The new Reeder app is built for RSS, YouTube, Reddit, Mastodon and more

For years, RSS readers have adhered to an “Inbox Zero” philosophy, where an ever-present unread count would loom beside each feed. If you’re subscribed to more than a handful of sources, this metric quickly becomes an overwhelming reminder of content you have yet to read — creating more stress than enjoyment.

Silvio Rizzi, the developer behind the widely-loved RSS reader Reeder, has taken a bold step in addressing this issue. With the latest redesign of the app, Rizzi aims to ease that pressure, focusing instead on delivering a flexible, cross-platform experience that integrates not only RSS feeds but also content from sources like YouTube channels, Reddit, Mastodon, Bluesky, podcasts, and even comic strips.

The change marks a significant shift in how Reeder functions, both in terms of content variety and the philosophy behind its interface.

A New Era for Reeder

Rizzi isn’t entirely doing away with the old Reeder app, now renamed Reeder Classic. However, he acknowledges that the original design, while beloved for its RSS capabilities, wasn’t ideal for modern content consumption. In an interview with TechCrunch, Rizzi explained that even though Reeder Classic supported platforms like YouTube and Reddit, the experience wasn’t optimal.

“What some people may not realize is that most of the content the new Reeder supports — like YouTube, Reddit, and Mastodon — could already be consumed with Reeder Classic. So, in that sense, not much has changed,” Rizzi said.

“The change is that the content is no longer retrofitted into a viewer that was originally designed just for RSS feed articles. The new Reeder offers different viewers for various types of content, such as articles, photos, videos, social media posts, and podcasts. It’s designed to be easily extendable for adding new types of content in the future.”

This shift is not merely about expanding compatibility but about fundamentally rethinking how we interact with diverse content streams. Instead of forcing all types of content into a singular RSS-style reader, Reeder’s new approach tailors the experience to the medium — whether it’s an article, a YouTube video, or a Reddit post. This adaptability is a core part of the redesign, offering an intuitive and streamlined experience that moves away from the inbox clutter of unread counts.

Built from the Ground Up

Though some core features remain intact, Rizzi essentially rebuilt Reeder from the ground up. The overhaul wasn’t just aesthetic; it also addressed critical performance issues. One of the main pain points in the older version of the app was the unreliable and sluggish iCloud syncing. This was largely because the app attempted to sync everything — from entire feeds to individual articles — across devices.

With the new version, syncing is far more efficient. Instead of loading every bit of content across devices, Reeder now syncs only essential information like subscriptions, timeline positions, and tagged items. According to Rizzi, the removal of unread counts has also contributed to a noticeable speed boost, making the app faster and more responsive than ever.

Unified Feeds, Shared Experiences

One of the most exciting features of the new Reeder is the ability to build custom, curated feeds that pull from multiple sources. Imagine creating a personal feed that blends your favorite YouTube channels, subreddits, Mastodon posts, and RSS articles, all in one seamless stream. Not only does this make it easier to stay on top of content from a wide range of platforms, but it also allows you to share these curated feeds with friends or on social media, creating a dynamic content-sharing experience.

For users looking to unlock even more functionality, Reeder offers a paid subscription. For $1 per month or $10 per year, users gain access to features like sharing feeds, syncing timelines from Mastodon and Bluesky, and creating more than ten feeds.

What’s Next for Reeder?

The new Reeder isn’t done evolving just yet. Rizzi has hinted at upcoming features that will further enhance the app’s usability, including more swipe actions for lists, new layout options, smart feeds, and keyboard shortcuts. These additions are designed to make content consumption even more fluid and customizable, allowing users to tailor their experience to their needs.

Reeder in the Competitive Landscape

While Reeder’s evolution marks a significant shift in how users can consume multiple types of content, it’s not the only app aiming to unify feeds from different platforms. Several other developers are exploring this space, creating apps that combine various types of media into one seamless stream.

One notable example is Feeeed, an indie app built by Nate Parrott from The Browser Company, which seeks to merge multiple content streams into a single interface. Meanwhile, the team behind Twitterrific is developing a new feed aggregator called Tapestry, and former Twitter engineer Joe Fabisevich is working on Plinky, an app that, while not a traditional feed reader, aims to simplify managing multiple formats.

These apps, alongside Reeder, are part of a broader movement to simplify the way we interact with the vast amount of content available across different platforms. In a digital age where we are constantly bombarded with information, apps like Reeder are making it easier to organize, consume, and share the content that matters most to us.

Conclusion: Reeder as a Modern Content Hub

With its new avatar, Reeder has transcended its roots as a traditional RSS reader to become a full-fledged content hub, accommodating a diverse array of platforms and media types. Whether you’re a YouTube enthusiast, an avid Redditor, or a fan of Mastodon, Reeder provides a versatile and powerful tool for managing all your favorite content streams in one place.

By eliminating the stress of unread counts and offering a more adaptable and performance-optimized design, Reeder stands out in a competitive landscape as a modern solution for the digital content consumer. With future updates on the horizon, it’s clear that Reeder will continue to be a go-to app for anyone looking to simplify their content consumption experience.

Whether you’re a longtime Reeder fan or new to the app, there’s never been a better time to give it a try.