Top 10 RSS and news reading apps

February 03, 2024 | Editor: Adam Levine


RSS Readers and news reading apps provide convenient way of reading news in web browsers and on mobile devices. They allow tp compile news feeds from a variety of online sources, personalize your feeds and share news via different channels.
1
Feedly is RSS news aggregator application for various Web browsers and mobile devices running iOS and Android, also available as a cloud-based service. It compiles news feeds from a variety of online sources for the user to customize and share with others.
2
Mobile news reader for Feedbin, Feedly, Feed Wrangler, FeedHQ, NewsBlur, The Old Reader, Inoreader, Minimal Reader, BazQux Reader, Fever and Readability. Don't want to use a third-party service? Reeder also supports local/standalone RSS (no sync).
3
Flipboard is your Personal Magazine. It's a single place to discover, collect and share the news you care about. Add your favorite social networks, publications and blogs to stay connected to the topics and people closest to you.
4
One place to keep up with all your information sources. Rely on powerful free search, full archive of your subscriptions. Monitor specific keywords, save pages from the web and subscribe to social media feeds.
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Put articles, videos or pretty much anything into Pocket. Save directly from your browser or from apps like Twitter, Flipboard, Pulse and Zite. If it's in Pocket, it's on your phone, tablet or computer. You don't even need an Internet connection.
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With Google News, discover more of the news and magazines you care about all in one app on your Android tablet or phone. Enjoy breaking news and in-depth articles featuring audio, video and more. From sports, business, cooking, entertainment, fashion and more - now get both free and paid news plus subscribe to vibrant full HD magazines, all in one place. With hundreds of premier publishers - it’s all there, easy to follow, read, and share.
7
Apple News provides the best coverage of current events, curated by expert editors. And enjoy hundreds of popular publications with Apple News+.
8
GoodLinks is a powerful bookmarking app with a sleek reading experience. GoodLinks extracts the article text and removes web advertisements and other distractions to provide a wonderful reading experience. Pick the perfect font, spacing, and size.
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A fast, simple RSS feed reader that delivers a great reading experience.
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Save all of the interesting articles, videos, cooking recipes, song lyrics, or whatever else you come across while browsing. With one click, Instapaper lets you to save, read, and manage the things you find on the Internet.
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NewsBlur is a personal news reader bringing people together to talk about the world . Stories are pushed directly to you, so you can read news as it comes in. Read the content in context, the way it was meant to be seen. Reading news is better with friends. Share stories on your public blurblog. Hide the stories you don't like and highlight the stories you do.
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SmartNews is the fastest, most efficient way to get all your news now. Your news in one minute. Zero loading time, a beautiful interface.
13
Microsoft News (previously named MSN News and Bing News) is a news aggregator and service that features news headlines and articles chosen by editors. Microsoft currently only allows users to subscribe to specified news sources
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Netvibes is the all-in-one dashboard intelligence platform for real-time social media monitoring, social analytics, brand sentiment, reputation management, news aggregation, data analytics and real-time intelligence. Analyze all your social+enterprise data. Keep your team on track with real-time alerts, colorful visualizations and automated reporting.

Latest news about RSS and news reading apps


2023. News aggregator app SmartNews’ latest feature aims to tackle doomscrolling



SmartNews, the news aggregator app, is launching a new feature aimed at addressing the anxiety often associated with constantly consuming negative news, a behavior commonly referred to as "doomscrolling." In contrast to encouraging mindless scrolling through distressing headlines, the new feature, known as SmartTake, promises to provide a curated selection of uplifting stories, editor's picks, informative articles, and soothing visuals all in one convenient place. This represents a notable shift in approach for SmartNews, which has traditionally sent push notifications with news and entertainment headlines designed to entice users to open the app and read, even if the headlines aren't extreme enough to be classified as clickbait. The app's top news section has typically featured attention-grabbing stories, including those related to crimes, kidnappings, accidents, or significant and controversial statements made by public figures and government officials.


