We’re still feeling a little shocked and sad about Google’s planned demise of Reader, but we know that as with almost any tech product, there are alternatives out there that will replace it.
Whilst Google Reader is the staple for many journalists, bloggers and general lovers of media consumption, there are actually some impressive apps, websites and pieces of software out there that will do the job just as well or in some cases better. Here is our selection of the best RSS readers out there.
On the web
Feedly
Feedly is perhaps the most popular RSS reader asides from Google’s own. It’s free and it’s web-based, meaning that you can bookmark the website and have it open on any web browser, Windows Mac or Linux. The best thing about it is that Google’s Reader API will be copied exactly to Feedly when Reader closes, meaning that you can simply sign in with your Google account and continue where you left off! Their mobile apps are pretty neat too, if you’re looking for an RSS reader for your smartphone or tablet.
www.feedly.com – Also available as an app for Chrome, iOS, Android and Kindle
On your Mac
Free – NetNewsWire
If you’d prefer to have an app to collate your RSS Feeds rather than use a website, NewsNetWire is hands down the best free app for Mac. It offers a simple yet customisable way of reading all your RSS feeds in one place, in a layout that will feel familiar to Google Reader users. You can add, edit and group your subscriptions, mark all as read, star for later and even send an article to Instapaper for reading offline whenever you feel like it.
Paid – Reeder (£2.99)
For something a little fancier and extensive, Reeder is your best bet. It’s the favoured RSS app for this Gadget Helpline blogger and at £2.99 isn’t all that pricey. The layout and interface are slick and simple to navigate, and there’s a ton of sharing services that integrate Reeder with things like Facebook, Instapaper, App.net and QUOTE.fm. Images and videos integrate nicely too, so you can view any media within your RSS feeds without the need to open a web browser.
On your Windows PC
FeedDemon
FeedDemon is probably the most popular RSS Reader for Windows users. It’s simple, and best of all it’s free. You can use the software on multiple PCs – work, home – and your feeds will sync between all as you read, delete and bookmark articles. The simple search function makes it easy to find an article quickly, or you can ‘tag’ articles with keywords to make it easier to find them later.
On your smartphone and tablet
An excellent choice for the mobile device, Flipboard is a free app that collates your favourite sites and creates a sort of digital magazine that you can flick through. Articles are displayed beautifully with big images at the top, making the most of your smartphone or tablet’s screen. You’ve also got the option to save articles for offline reading with Instapaper and Readability, which is nice.
Download on Android, iPhone and iPad
Google Currents
Currents is Google’s equivalent to Flipboard, and it now comes pre-installed on Jelly Bean smartphones and tablets. A quick swipe from left to right brings out a sidebar containing your favourite sites and feeds, and a swipe back hides it to give you a lovely full screen view of what you want to read. For Android users this is pretty handy to have pre-installed!
Pulse
This is the app for power RSS users, we think. You can really customise Pulse to suit your tastes and reading styles, and there’s hundreds, if not thousands, of pre-loaded feeds in all sorts of categories to choose from. Every day Pulse will give you a notification linking to the latest and hottest news in your chosen categories, which is a nice way to see what’s new and important each morning.
www.pulse.me – Also available to download on Android and iOS