS
FreshRSS runs on a server the user controls, with a web reader and search that can be saved as a filter. It can generate feeds from web pages with scraping rules, imports and exports OPML files, and receives real-time updates through WebSub.
Because it is self-hosted, FreshRSS needs a web host or container that can run it, and its code is public under AGPL-3.0. A demo instance lets people try it before installing. Users who want a hosted reader without setup should look at Feedbin or Inoreader, while FreshRSS suits people comfortable running their own software.
Key features
- Web scraping into feeds
- OPML import and export
- WebSub real-time updates
- Saved searches
- Third-party mobile apps
Strengths
- Open source under AGPL-3.0
- Generates feeds from websites by scraping
- Works with third-party mobile apps
Limits
- Needs a server and setup
- Updates and maintenance are the user's job
Where FreshRSS ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best RSS readers | 5 of 7 | 83.0 | Self-hosted feed reading with scraping and search |
Questions about FreshRSS
- Is FreshRSS free?
- FreshRSS can be used without paying: Free to self-host under AGPL-3.0; a public demo is available. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is FreshRSS open source?
- Yes. FreshRSS publishes its source code under the AGPL-3.0 license.
- Which platforms does FreshRSS support?
- FreshRSS is available on: Web, Self-hosted.
- What is FreshRSS best for?
- Self-hosted feed reading with scraping and search. In our ranking of RSS readers it is number 5 of 7 with a score of 83.0.
- What are the best alternatives to FreshRSS?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are NetNewsWire, Feedbin, Reeder, Inoreader.