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Feedreader

feedreader.com

Free plan WebWindowsLinuxSelf-hosted
Visit feedreader.com
Spec score 9.2 #2 of 33 in RSS Reader Software

What it is

Feedreader is a feed aggregator for reading website subscriptions in one online stream, with a desktop product that downloads updates and organizes syndicated content. Smart feeds watch for keywords or phrases and surface matching articles. Readers can choose a River of News view, group headlines by source, date, or tag, and combine feeds. It supports mainstream feed formats, nested folders, Unicode, and SSL connections, and can download article enclosures and podcasts automatically. Intelliupdate learns each feed’s update frequency and refreshes when needed. Feedreader Connect can upload feeds to a remote FTP server, forward articles by email, publish feeds to an intranet or extranet, and send articles to Windows Live Messenger users through an instant messaging gateway. The product dates to 2001 and is described as accessible to people with little technical knowledge. Listed platforms are Linux, web, and Windows. Standard Edition is free, while MySQL Edition is €29, paid once and Connect Personal Edition is €39, paid once. Connect Server editions and an OEM license are also listed; Connect Server’s free version has limits on subscriptions and archived articles.

Spec sheet

What it does
Feedreader is a free web-based RSS aggregator and a Windows desktop reader that collects syndicated articles into a single reading stream.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Platforms
The site offers Feedreader Online, a Windows desktop download, and a Feedreader Connect download for Linux.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Founded
2001Read 28 Sep 2026 · feedreader.com
API and SDK availability
The reviewed official pages describe integration methods and an embeddable engine but do not publish a conventional public REST API, SDK package or API reference.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Connect demo limit
The Connect Personal demo functions work for about one day before Feedreader must be restarted to reenable them.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Connect distribution
Feedreader Connect can publish normal and smart feeds to remote servers, intranets or extranets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Connect free edition limit
The Feedreader Connect Server free version is limited to four subscribed feeds and 1,200 archived articles per feed.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Connect messaging
Feedreader Connect can forward articles to Windows Live Messenger users through an instant messaging gateway.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Connect sharing
Feedreader Connect can upload feeds to a remote FTP server, forward articles by email, and publish feeds to an intranet or extranet.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Database support
The documented engine supports Firebird local SQL, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and MySQL 5.x, with ADO enabling additional database back ends.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Desktop aggregation
The desktop product automatically downloads updates from websites and organizes syndicated web content for users.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Developer and origin
Wikipedia identifies i-Systems Inc. as developer, Microsoft Windows as the operating system, proprietary licensing, and distribution of Feedreader 1.54 on 24 April 2001.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
Developer integration
The technical white paper says Connect Server exposes methods for integrating feeds and articles into third-party applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Documentation
Official documentation covers feed creation, smart feeds, search feeds, search, podcasts, alerts, tags, shortcuts, advanced usage, FAQs, database schema and installation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Email integration
Connect includes a Mail Forwarder that sends article XML or transformed output to configured email recipients.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Extensibility
The Newsbrain engine is separated from the interface and can be embedded in user-interface applications or background services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feed formats
Feedreader states that it supports all mainstream feed formats.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feed handling
Feedreader supports mainstream feed formats, nested folders, Unicode, and SSL connections.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Filtering
Normal feeds can be converted into smart feeds, filtered for included or excluded information, and combined into one stream.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
FTP integration
Connect includes a Feed Uploader that sends aggregated XML or stylesheet-rendered output to an FTP server.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
IMAP integration
Connect Server includes an IMAP mail server for reading RSS articles through standard mail clients such as Outlook or Thunderbird.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Installation size
The official page says the installation file is under 4 MB.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Intelliupdate
The desktop client learns each feed's update frequency and refreshes it when needed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Legacy capabilities
Wikipedia records feed autodiscovery, keyboard shortcuts, RSS and Atom support, and operation from a USB flash drive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
Licence status
The current Feedreader product is identified as proprietary, while the official feature page says an older version is available as an open-source package.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
Limit: compatibility
A SourceForge review says the software no longer works with newer technologies and that sites outside the defaults do not work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Limit: platform scope
Clubic lists the downloadable client for Windows only.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
Linux availability
The download page provides a Feedreader Connect package for Linux.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Messaging integration
Connect's Instant Messaging Gateway forwards matching articles to Windows Live Messenger users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Multiuser limitation
The technical white paper states that Newsbrain had only partial multiuser support and planned full support for the future.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Notable news
Feedreader announced its news-observing service on 27 April 2017 for researching website news and subscribing discovered sources.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Online option
Users who do not want to install software can use Feedreader Online.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Organization
Articles can be tagged, placed in nested folders, and grouped by source, date or tag.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Performance
The Intelliupdate feature learns each feed’s update frequency and triggers updates only when needed.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Podcasts and enclosures
Feedreader can automatically download enclosures and podcasts attached to feed articles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Praise: ease and organization
SourceForge reviewers describe the reader as attractive, organized and easy to use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Praise: extensibility
A SourceForge reviewer specifically praises Feedreader for extendability.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Praise: interface
Clubic says the client has a clean, clear interface with several reading layouts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
Praise: portability
Clubic describes FeedReader as lightweight, practical and portable, including installation on a USB drive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
Product purpose
Feedreader is described as a free web-based RSS feed aggregator for reading subscriptions online in a single stream.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Rating on AlternativeTo
AlternativeTo lists FeedReader Online with an 86-point community score and classifies it as free and proprietary.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Rating on Clubic
6.2 out of 10 from 77 ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
Rating on SourceForge
4.2 out of 5 from 5 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Reading and filtering
Users can choose a River of News view, group headlines by source, date, or tag, and combine multiple feeds.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Scalability
The white paper describes monitoring tens of thousands of feeds and distributing platform load across three or four servers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Security and privacy
The site states that Feedreader supports secure SSL connections; its privacy policy identifies FeedReader as the website’s data controller.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Security transport
The desktop product supports Unicode and secure SSL feed connections.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Self-hosting
Connect Server is designed to run on enterprise databases and can power privately operated news portals and article services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Smart feeds
Users enter keywords or phrases and Feedreader continuously surfaces matching articles in smart feeds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Support and audience
The site provides user documentation, FAQs, and a contact form, and describes Feedreader as accessible to users with little technical knowledge.Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Support limitation
The official FAQ includes a recurring feed-update failure after upgrades identified as socket error 10061.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
System requirement
The official feature page says the desktop reader runs on computers using Windows 2000 or later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Views
The interface offers River of News and other selectable layouts with configurable columns.Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com

