RSS Guard

What RSS Guard is

RSS Guard is a free, open-source desktop app for reading feeds and playing podcasts on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It reads RSS, Atom, JSON Feed, iCalendar, and Sitemap sources, and supports services including Feedly, Inoreader, Tiny Tiny RSS, Nextcloud News, Gmail, FreshRSS, and The Old Reader. Its built-in podcast player uses mpv or FFmpeg. JavaScript filters can remove duplicate articles, filter items, and assign labels; full-text extraction and offline reading are also supported. Storage choices include embedded SQLite or a MariaDB server. The app includes dark and light themes, skins, customizable toolbars, and native support for the Gemini protocol. Standard includes a built-in QtWebEngine browser; Lite instead uses a text-based viewer. RSS Guard says it has no telemetry, collects no user data, shows no targeted ads, and requires no registration. It can work offline except when cloud services are used. Support is through community chats, discussions, and issue channels rather than a traditional support desk.

Who it suits

RSS Guard suits readers who want a desktop feed reader and podcast player, with support for multiple feed formats and services. It may also suit people seeking offline use and customization.

Limits

The free plan is the desktop feed reader and podcast player. The Lite edition omits the browser, and offline operation does not apply while using cloud services.

Getting started

1. Visit the RSS Guard website.
2. Choose the Standard or Lite edition.
3. Select a build for Linux, macOS, or Windows.
4. Install and open the desktop app.
5. Add feeds or connect a supported service.

Verdict

RSS Guard combines feed reading, podcast playback, filtering, and offline use in a free desktop app. Choose between Standard’s built-in browser and Lite’s text-based viewer, and expect community-based rather than traditional support.