The Fraidycat Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Fraidycat in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Fraidycat
The Insider’s Guide
Follow people across blogs and social sites without a news feed
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among read-later and bookmark apps, read from Fraidycat’s own pages.
Made by Kicks Condor · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Fraidycat’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Fraidycat’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 46 of the 66 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade
Fraidycat is a browser extension and desktop app that tracks the people you follow on blogs, YouTube, Mastodon, Twitter, Twitch and other sites. Instead of one long feed it shows a list of recently active individuals, each summarized in two lines. It is free and its source code is published on GitHub.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Fraidycat, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install an extension and start adding people, with little to set up.
- 1
Best for following people across sites without a feed
Fraidycat is a free browser extension and desktop app that follows people across blogs and social sites, sorted by how much you care about them.
- 2
It is free
Fraidycat has no paid plan at all. Everything: the site lists no paid plan.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux, with a browser extension too.
- 4
People, not posts
The main page lists each follow as a two-line summary of their recent activity, rather than a feed of individual posts.
- 5
Many source types
Reads RSS, Atom and JSON Feed, plus Twitter, Instagram and SoundCloud by picking details out of their pages. It also finds the feeds for Pinboard, YouTube and Reddit.
- 6
Importance levels
Each follow is set to real-time, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, which controls how often it is checked and whether it stays on the main page.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 46 of 66
That is against the other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Fraidycat is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Fraidycat at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, Browser extension
- Made by
- Kicks Condor
- Category
- Read Later & Bookmarks
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for following people across sites without a feed
Fraidycat is a free browser extension and desktop app that follows people across blogs and social sites, sorted by how much you care about them. It costs nothing. But the extensions were last released in May 2021 and the desktop apps in September 2020, the desktop apps have no sync, and there is no phone app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download and run, with no paid plan listed anywhere on the site. The reading category's middle price is $4 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Everything is free, with no paid tier on the site. |
| Features | C | It follows people, not posts, across many source types, with importance levels and tags. That is a smaller job than a full reader, and the site lists mobile apps and keyword filters only as things it would like to add. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. You install an extension and start adding people, with little to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Browser extensions and desktop apps for Mac, Windows and Linux only, with no phone app, and the desktop apps have no online sync. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Fraidycat is for
- Fits if you want to keep up with a few people more than with every post they write
- Works for a computer-only reader who is happy with a small free tool
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a phone app: mobile apps are only on the wish list
- Not for you if you want a tool that is kept up: the extensions were last released in May 2021 and the desktop apps in September 2020
- Watch out: the Mac, Windows and Linux apps have no online sync
- Watch out: Twitter, Instagram and SoundCloud pages are read by scraping, so they may break when those sites change
Good to know
Good for
- People who follow hundreds of individuals and want an activity list, not an inbox
- Readers who follow the same person on a blog, YouTube and social accounts
Worth knowing
- The extensions were last released in May 2021 and the desktop apps in September 2020, according to the site.
- The Mac, Windows and Linux apps are marked as having no online sync.
- The site lists mobile apps and keyword filters only as things it would like to add.
- Pages for Twitter, Instagram and SoundCloud are read by scraping, so they may break when those sites change.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Fraidycat is free to use.
Free to download and run, with no paid plan listed anywhere on the site.
Free
$0
The Firefox and Chrome extensions and the desktop apps, with no paid tier listed.
The free plan
Everything: the site lists no paid plan.
Read from fraidyc.at on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux and Browser extension
Follow people across blogs and social sites without a news feed. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, bookmarks, rSS reader.
It follows people, not posts, across many source types, with importance levels and tags.
- People, not posts
- The main page lists each follow as a two-line summary of their recent activity, rather than a feed of individual posts.
- Many source types
- Reads RSS, Atom and JSON Feed, plus Twitter, Instagram and SoundCloud by picking details out of their pages. It also finds the feeds for Pinboard, YouTube and Reddit.
- Importance levels
- Each follow is set to real-time, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, which controls how often it is checked and whether it stays on the main page.
