Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
RSS is a web content syndication format: a website publishes a feed at a URL, and feed readers or other services retrieve its updates. In WordPress, you can use feeds in two different ways: subscribe to a site’s feed in a reader to follow new posts, or add the RSS block to display another site’s feed on a WordPress page or post.
What RSS is and what a feed does
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. The RSS Advisory Board describes it as “a Web content syndication format.” RSS 2.0 is an XML-based format: a feed contains an rss element, a channel with information about the feed, and items describing individual updates. In practical terms, the feed URL is the address a reader or service checks to retrieve those updates. See the RSS Advisory Board’s RSS 2.0 specification.
The current RSS 2.0 specification is version 2.0.11, published March 30, 2009. The board describes the format as practically frozen, with future changes expected to clarify rather than add features. That specification date describes RSS itself; WordPress interface instructions can change separately.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind a WordPress site’s feed URL
WordPress can provide feeds for recent site content in several formats, including RSS 2.0 and Atom, as well as older RDF/RSS formats. It also supports comments feeds. A theme may show a feed link or icon in a sidebar or footer, but it does not have to expose every available feed type. The WordPress Feeds handbook documents feed types and URL methods.
#1 Best Overall
- Preloaded with relevant feeds
- Easy to set-up and manage feeds
- Organize Feeds by Categories
- Lots of Options
- Widget
- Look for a feed link. Check the site’s footer, sidebar, or other navigation for an RSS or feed link or icon.
- Try a common WordPress feed address. On many sites, appending
/feed/to the site’s URL is a useful starting point. For a query-form address, WordPress also documents?feed=rss2. These patterns are not guaranteed: permalink settings, redirects, and the site’s configuration can affect the URL. - Use the site’s published link when possible. If you own the site, use the feed URL WordPress provides rather than manually composing a link. If you are a visitor and cannot find a working feed, ask the site owner for its current feed address.
To follow updates, copy the feed URL into an RSS-compatible reader. The reader checks the feed and presents its items; this is different from displaying those items on a WordPress page.
Display an outside feed with the WordPress RSS block
The RSS block places items from another site’s feed on your WordPress page or post. It does not subscribe on your behalf in the same way a reader does. The official WordPress RSS block documentation describes the block’s settings.
Rank #2
- RSS
- reader
- news
- articles
- Open the page or post in the WordPress editor.
- Select the block inserter and add an RSS block. Alternatively, type
/rssin a paragraph block and select the RSS block. - Paste the feed URL and choose Use URL.
- Use the block settings to choose which available details to show—title, author, date, and excerpt—and whether to display the items as a list or grid.
If the block reports an RSS error, first confirm that the address is a valid, working feed URL. A normal webpage address is not necessarily a feed. Also, displaying another publisher’s feed does not by itself establish permission to republish its content; check the publisher’s terms and applicable rights before using it.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchChoose between following updates and displaying them
- Use a feed reader when you want to follow one or more sites without putting their updates on your own site.
- Use the RSS block when you want selected feed items to appear on a WordPress page or post.
Follow comments separately from posts
A content feed follows new site content; a comments feed follows discussion. WordPress documents an all-comments RSS 2.0 feed and a template tag for the comments on a particular post. If you manage the site, consult the Feeds handbook for the appropriate feed method and URL for your setup.
Rank #3
- Fetches news using standard RSS feeds
- Beautiful card-style layout for each article
- Built-in WebView to read full articles without leaving the app
- Supports multiple news categories: World, Technology, Business, and more
Keep feed subscribers when moving a site
If a WordPress site moves or changes its feed address—such as during a move from another blogging platform—old feed URLs may stop reaching the feed. WordPress’s Feeds handbook documents rewrite examples for legacy addresses. The right redirect depends on the site’s server and permalink configuration, so verify those details before applying a rule; a copied rewrite example may not suit every setup.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Universally Compatible with Most Memory Card Formats, Including SD, CF, microSD, Memory Stick, MicroDrive, MMC, xD and More
- Transfer Data at Speeds up to 500MB/s (10x Faster than USB 2.0)
- Simultaneous Data Transfer for Improved User Workflow
- USB 3.0 (Backwards Compatible with USB 2.0 & 1.1)
- Plug & Play (No Drivers Required)
Rank #4
- FEATURES:
- Synchronization: Use gReader at home, at your office, or anywhere you go and keep your feeds, tags and shared items synched in one place.
- 2-Way Sync: Synchronize your read items between gReader and Google Reader. Keep your articles up-to-date
- Auto synchronization
- User Interface: Simple, fast and intuitive
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
