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 is for
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.
What is good
- Free and open-source under GNU GPL v3.0.
- Supports RSS, Atom, JSON Feed, iCalendar, and Sitemap.
- Podcast playback uses mpv or FFmpeg.
- Offers offline reading and JavaScript filters.
- No registration is required.
What to know first
- It is a desktop app, not listed for web or mobile.
- Lite omits the built-in browser.
- There is no traditional support desk.
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.
RSS Guard plans and pricing
All plansCompared on RSS reader software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Full-text extraction
- Yes
- Filter rules
- Yes
- Offline reading
- Yes