2023. News app Artifact can now summarize stories using AI, including in fun styles



Artifact, the personalized news aggregator, has announced a new feature that utilizes AI to provide news article summaries at the tap of a button. This tool allows readers to quickly grasp the key points of an article before diving into the full text. In addition, users can select a preferred style for the summary, such as "explain like I'm five" or using only emojis. To access the feature, users can tap the "Aa" button above an individual news article and select the "Summarize" option. Artifact is utilizing OpenAI's API to generate the text summaries.




2023. Samsung launches News app with custom feeds



Samsung has launched a new app called "Samsung News" that grants users access to daily news from a variety of publications. The app will replace Samsung's current "Samsung Free" app and features customized news feeds, as well as morning and evening briefings on the day's top news. Samsung News provides access to news content from numerous news outlets, including Axios, CNN, Fortune, Huffington Post, Newsweek, Reuters, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and others. You can browse news within the app via categorized feeds or a "Following" tab that you can customize according to your preferences. Additionally, Samsung News provides twice-daily briefings - compiled by a team of news editors - that aggregate the day's top headlines in one convenient location. The app also features an option to listen to podcasts.


2023. Flipboard launches its notes feature on iOS and Android



Flipboard has introduced its notes feature to its iOS and Android apps, following its recent launch on the web. This move positions Flipboard as a participant in the ongoing competition to shift some of the discussions happening on Twitter to its own platform. The notes feature provides users with a convenient method to share thoughts and initiate conversations, according to the company. Flipboard's curators now have the ability to publish original content in their magazines, facilitating engagement and dialogue with their readers. Users can also utilize notes to greet new followers and share their perspectives and ideas.


2022. Google News redesigned with a cleaner look, more customization options



Google has recently unveiled a revamped version of its service. The updated Google News boasts a streamlined, two-column layout, with a significant enhancement in usability. The navigation elements are predominantly positioned at the top of the page, offering a user-friendly experience. Notably, customization and personalization have been given prime importance. At the top of the page, Google presents "top stories" and "picks for you," while scrolling down reveals a more comprehensive breakdown of the topics tailored to your interests. By clicking on the "customize" button, you have the freedom to modify these preferences. Furthermore, Google has made local news more accessible by incorporating it into the top menu alongside other news categories.


2021. Matter raises $7 million Series A to build a better news reading app



Emerging from private beta testing, Matter is launching as a reading app designed to enhance the digital reading experience. The company has also announced the successful closure of its $7 million Series A funding round. Matter addresses a gap in the market where existing tools for saving articles to read later, such as Instapaper and Pocket, have struggled to keep pace with evolving reading habits. Today, people consume online content through newsletters, personalized recommendations in various apps, or suggestions from peers on social platforms. Similar to other "read it later" apps, Matter provides users with a Chrome extension to curate their reading lists within the app or make recommendations directly from the mobile app. By default, users' reading lists remain private, but they have the option to selectively share articles with the Matter community.


2021. News aggregator SmartNews raises $230 million



SmartNews, a news aggregation website and app that has gained significant popularity despite facing tough competition from built-in aggregators like Apple News, has successfully raised $230 million in Series F funding. The company, originally founded in Japan in 2012, expanded its presence to the United States in 2014 and recently focused on expanding its coverage of local news. While SmartNews benefits from the expertise of its content team, which includes former journalists, it leverages machine learning algorithms to curate articles and personalize the user experience. What sets SmartNews apart is its commitment to counteract filter bubbles through its unique feature called "News From All Sides," enabling users to access news from a diverse range of political perspectives. This approach promotes a well-rounded and balanced news consumption experience.


2021. Microsoft launches a personalized news service, Microsoft Start



Microsoft has unveiled its personalized news reading platform called Microsoft Start. This innovative service is accessible through a dedicated website and mobile app, and it seamlessly integrates with various Microsoft products, including Windows 10 and 11, as well as the Microsoft Edge web browser. Microsoft Start aggregates content from various news publishers, but with a unique twist—it tailors the content to match individual user interests. This customization feature positions Microsoft to better compete with rival news reading experiences provided by companies like Apple or Google, as well as popular third-party apps such as Flipboard or SmartNews.


