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FreshRSS
What it is
FreshRSS is a free, self-hosted RSS and Atom aggregator for following websites, podcasts, and video channels. It lets users read and search articles, save searches, and organize items with custom tags. Feed tools include OPML import and export, creating feeds from filters, and scraping websites to build feeds. WebSub can deliver real-time updates from compatible sources. FreshRSS supports multiple users, anonymous reading, themes, extensions, configurable settings, a command-line interface, and APIs for mobile clients. Google Reader and Fever APIs connect mobile and native clients. The project says installations can manage 1M+ articles and 50k+ feeds. Self-hosting requires a web server, PHP 8.1 or later, and PostgreSQL 10+, SQLite, MariaDB 10.6+, or MySQL 8.0+. FreshRSS is available through web access and compatible clients on Linux, Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. The project advises exposing only the ./p/ folder because ./data/ contains personal data.
For and against
For
- Free self-hosted software
- Supports OPML import and export
- WebSub real-time updates
- Multiple users and anonymous reading
- APIs for mobile clients
Against
- Requires self-hosting infrastructure
- Needs PHP 8.1 or later
- Requires a supported database
- Project provides no warranty
The verdict
FreshRSS gives users control over feed storage, customization, and access across multiple clients. Its self-hosting requirements and security guidance mean setup and maintenance remain the user’s responsibility.
Who it suits
FreshRSS suits people who want to host and customize their own feed reader. Shared community instances and managed hosting providers are also listed for users who do not want to run the server themselves.
Plans and prices
Free
Self-hosted software · no subscription tier stated
Read 15 Oct 2026 · freshrss.org
FreshRSS
Self-hosted RSS and Atom feed aggregator · no paid product plan listed
Read 11 Oct 2026 · freshrss.org
On the record
- API compatibility
- The documented Fever API supports feed and category retrieval, item retrieval, favicons, read and starred markers, and extension hooks.freshrss.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- API limitation
- The Fever API documentation says Hot Links are unsupported.freshrss.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- FreshRSS supports form authentication, HTTP authentication and OpenID Connect.freshrss.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Client ecosystem
- Documented compatible clients include Fluent Reader, Read You, Newsflash, Fiery Feeds, Reeder Classic, ReadKit and a Python API client.freshrss.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Customization
- FreshRSS supports themes, extensions and configurable options.freshrss.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment channels
- FreshRSS offers an edge rolling branch for newer features and security fixes and a latest branch with fewer updates but older fixes.freshrss.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The administrator manual covers installation, updates, backups, logging, extensions, themes, databases, CLI use, access control, OIDC and web-server configuration.freshrss.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Official and community extensions are installed by placing an extension folder in the extensions directory.freshrss.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Feed tools
- FreshRSS supports OPML feed import and export, feed generation from filters, and web scraping to create feeds from websites.freshrss.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Generated feeds
- Filters can be used to generate new feeds.freshrss.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Google Play client
- The Google Play FreshRSS Reader client connects to an existing FreshRSS server, synchronizes unread and favorite articles, supports offline actions, and states that it provides no hosting service.play.google.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent assessment
- Gappsy describes FreshRSS as community-maintained, with no corporate ownership and no first-party mobile app.gappsy.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent praise
- Valebyte highlights no advertising or tracking, self-controlled data and no stated feed limits for a self-hosted installation.valebyte.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- FreshRSS receives WebSub push notifications from compatible sources such as Friendica, WordPress, Blogger and Medium, and supports mobile and native clients through Google Reader and Fever APIs.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Languages
- The interface is translated into more than 15 languages.freshrss.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- FreshRSS is free software released under the GNU AGPL 3 licence.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: interface
- Independent reviewers describe the default design as somewhat outdated or dense.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: missing workflow features
- An AlternativeTo reviewer specifically cites missing batch archiving or export and article highlighting or annotation.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
