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Feedly vs FreshRSS
Feedly vs FreshRSS
A side-by-side look at Feedly (the paid SaaS) and FreshRSS (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Feedly | FreshRSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Modern RSS reader with AI filtering. | Lightweight self-hosted RSS feed aggregator. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free tier; Pro from $8/month. | Free to self-host |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 1/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | No |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Web only |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | iOS, Android |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
PHP-friendly hosts who want themes and extensions.
FreshRSS strengths
- Easy PHP install or docker.
- Multiple themes and extensions.
- API for mobile apps (Nextcloud News, Reeder via plugin).
FreshRSS weaknesses
- No first-party mobile apps — uses Fever or Google Reader API.
- Feed discovery weaker than Feedly.
- Requires PHP web server.
What's the catch with Feedly?
- Pricing has climbed steeply for Pro features.
- Cloud-only — your feed list and saved items live in their silo.
- Recently leaned heavily into AI filtering for higher tiers.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Feedly: see Feedly alternatives, or learn more about FreshRSS on its project page.
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