Best RSS Readers for Chrome
Published: August 26, 2026 by Andrew Apell
We compared the best RSS readers for Chrome, including Feedly, Inoreader, NewsBlur, The Old Reader, self-hosted options and extensions like RSS Wrangler. If you can live without phone sync, the extension option is the fastest and most privacy-respecting way to start reading feeds from any site.
The premium and freemium leaders
Feedly remains the most polished freemium reader: a polished UI, strong AI-powered feeds, cross-device sync, good mobile apps and a generous free tier. It is also slow to implement new features compared to competitors, but it still offers one of the most capable free experiences.
Inoreader is more technical and faster than Feedly. It offers a generous free tier, strong API, extensive automation and good desktop extensions. It appeals to power users who want more control and integration options.
NewsBlur has been a popular independent option for more than a decade. It emphasises the stories you care about with its intelligence trainer and it is explicitly anti-algorithm. It is one of the most opinionated readers, because it adds human-curated filtering and it requires effort to set up.
The Old Reader is the spiritual successor to Google Reader: simple, reliable and largely free, aimed at people who just want feeds without the extras. Its free tier is generous enough for most casual readers, but it lacks some of the features of the newer, premium-focused readers.
Readwise Reader is the reading-app choice: it merges RSS, newsletters and saved articles into one reading queue with good typography, aimed at researchers and heavy readers.
Feedbin is a clean, paid, privacy-respecting reader for people who value simplicity and do not mind paying for it.
Self-hosted readers
Miniflux is a minimalist, fast, self-hosted reader with a focus on readability and RSS hygiene, ideal if you run a small server or a Raspberry Pi.
Tiny Tiny RSS is the full-featured self-hosted option: plugins, filters and multi-user support. It requires more setup but gives you total ownership of your data.
Browser-extension readers
RSS Wrangler is our take on reading RSS directly in Chrome. It is a browser extension, so there is no account, no cloud and no subscription: your feeds and cached articles live entirely on your device. It offers feed auto-discovery (paste any website, not just a feed URL), offline reading, favourites, multiple sort modes, unread badges, background refresh and keyword alerts. If privacy and simplicity matter most, it is the fastest way to start.
Feedbro is another solid extension reader with RSS and Atom support and basic rules-based automation.
The field at a glance
| Feature | Free Tier | Paid Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud sync across devices | Inoreader, Feedly, The Old Reader | All |
| Mobile apps | Inoreader, Feedly | Feedly, The Old Reader |
| Keyword search and filters | RSS Wrangler, Miniflux, Tiny Tiny RSS | Feedly, Inoreader, NewsBlur |
| Offline reading | RSS Wrangler, Miniflux, Tiny Tiny RSS | All |
| Privacy focus | RSS Wrangler, Miniflux, Tiny Tiny RSS, RSS Wrangler | All |
FAQ
Can I use more than one?
Yes. Many people pair a cloud reader for phone sync with a fast extension reader for day-to-day browsing.
Do readers have ads?
RSS itself has no ads; some readers insert their own ad-supported tiers, which is a reason privacy-focused users prefer extension or self-hosted options.
Is OPML import/export standard?
Yes. It is how you move your feed list between readers.
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