2020. Facebook News launches to all in US with addition of local news and video



Facebook News, the dedicated section on the social network for journalism, is now being launched to all users in the United States. This new offering incorporates the involvement of journalists alongside algorithms to enhance personalized story selection. While users have the ability to react to and share articles, commenting on them is not permitted. Additionally, users can choose to hide articles, topics, and publishers they prefer not to see, which may have implications for expanding one's exposure to diverse perspectives. This product represents Facebook's highly-discussed endeavor to attract publishers to its platform by promising increased distribution opportunities.


2020. Microsoft starts testing a new news reading experience in Windows 10



Microsoft has introduced its latest Windows 10 preview build, which includes an enhanced news consumption experience. One of the key features is the Microsoft News Bar, which collects news content from the extensive network of 4,500 publishers in the Microsoft News network. This news bar appears as a semi-persistent display on any side of your screen. While Windows 10 has previously offered the Microsoft News app for a comprehensive news reading experience (though often overlooked), the News Bar offers a news ticker that can be constantly visible or conveniently hidden as per your preference. To ensure you stay informed, you can set the News Bar to reappear after two or eight hours, or choose to hide it indefinitely if you wish to take a break from the news.


2020. Feedly adds AI-based news research assistant



Feedly has introduced Leo, an AI research assistant designed to enhance the news reading experience. With Leo, you can save valuable time by avoiding the tedious task of sifting through numerous articles. By leveraging Leo's capabilities, you can focus on the most important content while freeing your mind from information overload. Leo offers a range of features, including the ability to prioritize specific topics, trends, and keywords, eliminate duplicate news, filter out irrelevant information, and provide article summaries, among others. With the new Priority Tab, you can request Leo to read all articles and highlight the most insightful ones. These prioritized articles are easily identifiable with a green priority label, offering clarity on why they were selected. You have the flexibility to refine priorities, pause or remove them based on your preferences. Whenever you save an article to a board, Leo learns from this action, strengthening its understanding of your interests. In cases where Leo makes mistakes, you can utilize the "Less Like This" down arrow button to provide corrective feedback, helping Leo refine its future recommendations.


2020. News reading app SmartNews raises $92M



SmartNews recently concluded a funding round, securing $92 million at a valuation of $1.2 billion. While news aggregation apps were abundant a few years ago, they didn't all become successful ventures, with many being acquired or shutting down. However, SmartNews stands out due to its distinct advantages. Firstly, it leverages machine learning instead of human curation to provide a personalized news discovery experience for each user. Secondly, unlike many news aggregators, SmartNews values its partnership with publishers rather than treating them as mere commodities. Through initiatives like SmartView First, SmartNews collaborates with select publishers such as Business Insider, Bloomberg, BuzzFeed, and Reuters, offering a customized article format that enhances revenue opportunities and provides better analytics.


2019. Tonic launched a personalized news reader that respects user privacy



Canopy has developed a remarkable personalization engine that operates without the need for user logins or even email information. As part of their latest release, they have unveiled the news reader app, Tonic. This innovative app prioritizes user privacy while also leveraging machine learning to provide a tailored experience based on individual preferences. What sets Tonic apart from other personalization engines is its unique approach to data handling—all the raw interaction and behavioral data remains securely stored on the user's device. Additionally, Tonic grants users full control over their personalization settings, which is a significant departure from the norm. Many users have encountered instances in which personalization technology recommended songs, videos, or news articles that felt entirely unrelated to their interests. However, the lack of detailed information in most apps makes it difficult to understand why such recommendations were made. Tonic aims to address this by providing transparency and empowering users with insights into their personalization preferences.


