Although not as popular as they once were, RSS feeds are still used by many, with Google Reader being the most common option for viewing them.
Google announced the decision to shut down the popular platform on their blog, citing a fall in numbers using the Reader as well as planning to “pour all of our energy into fewer products. We think that kind of focus will make for a better user experience”.
An RSS feed allows you to tap into a list of articles being published by a website without having to navigate the site itself.
So if you are one of those avid RSS fans, or even just want to give it a go, here’s three of the best alternatives to Google Reader. On the surface they look very similar and serve the same function, but each has a few little differences.
Feedly
Essentially Google Reader revived, it looks the pretty much the same and allows you to import your old Google Reader data as well. There are apps galore available for it which allow synchronization across different devices, making it the most popular alternative out there.
Digg Reader
Already established as a news website, Digg jumped straight to creating their own alternative when Google Reader announced it’s imminent demise. Although it is currently limited to only iOS devices, but has a simple clean design.
The Old Reader
Currently in beta, this is a completely stripped down RSS reader. Like Feedly, it has a similar design to Google Reader. It’s straightforward to use and should attract people who aren’t looking for anything too fancy from their RSS.
Flipboard, on the other hand, will attract those who want something fancy. Currently only on smartphones and other devices it allows you to “flip” from story to story. It’s the best looking out of the readers, presenting content in a magazine style, and can also pull in your social media feeds like Twitter and Facebook.
