I discovered 2 higher RSS reader apps on Android

Nearly each morning performs out the identical in my dwelling. Eggs for breakfast, after which a pour-over espresso that goes straight into the insulated Fellow Carter mug so I can stretch the flavors out for eternity. And whereas doing that, I learn.

It was all over. I referred to as it multi-pronged analysis. Information web sites, Threads, YouTube, Mastodon, Google Information—you identify it. However I quickly obtained uninterested in all of the noise. The incessant scrolling, leaping by way of sources, avoiding pop-up adverts. The espresso was executed, however I used to be none the wiser. So but once more, I went again to RSS, simply as I’ve executed for over a decade now.

Each morning, I decide up my light-weight and trusty Pixel 9a for the job (it doesn’t have my SIM in it, so no disturbances). In my seek for the proper RSS setup, I seemed means past the Play Retailer and located two minimal RSS readers that do the job — and neither of them is known as Feedly.

I’ve been utilizing RSS for nearly half of my existence on this planet. I survived the tip of Google Reader and moved by way of many providers with my trusty OPML file in tow (the file that shops all my RSS subscription hyperlinks, within the folder construction that I like). I’ve tried so many providers and apps that my OPML file is extra vital than any RSS sync service.

I preserve coming again to it due to the sheer management I’ve over my feed. I learn unbiased blogs, giant publications, and devoted tech websites like Android Authority each day. I punch within the sources, and that’s all I see.

And if you realize the place to look, you’ll discover RSS sources in every single place. I comply with individuals’s Bluesky and Mastodon accounts through RSS, preserve tabs on YouTube pages, and for some time I even tried utilizing subreddits through RSS (although it obtained so chaotic I needed to let it go). The purpose is, you may make RSS your personal. You need to use a sync service in order for you, or, like me, preserve updating and transferring the one true OPML file.

After the premature demise of Google Reader, Feedly emerged as a religious successor. I’ve used it many occasions over the previous decade, and even now my Feedly sources are updated. If in case you have by no means used an RSS service earlier than, Feedly is an efficient place to begin.

However lately, Feedly is extra of a content material platform than an RSS reader. The app begins me off with a curated checklist of the day’s high tales, moderately than my precise chronological feed (which is hidden within the sidebar). There are prompts to get you to improve and, after all, combine AI. In my testing, Feedly’s free plan doesn’t robotically present a full-text view for truncated feeds both. The app itself, whereas nice to make use of, appears to be like dated and isn’t as customizable as I’d like.

So, what’s the choice? Most days, I am going with Learn You. It is a free, open-source RSS reader with a minimal design based mostly on the Materials You design language. It appears to be like smooth, with good icons and an ethereal interface with large headings. Plus, it helps Android’s dynamic colours, so after I change the wallpaper (which is commonly), Learn You’s accent shade adapts robotically, a pleasant little contact.

I preserve coming again for the studying expertise. It’s the closest factor I can get to a paperback guide with out switching to an e-ink show. The toolbar and the buttons don’t have any chrome round them, and so they disappear the second I scroll. It’s simply the textual content and some pictures.

The studying interface is customizable as effectively (I default to unread articles on launch). In the event you’re coming from the iPhone world, you may swap to the Reeder theme (although I, personally, suppose the Materials You theme has an edge). You possibly can swap to a distinct font or load up your personal font file. If you’d like, you may customise the font dimension, the textual content spacing, and even the padding. For early-morning studying, the OLED black theme goes a great distance (pairs effectively with Pixel’s expanded darkish theme). For feeds that present truncated articles, there’s an choice to robotically parse full web site textual content (hidden behind a long-press gesture on the location identify).

Most significantly, after I use Learn You, I really feel at dwelling. All of the RSS options work as you’d count on. I can get notifications about new articles, flip off badges fully, arrange feeds into folders, and hearken to articles if I need.

Whereas I take advantage of Learn You on daily basis with none points, it’s nonetheless pre-1.0, and the roadmap exhibits why. Learn You is lacking a widget I’d desperately like, and because it stands, Feedly sync remains to be sooner or later. You possibly can sync through Fever, the Google Reader API, or FreshRSS. Or, like me, simply import your OPML file.

Of the 2 apps, FeedFlow is the one I take advantage of much less, nevertheless it’s the one I’d suggest to most Android customers. It’s out there on the Play Retailer (together with F-Droid), and in contrast to Learn You, it’s a mature, secure RSS reader out there throughout Android, iOS, Linux, Home windows, and Mac. You possibly can import your personal OPML file or connect with providers like FreshRSS, Miniflux, Feedbin, and BazQux. You can too deal with the cross-device sync your self utilizing iCloud (Apple gadgets solely), Dropbox, or Google Drive.

Whereas Learn You leans in direction of a lightweight and breezy look, FeedFlow has a utilitarian aesthetic. The text-only format choices, paired with the wonderful OLED black theme, go a great distance in making early-morning studying classes simpler on my eyes. By default, FeedFlow opens all articles in a cached reader view, pulling the complete web site’s content material. In the event you disable this characteristic from Settings > Studying Habits, it can simply open the article within the browser. Which means that with none adjustments, you’re getting the very best studying expertise.

Together with the Black theme, it’s the widget that I take advantage of most frequently. A complete web page on my Pixel Launcher dwelling display screen is devoted to this widget, which helps scrolling. Each half-hour, the widget refreshes with the newest articles (so long as background sync is enabled within the settings). It is a characteristic I sorely miss in Learn You.

FeedFlow has a hidden characteristic that tells you the developer is a prolific RSS reader himself. Utilizing the Blocked Phrases characteristic, you may robotically cover articles that comprise phrases you don’t wish to see. Just like the mute characteristic on social media platforms, however for web sites. Mighty helpful in case you don’t need one more Elon Musk replace at 7:30 within the morning.

I lean in direction of Learn You, however I nonetheless use each

I take advantage of each RSS readers all through the day, however my most well-liked possibility stays Learn You. There’s one thing in regards to the studying expertise that simply calls to me. After I wish to rapidly test the information, I desire FeedFlow’s widget and the marginally sooner, text-only interface I’ve arrange within the app. Maybe a well-themed Materials You widget from Learn You’ll tip the scales sooner or later, however for now, I’m pleased with my personalized, minimal news-reading expertise that’s fully beneath my management.