2019. Apple shuts down Texture following launch of Apple News+



As anticipated, Texture, the subscription-based magazine service, has officially ceased operations following the introduction of Apple News+. Apple acquired Texture in the past with the intention of using it as the foundation for ‌Apple News‌+. It was later announced that Texture would no longer be functional after May 28. As expected, the app has now ceased to operate and redirects users to ‌Apple News‌+. However, it is important to note that while Apple's notice in the Texture app assures users that they can continue reading their favorite magazines on ‌Apple News‌+, the service is limited to the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. Texture previously supported various platforms, including iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows.


2018. Microsoft launched AI-based news reading app Hummingbird



Microsoft has recently introduced a new AI news app for Android called Hummingbird. This app allows users to create an account using their Hotmail or LinkedIn email address. By logging in, users can benefit from personalized news items that are curated with articles tailored to their interests, thanks to Microsoft's intelligent algorithms. Similar to other AI-powered services, Hummingbird improves its understanding of your preferences the more you engage with it. When you click on an article, it will open in its original site, but you will still have access to the Hummingbird title bar when in reading mode, allowing you to easily return to the app's main page. The app also offers options to mute specific genres of news sources, ensuring that your feed remains focused on your interests, such as technology reviews or books. Additionally, you have the option to share content on social media platforms if there's something you're particularly enthusiastic about.


2018. Microsoft News launches on Android and iOS as rebranded MSN app



Microsoft is introducing rebranded versions of its Microsoft News apps for both iOS and Android, while also utilizing its news engine to deliver news content across various Microsoft products. Although the MSN name will no longer be used on Android and iOS, the MSN.com website, a long-standing news portal launched by the software giant in 1995, will retain its branding. Microsoft combines curated news from over 1,000 "premium publishers" and 3,000 brands with the assistance of human editors and artificial intelligence. Through AI technology, Microsoft's system analyzes more than 100,000 pieces of content daily, assessing factors such as topic, popularity, and freshness. The revamped Microsoft News app features a dark mode, improved integration with iOS and Android widgets, seamless reading experience, and real-time breaking news alerts.


2018. Google News gets AI-redesign



Google has introduced a new and improved version of Google News that combines the functionalities of Google Play Newsstand and incorporates artificial intelligence (AI). This redesigned service merges elements from Google's digital magazine app, Newsstand, and YouTube, offering users features like "newscasts" and "full coverage" to provide both concise summaries and comprehensive perspectives on news stories. The updated version presents a briefing section at the top of the page, highlighting the five most important stories at the moment, along with additional stories tailored to the user's interests. Leveraging AI technology, the feature analyzes web news content to gather the key information you need to know, including local news and events specific to your area. As you continue to use this personalized version of Google News, its performance will improve over time, thanks to the underlying "reinforcement learning" technology.


2017. News reading app Feedly gets filters


The popular RSS reader Feedly has introduced a new feature called Filters, which enables users to automatically remove specific stories from their feeds based on custom-defined rules. These filters work alongside your feeds to shield you from time-consuming memes and prioritize the content that matters most to you. While reading, you can easily create a Mute Filter. For instance, if you come across a story that you no longer wish to see similar content, simply select a keyword or phrase using your mouse and choose "Mute this phrase" from the menu. It's important to note that Filters are exclusively available in the paid versions of Feedly, starting at $5 per month.


2017. Feedly adds team boards, notes and annotations



News reading service Feedly has introduced a new feature called Boards, which aims to simplify the organization of saved stories for individual users and teams. This functionality is particularly beneficial for business professionals and colleagues who wish to track stories related to clients, projects, or other areas of interest. With Boards, you have the flexibility to add a story to a specific board or save it across multiple boards. The Teams product takes Boards to the next level by allowing shared boards where you can enhance the story with additional context. This includes highlighting essential sections of an article and annotating it with your own thoughts or ideas. Moreover, you can easily notify your team members through integrated Slack and email mentions. Boards, Notes, and Highlights are fully compatible with all devices, including web and mobile through the Feedly app. It's important to note that basic accounts are limited to creating only three private boards. To enjoy unlimited boards, an upgrade to either the Pro plan ($5/month) or the Teams plan ($18/month per user) is required.