Plans and prices

Feedreader Standard Edition Free Free; no hidden fees, spyware, or adware stated Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Standard Edition Free Free end-user edition · no hidden fees, spyware or adware stated Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader MySQL Edition €29, paid once License for one computer · MySQL Edition beta/trial download available Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader Connect Personal Edition €39, paid once Personal Connect edition with communication functions Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader Connect Server (MSSQL or MYSQL) — up to 100 feeds €490, paid once Up to 100 feeds Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader Connect Server (MSSQL or MYSQL) up to 100 feeds €490, paid once Up to 100 feeds · MSSQL or MySQL Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader OEM unlimited license €500, paid once Unlimited OEM license · branding and customized deployment Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader Connect Server 1000 feeds and more €990, paid once Page shows a special unlimited-feed offer for EUR 990 until 1 June 2010 Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader Connect Server (MSSQL or MYSQL) — up to 1000 feeds €990, paid once Up to 1000 feeds Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader Connect Server (MSSQL or MYSQL) up to 1000 feeds €990, paid once Up to 1000 feeds · MSSQL or MySQL Read 15 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com
Feedreader Connect Server — 1000 feeds and more Price not published Unlimited feeds; offer text says it was special until 1th of June 2010 Read 7 Oct 2026 · feedreader.com

Every Feedreader plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Smart feeds surface keyword-matching articles.
  • Headlines can be grouped by source, date, or tag.
  • Enclosures and podcasts can download automatically.
  • Supports Linux, web, and Windows.

Limits

  • Connect Server free version limits feeds and archives.
  • Connect Personal demo functions last about one day.
  • The 1000-plus-feed offer mentions a 2010 special deadline.

Who it suits

Feedreader suits readers who want to organize and filter subscriptions, including users with little technical knowledge. Connect features may suit those who publish or forward feed content.

Feedreader in depth

Read the full write-up

Feedreader is a feed reader for people who want keyword monitoring and flexible ways to organize articles, with desktop aggregation alongside a web-based reader. It suits readers who value filtering and offline reading over a single uniform app across devices. Its free edition handles reading, but Connect is a narrower, separately priced choice for publishing or forwarding feeds.

Overview

Feedreader gathers subscriptions into a single stream, while its desktop product downloads and organizes syndicated content. Smart feeds and multiple headline views make it useful for following topics across a set of sources; the tradeoff is a product split between core reading and distinct Connect editions for sharing. The free Connect Server edition’s caps and the one-time prices of paid editions make it worth identifying the exact workflow before choosing a plan.

Key features

Keyword monitoring: Smart feeds watch for entered words or phrases and surface matching articles. This can help track a topic across subscriptions, though results depend on what those feeds publish.

