The RSS Guard Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about RSS Guard 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.
RSS Guard
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source desktop feed reader and podcast player
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among read-later and bookmark apps, read from RSS Guard’s own pages.
Made by Martin Rotter · checked Oct 6, 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 RSS Guard’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on RSS Guard’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 22 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about RSS Guard, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The Windows builds aren't signed either, so SmartScreen may warn and macOS Gatekeeper may block it.
- 1
Best for a free desktop reader for Windows and Linux
It runs on computers only, with no phone or web version.
- 2
It is free
RSS Guard has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the GNU GPLv3, with no paid version. The author accepts optional donations through GitHub Sponsors, Liberapay and Patreon.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, Linux and macOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 22 of 36
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
RSS Guard is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
RSS Guard at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Martin Rotter
- Category
- Read Later & Bookmarks
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free desktop reader for Windows and Linux
RSS Guard is a free, open-source feed reader and podcast player for Windows, Linux and macOS that keeps feeds on your computer or syncs with services like FreshRSS, Miniflux and Feedly. It runs on computers only, with no phone or web version. The Windows builds aren't signed, so expect a security warning, the docs say macOS packages aren't well tested, and filters and searches mean writing scripts, regex or SQL.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under the GNU GPLv3, with no paid version at all, where paid readers in this category want $3.33 a month in the middle. The author takes optional donations through GitHub Sponsors, Liberapay and Patreon, and that's it. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete application is free on Windows, Linux and macOS, with every service plugin and feature included. There's no cap and nothing to unlock, because there's no paid version to unlock it for. |
| Features | B | It covers the whole desktop feed-reading job: feeds kept locally or synced with Feedly, Inoreader, FreshRSS, Miniflux, Nextcloud News and Tiny Tiny RSS, scripted filters that label or reject articles, saved searches as regex or SQL, a built-in podcast player and full-article fetching. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating to go on, and the listing shows a learning curve: filters and saved searches are written as scripts, regular expressions or SQL. The Windows builds aren't signed either, so SmartScreen may warn and macOS Gatekeeper may block it. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only. Windows, Linux and macOS, and no web app, iPhone app or Android app is listed, so your feeds don't travel. It does sync with eight online readers, and the docs say the macOS packages aren't well tested. |
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 RSS Guard is for
- Fits if you're on Windows or Linux and want a free, open-source desktop reader
- Works for people who already sync with FreshRSS, Miniflux, Tiny Tiny RSS or Nextcloud News
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you read on your phone, as no iOS, Android or web app is listed
- Not for you if you're on a Mac: the docs say macOS packages aren't well tested and support SQLite only
- Watch out: official Windows builds aren't digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn and Gatekeeper may block it
- Too light for anyone who won't write scripts, regex or SQL, which is how its filters and saved searches work
- Watch out: rssguard.com is unrelated to the project; the official downloads are on GitHub Releases
Good to know
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.
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
RSS Guard is free to use.
The author takes optional donations through GitHub Sponsors, Liberapay and Patreon, and that's it.
Free
$0
The complete application for Windows, Linux and macOS, with every service plugin and feature included.
The 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.
Read from github.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Open-source desktop feed reader and podcast player. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, rSS reader.
Windows, Linux and macOS, and no web app, iPhone app or Android app is listed, so your feeds don't travel.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Feedly
- Gmail
- Inoreader
- FreshRSS
- Miniflux
- The Old Reader
- Nextcloud News
- Tiny Tiny RSS
RSS Guard is made by Martin Rotter.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
22/36
Other read-later and bookmark apps it is graded above
RSS Guard's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 22 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 26 of 36) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
RSS Guard 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 37 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. RSS Guard’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 23 of 36
- AFree plan and trialAbove 26 of 36
- BFeaturesAbove 10 of 36
- CEase of useAbove 4 of 36
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 36
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 33 read-later and bookmark apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. RSS Guard 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
RSS Guard is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- RSS reader: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Feedly, Gmail and Inoreader among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. RSS Guard’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
FeedFlow, NetNewsWire, Folo, FreshRSS and Miniflux
The 5 tools RSS Guard is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
FeedFlow
Free
Free, open-source RSS reader for mobile and desktop.
- Only FeedFlow lists Android and iOS apps.
- 3.0GPA
NetNewsWire
Free
Free, open-source RSS reader for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- Only RSS Guard lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only NetNewsWire lists an iOS app.
- Only NetNewsWire lists a browser extension.
- 3.0GPA
Folo
Free plan · from $4.17/mo
Open-source RSS reader with AI summaries and translation.
- Only Folo lists a web app.
- Only Folo lists iOS and Android apps.
- Folo also covers chat assistant.
- 3.0GPA
FreshRSS
Free
Free, self-hosted RSS and Atom feed aggregator.
- Only RSS Guard lists Windows, Linux and macOS apps.
- Only FreshRSS lists a web app.
- FreshRSS is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Miniflux
Free plan · from $15/yr
Minimalist open-source feed reader, self-hosted or hosted.
- Only RSS Guard lists Windows, Linux and macOS apps.
- Only Miniflux lists a web app.
- Miniflux is self-hostable, according to its own site.
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 RSS Guard free?
Yes. RSS Guard is free to use.
How much does RSS Guard cost?
RSS Guard lists one plan. Free: $0.
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.
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.
How does RSS Guard compare with other read-later and bookmark apps?
RSS Guard's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 22 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 9.
Is RSS Guard good value for money?
ToolGPA grades RSS Guard A for value for money. RSS Guard has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of RSS Guard?
RSS Guard is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from RSS Guard’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from RSS Guard's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-30.
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 Martin Rotter. Prices change, so check github.com before you buy.
- github.com/martinrotter/rssguard
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/what.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/donations.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/supported-os.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/downloads.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/supported-readers.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/filters.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/queries.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/labels.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/mediaplayer.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/extractor.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/db.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/skins.html
- rssguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/notifications.html
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 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.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- RSS Guard, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/rss-guard
- 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, "RSS Guard: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/rss-guard
Know someone choosing between read-later and bookmark apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/rss-guard/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded read-later and bookmark apps after RSS Guard, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Read Later & Bookmarks Insider's GuideEvery one of the 37 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, compared
- 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
- Miniflux Insider's GuideMinimalist open-source feed reader, self-hosted or hosted3.2 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 RSS Guard’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. RSS Guard is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Martin Rotter. Prices and plans change: check github.com before you buy.