6 Best Feed Reader Apps for Linux

Brief: Extensively use RSS feeds to stay updated with your favorite websites? Take a look at the best feed reader applications for Linux.

RSS feeds were once most widely used, to collect news and articles from different sources at one place. Now, even though the user base utilizing RSS feed has significantly reduced, it is slowly catching up again as a perfect solution to avoid information overloading.

Of course, if you are someone (like me) who believes in opening an application that accumulates all the website’s articles at one place, which they can read later even when they are not connected to the internet, RSS readers can be fantastic options.

Feed Readers makes it easier by collecting all the published items on a website for anytime access. You don’t need to open several browser tabs to go to your favorite websites, and bookmarking the one you liked.

In this article, I’ll share some of my favorite feed reader applications for Linux desktop.

Best Feed Readers for Linux

Note: The list is in no particular order of ranking.

As usual, Linux has multiple choices for feed readers and in this article, we have compiled 6 good feed readers applications for you. Fluent Reader

1. Fluent Reader

Fluent Reader is a modern desktop client built using electron, react, and fluent UI. It focuses on a rich user experience while also taking care of the privacy.

Features:

• Ability to sync across devices
• Cross-platform support
• Attractive user interface
• Import/Export feed
• Mark as all read option

How to install Fluent Reader

For Linux, you only get the AppImage file in its GitHub releases section or the option to build it from source if you’d like.

You can also find it in the Microsoft Store and App Store if you’re looking to utilize it across multiple devices.

2. Akregator

Akregator is KDE’s feed reader which is easy to use and powerful enough to provide the latest updates from news sites, blogs and RSS/Atom enabled websites.

It comes with an internal browser for news reading and updates the feed in real time.

Features

• You can add a website’s feed using “Add Feed” option and define an interval to refresh and update subscribe feeds.
• It can store and archive contents – the setting of which can be defined on a global level or on individual feeds.
• Features option to import subscribed feeds from another browser or a past back up.
• Notifies you of the unread feeds.

How to install Akregator

If you are running KDE desktop, most probably Akregator is already installed on your system. If not, you can use the below command for Debian based systems.

sudo apt install akregator

Once installed, you can directly add a website by clicking on Feed menu and then Add feed and giving the website name.

3. QuiteRSS

QuiteRSS is another free and open-source RSS/Atom news feed reader with lots of features. There are additional features like proxy integration, ad blocker, integrated browser, and system tray integration. It’s easier to update feeds by setting up a timer to refresh.

Features

• Automatic feed updation on either start up or using a timer option.
• Searching feed URL using website address and categorizing them in new, unread, starred and deleted section.
• Embedded browser so that you don’t leave the app.
• Hiding images, if you are only interested in text
• Adblocker and better system tray integration
• Multiple language support.

How to install QuiteRSS

You can install it from the QuiteRSS PPA to get the latest version.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:quiterss/quiterss
sudo apt update
sudo apt install quiterss

It’s also available to install in Fedora through its default repository, and you can find it on AUR for Arch-based distros. You can explore more about it in their GitHub page.

4. Liferea

Linux Feed Reader aka Liferea is probably one of the most popular feed readers for Linux. It is fast and easy to use and supports RSS / Atom feeds. It has support for podcasts and there is an option for adding custom scripts which can run depending upon your actions.

There’s a browser integration along with an option to open an item in a separate browser.

Features

• Liferea can download and save feeds from your favorite website to read offline.
• It can be synced with other RSS feed readers, making a transition easier.
• Support for Podcasts.
• Support for search folders, which allows users to save searches.
• Syncs with TinyRSS

How to install Liferea

Liferea is available in the official repository for almost all the distributions. Ubuntu-based users can install it by using below command:

sudo apt install liferea

You will also find a Flatpak package and a Snap if you need to install it on any Linux distribution. You can also explore its GitHub page for more details.

5. RSSGuard

RSSGuard is an interesting lightweight RSS reader built using the Qt framework. It supports syncing with some web-based RSS services like Tiny Tiny RSS, Nextcloud News, and more.

Features:

• Ability to disable auto-load images
• Import/export feeds
• Backup/Restore database settings
• AdBlock option
• Ability to create folders for different feeds

How to install RSSGuard

You can find an AppImage file on their GitHub releases section that you can use for any Linux distribution.

In case you need help, you can always refer to our AppImage guide as well.

6. Newsboat – RSS feed for terminal

Newsboat is an actively maintained fork of Newsbeuter, which is now no longer developed.

It is a feed reader tailored for text consoles (or the terminal). You shouldn’t expect a list of features on it, but you can easily add RSS feeds.

Features:

• Feed reader for console
• Ability to add multiple sources and reload

How to install Newsboat

You can find it available in the default repositories of almost every Linux distribution by typing in the following command:

sudo apt install newsboat

However, to get the latest version, you might have to install the Snap package available. You can follow our snap guide or simply type in the command below to get started:

sudo snap install newsboat

You can also build it from source. To know more about it, follow the official instructions.

Honorable Mentions

Final Words

To me, feed readers are still relevant, especially when you follow multiple websites and blogs. The offline access to your favorite website and blog’s content with options to archive and search is the biggest advantage of using a feed reader.

Do you use a feed reader on your Linux system? If yes, tell us your favorite one in the comments.