Reading and organization: Choose a River of News stream, group headlines by source, date, or tag, or combine feeds. Nested folders, filter rules, and offline reading suit readers who want more control than a simple chronological list.

Feed handling: Mainstream feed formats, Unicode, and SSL connections cover common compatibility and secure-connection needs. Intelliupdate learns each feed’s update frequency and triggers updates when needed, rather than treating every source identically.

Enclosures: Automatic downloads of attached enclosures and podcasts are useful if those are part of your regular feed reading.

Connect sharing: Connect can upload feeds to FTP, email articles, publish feeds to an intranet or extranet, and forward articles to Windows Live Messenger users through a gateway. These are specific distribution tools, not a general reason to choose Feedreader if you only need a reader.

Pricing

Feedreader uses a freemium model, with a free Standard Edition and paid editions priced as one-time purchases. The Standard Edition is free; it is described as having no hidden fees, spyware, or adware. That makes it the sensible starting point for individual readers who need core reading rather than Connect distribution.

Feedreader MySQL Edition: €29, paid once. This is the lowest-priced paid option, but its name points to a database-specific edition; choose it only if that distinction fits your intended setup.

Feedreader Connect Personal Edition: €39, paid once. This is for an individual who specifically wants Connect’s forwarding or publishing functions.

Feedreader Connect Server (MSSQL or MYSQL) — up to 100 feeds: €490, paid once, for up to 100 feeds.

Feedreader OEM unlimited license: €500, paid once, with an unlimited license.

Feedreader Connect Server (MSSQL or MYSQL) — up to 1000 feeds: €990, paid once, for up to 1000 feeds.

Feedreader Connect Server — 1000 feeds and more: €12,010,990, paid once, described as an unlimited-feeds offer special until 1th of June 2010. Its stated term makes it a poor basis for a current purchase decision.

The free Connect Server version is limited to four subscribed feeds and 1,200 archived articles per feed. The Connect Personal demo works for about one day before Feedreader must be restarted to reenable its functions. Those constraints make the free Connect route better for a small trial than sustained sharing at scale. No renewal terms are given for the one-time prices.

Platforms

Feedreader is available on Linux, web, and Windows. That combination suits readers who use a desktop system or browser, but not someone looking for a listed mobile platform.

Who it's for

Feedreader fits readers who want keyword-based discovery, feed organization, and offline access, including people who download podcast or article enclosures. Documentation, FAQs, and a contact form provide support, and the product is described as accessible to users with little technical knowledge. Teams considering Connect should first compare their feed count with its free cap and decide whether its FTP, email, or intranet/extranet publishing functions justify a paid edition.

Pros and cons

Pros: Smart feeds, filtering, multiple headline views, and offline reading give readers several ways to focus on relevant items.

Pros: Automatic enclosure downloads and per-feed update learning add useful capabilities beyond basic feed collection.

Pros: The free Standard Edition keeps core reading at free.

Cons: Connect’s free server edition allows only four subscribed feeds and 1,200 archived articles per feed, limiting its usefulness for larger collections.

Cons: Paid Connect Server editions rise to €490, paid once for up to 100 feeds and €990, paid once for up to 1000, a substantial commitment for sharing features.

Cons: The listed platform range omits mobile systems, so it is not the fit for readers who need a phone or tablet edition.

Alternatives

Browse the RSS Reader Software directory if you want to compare the category more broadly.

Fluent Reader is a better fit if you want a free, open-source desktop reader with a wider listed platform range, including Android, iOS, and macOS.

Feedly is worth considering if you need Android, iOS, browser-extension, or API platforms; its free News Reader plan includes up to three personal Boards.

Inoreader suits readers who want a free forever plan with 150 RSS feed subscriptions, or a paid Pro plan at €6.67 a month.

Newsify is an alternative for readers focused on iOS, macOS, and web, with a free plan and a paid Premium option.

BazQux Reader is a paid alternative with a $50 a year annual subscription for up to 3000 feeds, for readers comfortable with a recurring charge.

NewsBlur is an option if its free allowance of up to 64 sites and real-time RSS updates suits your needs.

FreshRSS is a free self-hosted RSS and Atom aggregator for readers who want to run a self-hosted service.

Passman is another free, open-source option.

Verdict

Choose Feedreader if you want free core feed reading with keyword monitoring, flexible organization, and offline access, especially on Linux or Windows. Its strongest case is the range of ways it handles and filters subscriptions without a recurring reader fee. Look elsewhere if you need a mobile platform, or choose Connect only when its specific sharing functions warrant the caps or one-time server costs.

Verdict

Feedreader covers feed reading, filtering, and several ways to distribute articles. Check which edition and platform match your intended workflow, particularly if you need Connect features.

Where Specifiction places it

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