Alternatives to Fluent Reader

A desktop RSS reader with a Fluent Design interface that works locally or syncs with Inoreader, Feedbin, Fever and Google Reader API services. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Fluent Reader.

  • RSS Guard

    A desktop feed reader that also logs into Feedly, Inoreader and self-hosted readers, and plays podcasts.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    RSS Guard is a Qt desktop reader for Windows, macOS and Linux that logs into Feedly, Inoreader, FreshRSS and more, and adds an mpv-based podcast player.

  • Raven Reader

    Cross-platform desktop RSS reader with no account required.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Raven Reader is also an Electron app for Windows, macOS and Linux with no account, but offers no synchronisation between machines or with services.

  • QuiteRSS

    Cross-platform desktop feed reader with an embedded browser.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    QuiteRSS is a GPL desktop reader for Windows, macOS and Linux with an embedded ad-blocking browser and portable builds, though development has stopped.

  • NetNewsWire

    Free, open-source feed reader for Mac, iPhone and iPad.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSiOS

    NetNewsWire is a free native app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with iCloud sync, dropping Windows and Linux and lacking filtering rules.

  • NewsFlash

    Modern GTK feed reader that also syncs with hosted services.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    NewsFlash is a GTK reader for Linux only that syncs with most hosted and self-hosted back ends and scrapes full text from excerpt feeds.

  • Liferea

    GTK desktop feed reader for Linux with offline reading.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Liferea is a Linux-only GTK reader with cached offline reading and sync to several accounts, using an older three-pane interface.

  • Akregator

    KDE feed reader integrated with the Kontact suite.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    Akregator is a KDE reader for Windows and Linux that integrates with Kontact and has a tabbed browser, but cannot sync with hosted reader services.

  • yarr

    Read web feeds through a compact self-hostable application.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    yarr is a single MIT-licensed executable for Windows, macOS and Linux with a browser interface, avoiding Electron but without syncing to hosted services.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Fluent Reader as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Vienna RSS

    Open-source RSS and Atom reader for macOS with smart folders.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOS

    Fluent Reader runs on macOS, Windows and Linux with regex rules and sync to Inoreader or Feedbin, but it is a heavy Electron app.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.