For the longest time, people were using Digg reader to subscribe to their favorite blogs and websites in order to stay updated. Digg started the service when Google famously discontinued its own RSS app called Google Reader. I am not sure why so many popular RSS readers are shutting down their service. Ad revenue soaked up? Let’s check out some Digg Reader alternatives.
Digg Reader Alternatives
On March 2018, Digg announced today that it’s closing down its Reader app. Fortunately, you can still export your feeds and folders from Digg reader (OPML file), by going to the Settings page and choose the Export option from the bottom. All the following RSS reader allow you to import your OPML file.
1. Inoreader
Inoreader has been recommended by the developers of Digg as a Digg Reader alternative themselves. The RSS service will let you subscribe to an unlimited number of sources for free. There are no upgrades and subscriptions but the platform is ad-supported, so there goes your data. You can remove ads by paying $15/year.
There is a dark mode for those who love them. You can save articles offline to read them later. You can also save them in PDF formats which makes it easy to share with peers. The search and filter feature will allow you to narrow your search for a particular title.
It comes with a beam option using which I could read the article on my iPad from my Android. Maybe it will also work with Chromecast?
When you upgrade, you will get access to some additional features like IFTTT integration which I love to death, password protection, ability to customize the dashboard, and translations. IFTTT is particularly useful because you can automate pretty much every aspect of RSS feeds. There is a Rules feature which you can use to automatically tag, filter, and organize articles.
Pros:
Unlike other RSS reader service in the list, Inoreader has no limit on the number of sources you can subscribe to in the free version. Though, this means, you’ll have to live with Ads in both mobile apps and the web version.
My biggest led down with Inoreader is that, if you don’t read items older than 1 month, it’ll automatically mark as read, with no possibility to “unread” them.
Cons:
The font size is too small but the real issue is that you can’t change them. This will strain your eyes, especially when using a smartphone instead of a tablet.
With each passing update, they are moving features from the free version to the paid version. Case in point, offline and filter were both moved in separate updates.
Inoreader Website | Android | iOS
2. Feeder
Feeder is an RSS aggregator site that is available on a number of platforms. Apart from the website and the mobile apps, you can also access the feeds using browser add-ons for Chrome and Firefox. This is useful if you spend a lot of time working on your computer.
You can subscribe to an N number of feeds for free but will be notified every two hours in the free version. It is alright for those who don’t need to stay updated all that often anyway. The pro plan, at $5/month, will update and notify every minute.
The pro plan will also remove ads and let you customize and use filters. While these features are useful, Feeder comes off as an expensive service that will appeal to very few. On the plus side, they have some amazing themes soothe your eyes.
They have a business plan at $15/month that will help you share feeds and updates within your organization and give you admin control. You decide who gets which updates. Might be a good solution for a blog or news sites? Doubtful though.
Pros:
The themes are good and Feeder makes the reading experience a pleasant one. The business plan might appeal to big blogs and news sites.
Cons:
The free plan is not very well thought out. Comes across more expensive when you compare it to some other RSS readers reviewed here.
Feeder Website | Android | iOS
3. Feedly
Feedly has really developed into one of the most popular RSS readers in the last few years. The interface is simple and easy to use with little to no distraction whatsoever. There are also no ads in the free version. Feedly is available on the platforms.
If you don’t like the default layout, there are four different ones to choose from. This gives you more room to play around with how you like to consume your content. You can filter and organize content like in other services. The title view actually saves a lot of space, especially when you are viewing on a smartphone.
Read:Â How To use Feedly Effectively
I personally use Feedly to up to date on what is happening in the tech world apart from some other niches of my interest, like Space. I like the ability to filter content by keywords so I am alerted every time a certain word pops somewhere.
You can change the color scheme, font type, and size. The first 100 feeds (or websites) are free after which subscription begins at $5.41/month. When you upgrade, you get third-party add-ons like IFTTT, Zapier, Slack, and Hootsuite among others. These integrations make the pro version desirable for many users. For $18, you get shared teams and boards, analytics, and team newsletters.
Pros:
Feedly interface is easy on the eyes and the free version comes with quite a few settings. It is available on every platform and comes with browser add-ons. Feedly works with more 3rd party apps than any other RSS reader in my opinion.
Cons:
If you have just added a source to Feedly, you won’t be able to view anything that was posted more than 30 days back. This is a hindrance, especially if want to dig deeper into the source.
Also, unlike most RSS reader, Feedly gives you no option to filter a feed by keyword.
Feedly Website | Android | iOSÂ
4. Feedbin
Macbooks and iPhones are known for their minimalist and elegant designs which also reflects in the apps and software that are available on the platform. This is why Feedbin made the list. An iPhone and Mac only RSS reader that will impress you with its design.
This is not to say that their features are not noteworthy. Apart from sharing, tagging, and filtering options, they have built the features of an automated action that work similarly to how IFTTT works. You get notified of particular articles, star and bookmark them, or save them.
You can change its layout to your heart’s desire. I like how they allowed me to customize even the font type. They support quite a few too. Plus, you can choose layout and themes.
The app will cost you $5/mon and for Android users, there are some third-party apps that will help you get notified.
Pros:
Feedbin is beautiful and minimalist, something every Apple user will appreciate. Also, since it’s licensed under MIT, the code is available on GitHub. Meaning unlike Google reader and Digg, Feedbin won’t disappear in a year or two if ad revenue falls off.
Cons:
Feedbin is not available on Android and there are no add-ons for your browsers. But the biggest drawback is lack of a free plan. Unlike most RSS reader, which has a freemium model, Feeb in have a 14-day trial, after that, a subscription is $3/month.
5. gReader
When you first read the name, it does sound like an app that is trying to cash in on the name of Google Reader. A knock-off that will steal data and serve ads, but that is not the case so relax. It really is a decent Digg reader alternative.
gReader is only available for the Android platform and comes with a number of features to support the claim. There are a number of themes to choose from and you can change the layout. I like the widgets that are beautiful and functional, but more suitable for tablets with a big screen.
There is support for third-party apps like Instapaper, Feedly (2-way sync), and Readability. There is support for offline reading, reading mode, and dark mode which is more suitable if you are in the habit of reading articles in the bed.
gReader is free to use but ad-supported. The pro version will remove ads, add more widgets, and allow voice reading for $4.19.
Pros:
gReader comes with a number of features and is completely free to use like the built-in text-to-speech set it apart from other new readers.
Cons:
Like Inoreader, the free version of gReader contains ads. Also, it’s not available on the iOS platform.
Digg Reader Alternatives
If you want a choice in layouts and third-party integration, nothing beats Feedly. Even the free version is cool enough for most of us. If not Feedly, then I would suggest Inoreader because comes very close to how Feedly works and what it offers. Though, you’ll have to live with ads in the free version. If cross-platform is not an issue, gReader is as powerful as Feedly but again serve ads in the free version.