2016. Instapaper premium goes free for all users



The Premium version of the news reading app Instapaper is now available for free to all users. Following its acquisition by Pinterest in August, Instapaper continues to operate as a separate entity and receives updates from the dedicated Instapaper team at Pinterest. With the backing of a larger organization and its abundant resources, Instapaper can now focus more on user acquisition and engagement without the immediate need for monetization. Instapaper was one of the pioneers of the "save it for later" concept, enabling users to hold onto long-form content instead of simply skipping over it and missing out. It gained significant popularity as an early iPhone application and consistently ranked highly in the App Store's news category. However, the competition in this space, particularly from companies like Pocket, has been increasing, posing challenges for Instapaper's growth.


2016. Pinterest buys news-reading app Instapaper



Pinterest has recently made an acquisition by acquiring the original read later service, Instapaper. While both Instapaper and Pinterest function as bookmarking services, Instapaper primarily focuses on text-based content, whereas Pinterest is renowned for its emphasis on images. As of now, the official stance is that there will be no immediate changes following the acquisition. Pinterest's interest in acquiring Instapaper lies in its technology, particularly its impressive text parser, and the talented individuals responsible for developing that technology. However, it seems highly unlikely that Pinterest is primarily interested in retaining the Instapaper service itself. While Pinterest has committed to keeping Instapaper operational, there is a notable distinction between sustaining the service and actively enhancing it.


2015. News reader Flipboard launches new ads targeting based on user interests



In an effort to provide better targeting options for its advertising partners, Flipboard has introduced a new advertising feature based on the interest graphs it has curated for its users. This means that advertisers can now display their ads alongside topics that align with their target audience's interests. For instance, an advertiser promoting coffee-related products may also have their ads shown alongside craft beer topics, as there is a significant overlap in readership between these two subjects. This approach aims to recreate the advertising experience found in traditional magazines, where high-quality ads are placed alongside related content, even if it's not directly relevant. This strategy aligns with Flipboard's overarching mission of providing a mobile magazine-like experience to its users.


2015. Feedly news reader adds Shared Collections for business users


Feedly has strategically designed its business model to cater to individuals who regularly consume a vast amount of information from various sources. This includes professionals in the business sector who track industry news, among others. The newly introduced feature, Shared Collections, is exclusively available to Pro subscribers. It enables users to create collections of reading sources that can be shared publicly or privately. Essentially, it provides a simple method to make a group of sources, which users are already subscribed to and actively reading within Feedly, available to others with just a click of a button. This feature allows users to share a collection of blogs, publications, YouTube channels, and alerts. The "Pro" version of Feedly's service, priced at $3.75 per month billed annually, offers additional benefits such as a powerful search feature and integrations with third-party tools like Evernote, Pocket, OneNote, LinkedIn, Dropbox, and more.


2015. LinkedIn redesigns its news app Pulse



LinkedIn has introduced a revamped edition of its news app, Pulse, for both iOS and Android platforms. This update marks a significant shift in the app's approach to delivering news, adopting a more curated methodology. Unlike the previous version, which followed an RSS-like model presenting an endless stream of stories from all the publishers you followed, the new Pulse showcases a cleaner design that aligns with LinkedIn's other applications. The app's home page now features a personalized feed of stories tailored to individual users based on data extracted from their LinkedIn profiles. Utilizing information such as job title, industry, company, and connections, Pulse endeavors to surface stories deemed most relevant to each user. Moreover, the recommendations on Pulse also consider the publishers that were previously followed in the app's earlier version.


