List of Desktop RSS Reader for Ubuntu & GNU/Linux

Martin6

4 years ago

This article accompanies our big list of GNU/Linux & FLOSS RSS feeds so you can choose suitable reader for your desktop. Here I list Firefox, Thunderbird, Akregator, Liferea, Blam, and Evolution with some details of each. It’s possible later for me to update this list, because there are still many other good readers. I hope you enjoy this!
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1. Mozilla Firefox (and Derivatives)

You might be surprised if Firefox has RSS reader ability. It’s preinstalled, very simple to use, and united to the browser. You reach news feeds via Bookmarks Toolbar. To add new feed, visit a valid rss url > press Subscribe button.

Origin: Mozilla Project
Available in repo: yes
Command to install: sudo apt-get install firefox
Tray icon on Unity: no
Internal browser: yes
Multitab interface: yes
Ubuntu built-in: yes
Import/export feeds: no
Adblock: yes, via addons
License: Mozilla MPLv2
Website: https://www.mozilla.org
Notes: Firefox has many derivatives such as Debian Iceweasel, GNU Icecat, and so on and they’re have RSS ability too.

2. Mozilla Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a feature-rich mail client with RSS reader ability. It’s preinstalled on Ubuntu and more convenient as complete reader than Firefox.

Origin: Mozilla Project
Available in repo: yes
Command to install: sudo apt-get install thunderbird
Tray icon on Unity: yes
Internal browser: yes
Multitab interface: yes
Ubuntu built-in: yes
Import/export feeds: yes, OPML/XML format
Adblock: yes, via addons
License: Mozilla MPLv2
Website: https://userbase.kde.org/Akregator

3. Akregator

Origin: KDE Project
Available in repo: yes
Command to install: sudo apt-get install akregator
Tray icon on Unity: no
Internal browser: yes
Multitab interface: yes
Ubuntu built-in: no
Import/export feeds: yes, OPML/XML format
Adblock: yes
License: GNU GPLv2
Website: https://userbase.kde.org/Akregator

4. Liferea

Liferea is a feature-rich desktop RSS reader for GNU/Linux. It works with RSS feeds and also can play podcasts directly. It’s integrated with Unity desktop well (see picture). If you like GNU/Linux podcasts like mintCast or Linux Action Show, I recommend Liferea for you.

Origin: Liferea Project
Available in repo: yes
Command to install: sudo apt-get install liferea
Tray icon on Unity: yes
Internal browser: yes
Multitab interface: yes
Ubuntu built-in: no
Import/export feeds: yes, OPML/XML format
Adblock: no
License: GNU GPLv2
Website: https://lzone.de/liferea

5. Blam

Blam is the most minimalist stand-alone RSS reader here. It can do basic tasks such as importing OPML, reading feeds, but it can’t store feeds (at version 1.8.9) so you should update from zero every time. If you want very simple RSS reader that just works, Blam is for you.

Origin: GNOME Project
Available in repo: yes
Command to install: sudo apt-get install blam
Tray icon on Unity: no
Internal browser: yes
Multitab interface: no
Ubuntu built-in: no
Import/export feeds: yes, OPML format
Adblock: no
License: GNU GPLv2
Website: https://github.com/GNOME/blam

6. Evolution (using RSS Plugin)

Evolution is a professional mail client just like Thunderbird. And as you can guess it has RSS reader ability too. If you love GNOME, accustomed to Evolution in daily life, using its RSS plugin is recommended.