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RSS Guard

Open-source desktop feed reader and podcast player

FreeRead LaterChecked Oct 6, 2026
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RSS Guard, as pictured on github.com
How RSS Guard presents itself. Image from github.com.

What is RSS Guard?

RSS Guard is an open-source desktop feed reader and podcast player developed by Martin Rotter on top of the Qt library. It reads RSS, RDF, Atom and JSON feeds stored locally, or syncs with online readers such as Feedly, Inoreader, FreshRSS, Miniflux, Nextcloud News and Tiny Tiny RSS. It is free under the GNU GPLv3, runs on Windows, Linux and macOS, and is supported by optional donations.

RSS Guard is free to use. See every plan

Good for

  • Windows and Linux users who want a free, open-source desktop reader
  • People syncing with FreshRSS, Miniflux, Tiny Tiny RSS or Nextcloud News
  • Power users who want scripted filters and SQL-style saved searches

Worth knowing

  • It is a desktop application: no web app and no iOS or Android app is listed.
  • Official Windows builds are not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn on first launch, and macOS Gatekeeper may block the app.
  • The docs say macOS packages are not well tested and support only the SQLite database backend.
  • The project warns that the rssguard.com website is unrelated; official downloads are on the GitHub Releases page.

Key features

Local feeds or online services
A multi-account app: standard feeds can be stored locally, or an account can sync two ways with Feedly, Gmail, Google Reader API services, Nextcloud News or Tiny Tiny RSS.
Article filters
Scripted filters can change incoming articles, mark them important, assign labels or reject them. The docs describe filters as a tool for advanced users that can slow feed updates.
Labels and saved queries
Any number of labels can be assigned to an article, and a Query keeps a search in the feed list, written as a regular expression or an SQL WHERE clause.
Built-in media player
Podcasts and other audio or video play inside the app through a libmpv-based player or a simpler QtMultimedia one, depending on the build.
Full-article extraction
A bundled article extractor powers the Fetch full articles feature, pulling the main readable content from a web page, and it can also be called from scripts.
Skins, notifications and databases
Skins restyle the interface and the article viewer, desktop notifications are configurable by event, and data is kept in SQLite by default or on a MariaDB server.

RSS Guard pricing

Starts at
Free
Free plan
Free and open source under the GNU GPLv3, with no paid version. The author accepts optional donations through GitHub Sponsors, Liberapay and Patreon.
Free trial
None listed
Free$0The complete application for Windows, Linux and macOS, with every service plugin and feature included.

Read from github.com on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with RSS Guard before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Works with

  • Feedly
  • Gmail
  • Inoreader
  • FreshRSS
  • Miniflux
  • The Old Reader
  • Nextcloud News
  • Tiny Tiny RSS

RSS Guard alternatives

All RSS Guard alternatives comparedAll read-later and bookmark apps

Common questions

Is RSS Guard free?

Yes. RSS Guard is free to use. Free and open source under the GNU GPLv3, with no paid version. The author accepts optional donations through GitHub Sponsors, Liberapay and Patreon.

How much does RSS Guard cost?

RSS Guard lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from github.com on Oct 6, 2026.

What platforms does RSS Guard work on?

RSS Guard is available on Windows, Linux and macOS.

Does RSS Guard have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. RSS Guard is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.

Does RSS Guard have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. RSS Guard is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.

Is RSS Guard open source?

Yes. RSS Guard is open source, according to its own site.

What does RSS Guard integrate with?

RSS Guard's listing names Feedly, Gmail, Inoreader, FreshRSS, Miniflux, The Old Reader, Nextcloud News and Tiny Tiny RSS. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes RSS Guard?

RSS Guard is made by Martin Rotter.

What are the alternatives to RSS Guard?

The closest alternatives to RSS Guard in our directory are FeedFlow, NetNewsWire, Folo, FreshRSS and Miniflux. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with RSS Guard.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.