Why Everyone Should Still Use RSS Readers in 2026
In case you missed the good old days of consuming news and other online content, RSS stands for either RDF (Resource Description Framework) Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication, depending on who you ask—even Wikipedia uses both.
Regardless of the linguistic nuances, one of the main functions of RSS is to provide you with a constant stream of updates from a website. Each new article published on that site is displayed as a list that can be interpreted by an RSS reader.
In the simpler days of the internet, RSS was a way to stay up-to-date on everything that was happening on your favorite websites. You’d open your RSS reader and scan through new articles one by one, chronologically, just like checking your email. It was an easy way to keep up with new releases and interesting events.
Unfortunately, RSS is no longer the primary way most of us consume content. (Google famously shut down its beloved Google Reader over a decade ago.) It’s now common to check social media or the homepages of countless websites to find out what’s new. But I think RSS still has an important place in your life: especially for those who don’t want to miss anything or let algorithms choose what to read, it remains one of the best ways to navigate the internet. Here’s a quick guide to what RSS can (still!) do for you and how to start using it, even in this late age of online existence.
How RSS works
RSS is essentially a standard for displaying text and images in a feed format, not much different from HTML. A feed typically includes an article title, some text (often just an introduction), and possibly a main image. RSS data isn’t very readable in a browser tab, but it is accessible in an application designed to properly interpret RSS.
RSS remains the default distribution method for podcasts: each new episode—along with the episode title, cover art, and description—appears as a new entry in your podcast app’s feed. When you subscribe to a new podcast through Pocket Casts or Apple Podcasts, you’re essentially pointing the app to the RSS feed of the podcast you want to listen to, and it will automatically display each new episode.
Websites used to prominently display links to their RSS feeds on their homepage. This is less common now, but you can often find them by searching or searching online (by the way, Lifehacker’s RSS feed can be found here ). Some sites offer multiple RSS feeds covering different content categories, such as technology or sports.
Even if a site doesn’t explicitly offer RSS feeds, the best RSS readers can now create their own by tracking new activity on the site, so you can point the app to the site you want to follow. For example, in Google Discover, available for Android and iOS , you can follow new content on sites by tapping the “Subscribe” button that appears next to news items.
Benefits of using an RSS reader
We all consume news online differently: some browse social media feeds, others visit the same websites every morning, and still others receive updates via push notifications on their phones. The benefits of RSS depend on how you prefer to stay informed.
However, RSS is certainly useful if you have a few favorite sites and want to quickly browse everything they publish (or everything they publish in a specific category, if the site has multiple feeds). No one but you chooses what you see—you have more control over what you consume, and you’re free from algorithmic decisions.
Using RSS allows you to methodically and chronologically browse all your content, even if you haven’t been online for a week (of course, you don’t have to browse everything—but you can if you want, since your feed will scroll infinitely). It’s also a more convenient and less cluttered way to browse the internet, since you only need to click on the links to the specific articles you want to read.
Other benefits of RSS depend on the reader you use. For example, you can sort your feeds in different ways, search the archive for specific article types, or add notes and bookmarks to links that particularly interest you. If you’ve never tried RSS, it’s worth checking out.
The Best RSS Feed Readers of 2026
RSS readers aren’t as common as they used to be, but if you search, you can still find plenty of similar programs.
Fiddle
The best RSS reader right now is probably Feedly , which offers a lot of features in both its free and paid plans (starting at $8 per month): it has a clean and intuitive interface, it can generate RSS feeds for sites that don’t have them, it can sort feeds in a variety of ways, it can integrate email newsletters, and much more.
Feeder
Feeder is a great place to start with RSS for beginners, as it’s quick to get started and offers a simple interface. It works seamlessly across all major platforms, and if you need more features, including a real-time dashboard, access to more RSS feeds, and sophisticated filters for your RSS feeds, paid plans start at $9.99 per month.
Google Chat
In fact, you can subscribe to RSS feeds directly in Google Chat , both in one-on-one and group chats. On the web, click the three dots next to “Apps,” then “Find apps.” Look for the app called “Feeds.” Once installed, you can add it to any chat and subscribe to the feeds by clicking the “+ ” (plus) button to the left of the text input field.
Newsify
Newsify has a number of unique features you might find interesting, including a classic newspaper format and offline functionality. Available on Apple devices and the web, it offers impressive customization and a wealth of sharing tools, while a premium account (for $2.99 per month) adds features like full text feeds and AI-powered summaries.
Foreign reader
Another RSS reader with a strong following is Inoreader . It has all the necessary tools and features for thoroughly processing news feeds and stores a comprehensive archive of everything you’ve ever viewed—handy if you need to retrace your steps. To remove ads and access even more features, such as email newsletter support, you need to pay for a premium plan (starting at $9.99 per month).
NewsBlur
Finally, there’s NewsBlur , which is literally chock-full of features, including news tagging, full-text search, and integration with third-party apps. It’s one of the best options for controlling your in-app news feed. Many features are available for free, but for more features and feeds, paid plans start at $36 per year.