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Got tired of your RSS reader? Check out these 5 alternatives to Feedly

by Martin Glover

Feedly is an essential RSS reader app for people who wish to stay updated on current events around the world. It aggregates news for various mobile devices that run Android or iOS, and is also available in the cloud. Feedly compiles news items from various online sources that the user can then customize and share.

Some users say Feedly’s Android app is poor, and point out that you have to pay for features like basic search on this app. Plus, it would be wise to have alternatives in hand just in case Feedly gets targeted by hackers or comes under a virus attack. In this article, we summarize the key features of five alternate readers to Feedly.

1. InoReader

This reader is uncluttered, clean, and easy to use. The content is placed at the center, on the front. You can choose from a number of themes and views according to your taste. InoReader also has premium accounts similar to Feedly, but you need not shell out money for basic search.

InoReader offers plenty of keyboard shortcuts that allow you to access preferences, subscribe to feeds, and change views. This reader’s side panel automatically highlights unread news items that become available in the feeds.

InoReader’s Android app is optimized for tablets. You can use it as an extension for third parties like Google Chrome, too. The app integrates with Pocket, Evernote, and Instapaper, and offers desktop notifications.

2. AOL Reader

AOL Reader follows the layout of many RSS readers, providing a sidebar that lists feeds, plus five view options. This reader also supports keyboard shortcuts and you can use its strong search feature to search the Web from the reader.

Unread news items are automatically updated in the sidebar. AOL Reader is offered for free, and Android and iOS apps are on the anvil. Unlike Feedly, you need not pay for integration with Evernote or Pocket. This reader offers the option of enabling HTTPS, too.

3. Digg Reader

Digg Reader is the very own RSS reader of the popular website Digg.com. This capable reader adheres to the Google Reader template just like most RSS readers these days. The interface is fluid and pleasing, but the viewing modes are restricted to a condensed view that shows only titles, and an expanded layout.

Digg Reader does not need a subscription to integrate with social media sites as well as popular read-later services. However, it prompts users to refresh unread news counts, whenever new items appear.

Digg Reader’s daily digest feature emails the most read articles on Digg.com to users and the Popular feature lists the 1,000 most recent items on all your feeds, and ranks them by Internet popularity.

4. Feedspot

Feedspot provides quite a few attractive features such as different color themes and view modes. It offers a minimal and sleek display that hides some interface elements and menu bars to make reading easier.

Some of Feedspot’s features, including search, are paid services. You can try their Complimentary Gold account to decide whether this reader’s premium features are worth subscribing to. Feedspot’s sharing capabilities are advanced and let you post favorited and shared items on a number of networks and services including Twitter, Facebook, Evernote, Buffer, and Pocket.

You can customize and add news topics to Feedspot’s Daily Digest feature which can help you follow an organization or celebrity via this reader. U.S. subscribers also have access to a local news feature.

5. Commafeed

This is a free, open source reader which offers two versions for use: a web-based RSS reader and software that you can downloaded and set up on your device. Commafeed can be used on both Linux and Windows.

Commafeed focuses on providing an easy reading experience, therefore this reader eliminates all needless bloat. Its search function is free and it presents two basic views.

You can select from a range of themes, and you can customize the appearance to your taste. Commafeed offers keyboard shortcuts similar to Feedly, a subscription bookmarklet, as well as Opera, Firefox, and Chrome extensions.

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