- Tags
- Follows are grouped by tag, and a tab bar on the main page filters the list by tag.
- Sync through your browser
- Follows sync between computers by way of the browser's own sync, with no central Fraidycat server.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Browser extension
What it works with
- YouTube
- Mastodon
- Pinboard
- Twitch
- SoundCloud
- Tumblr
- Medium
Fraidycat is made by Kicks Condor.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
46/66
Other read-later and bookmark apps it is graded above
Fraidycat's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 46 of the 66 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 14.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 47 of 66) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Fraidycat has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 67 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Fraidycat’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 43 of 66
- AFree plan and trialAbove 47 of 66
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 66
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 66
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 66
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 60 read-later and bookmark apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Fraidycat is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Fraidycat is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 46 of the 66 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade.
What you could make
- RSS reader and bookmarks: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, YouTube, Mastodon and Reddit among them.
What this rests on. Fraidycat’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Feedbin, NetNewsWire, Miniflux, FreshRSS and Feedbro
The 5 tools Fraidycat is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Feedbin
Free trial · from $7/mo
Paid RSS reader for feeds, newsletters, podcasts and YouTube.
- Fraidycat has a free plan. Feedbin does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Fraidycat lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Feedbin lists a web app.
- 3.0GPA
NetNewsWire
Free
Free, open-source RSS reader for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- Only Fraidycat lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only NetNewsWire lists an iOS app.
- Fraidycat also covers bookmarks.
- 3.2GPA
Miniflux
Free plan · from $15/yr
Minimalist open-source feed reader, self-hosted or hosted.
- Only Fraidycat lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Fraidycat lists a browser extension.
- Only Miniflux lists a web app.
- 3.0GPA
FreshRSS
Free
Free, self-hosted RSS and Atom feed aggregator.
- Only Fraidycat lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Fraidycat lists a browser extension.
- Only FreshRSS lists a web app.
- 2.8GPA
Feedbro
Free
RSS feed reader as a browser extension with a rule engine.
- Only Fraidycat lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Fraidycat is open source, according to its own site.
- Fraidycat also covers bookmarks.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Fraidycat free?
Yes. Fraidycat is free to use.
How much does Fraidycat cost?
Fraidycat lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Fraidycat work on?
Fraidycat is available on macOS, Windows and Linux. It also has a browser extension.
Does Fraidycat have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Fraidycat is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Fraidycat have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Fraidycat is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Fraidycat open source?
Yes. Fraidycat is open source, according to its own site.
What does Fraidycat integrate with?
Fraidycat's listing names YouTube, Mastodon, Reddit, Pinboard, Twitch, SoundCloud, Tumblr and Medium.
Who makes Fraidycat?
Fraidycat is made by Kicks Condor.
What are the alternatives to Fraidycat?
The closest alternatives to Fraidycat in our directory are Feedbin, NetNewsWire, Miniflux, FreshRSS and Feedbro.
How does Fraidycat compare with other read-later and bookmark apps?
Fraidycat's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 46 of the 66 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 14.
Is Fraidycat good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Fraidycat A for value for money. Fraidycat has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Fraidycat?
Fraidycat is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 46 of the 66 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Fraidycat’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Fraidycat's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Kicks Condor. Prices change, so check fraidyc.at before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Fraidycat, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/fraidycat
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Fraidycat: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/fraidycat
Know someone choosing between read-later and bookmark apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/fraidycat/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded read-later and bookmark apps after Fraidycat, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Read Later & Bookmarks Insider's GuideEvery one of the 67 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, compared
- Booky Insider's GuideOnline bookmark manager with collections and browser extensions3.2 GPA
- FeedFlow Insider's GuideFree, open-source RSS reader for mobile and desktop3.2 GPA
- Flipboard Insider's GuideFree news aggregator built around topics and shared Magazines3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Fraidycat’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Fraidycat is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Kicks Condor. Prices and plans change: check fraidyc.at before you buy.