2015. Flipboard allows users to add own opinions to their mobile magazines



The mobile news magazine app Flipboard has introduced an update that empowers magazine creators to infuse their publications with a stronger personal touch. They can now share their thoughts and opinions on the news they present, pose questions, quote text, customize their magazines with links or personal photos, and more. Previously, Flipboard users had the ability to curate their own magazines by pulling in articles from various sources to create unique collections centered around specific topics. However, the aggregated digital content often lacked an editorial voice compared to traditional glossy magazines. With the latest update, creators now have the option to add text, links, images, and other elements to their magazines. Flipboard suggests that this feature can be utilized for purposes such as engaging in discussions with readers, seeking co-contributors, making notes about magazine changes, or asking questions. It also allows magazine builders to highlight impactful sentences, express their own sentiments and opinions about the included articles, thereby providing additional context to the stories.


2015. Instapaper launches Notes in its mobile news-reader



News reading and sharing app Instapaper has introduced a new feature called Notes, which enables users to annotate specific text in articles or other content. By default, Notes are kept private, ensuring that no one else can view your comments. However, users have the option to share their annotations using Twitter's textshot feature. Additionally, sharing is possible through various third-party iOS applications like Facebook, Evernote, and Tumblr, as well as through a new IFTTT trigger. Instapaper has also included a "Share All Notes" button for those who wish to share all their annotations by default.


2015. Japan’s news reading app SmartNews expands globally



A Japanese alternative to Flipboard, SmartNews, has secured $10 million in funding to expand its presence in the United States. The company's founders attribute SmartNews' growth partly to the app's unique architecture. While many aggregation services claim to employ intelligent algorithms for recommending articles to users, SmartNews asserts that its algorithms are superior. The recommendations, powered by machine learning, take into account not only the articles users click on but also their browsing behavior, such as pauses within the app. Furthermore, SmartNews analyzes what other users with similar interests read and pause near, leveraging a vast collection of articles. This approach allows SmartNews to present users with a user-friendly interface showcasing relevant content they might be interested in reading.


2015. News reading app Instapaper adds speed reading option



The mobile news reader, Instapaper, has introduced an app update that introduces several noteworthy features to enhance the user experience. With Instapaper 6.2, users now have access to a feature called Speed Reader, which presents a single word at a time, enabling a more focused and efficient reading experience. Additionally, the update brings faster article saving from mobile devices and Instant Sync, a faster and more reliable method of transferring articles to the Instapaper app on iOS. Instapaper recently underwent a complete redesign, launching version 6.0 as a freemium model for the first time. While Speed Reader will be available for free ten times per month, it will subsequently be included in the premium tier of the service.


2015. Microsoft wants to buy social news reading app Prismatic



Microsoft is rumored to be in talks to acquire Prismatic, an app that provides news article recommendations to users based on their connections' reading and liking activities. Along with Microsoft, other major companies, namely Apple, Yahoo, Google, and Facebook, are also expressing serious interest in the startup. Prismatic has secured $15 million in funding thus far, with notable investors including Accel Partners, Jim Breyer, Yuri Milner, and Javelin's Alex Gurevich. The Prismatic news reader, available for iOS, Android, and the web, suggests articles aligned with your specified interests (such as food, iPhone news, China), the preferences of your friends, and your interaction with the provided links—whether you click on them, share, save, or discard, and even comment on them.


2015. Flipboard launched web news reader for desktop


The popular mobile news-reading service Flipboard has finally introduced its web version, expanding its reach to desktop users. Flipboard aimed to create a website that feels familiar to its users while staying true to the essence of the web experience. Just as Flipboard dynamically adjusts and optimizes stories for optimal display on smartphones and tablets, its web version utilizes unique design principles and user interaction features tailored specifically for desktop usage. Unlike the flipping gesture used on mobile touchscreens, the web design of Flipboard enables users to scroll through relevant content. The layout adapts based on the type of content being displayed, with some featuring captivating full-bleed images, while others emphasize text. Additionally, the web version incorporates the extensive personalization features that Flipboard has developed over the years, allowing users to enjoy a personalized news experience on the desktop.

Editor: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com