Reeder 4 vs Feedly: Which RSS Reader is Better on iPhone?

Today we have several mods and tools for consuming news. Browsers such as Opera, Chrome, and Microsoft Edge offer news integration directly on their home screens. News providers are reaching more readers through social channels, which can be overwhelming at times. If you’re someone who likes RSS feeds like others on the GT team, there are several valuable RSS Feed reader apps for iPhone. Released last year, Feedly and Reeder 4 are two of the best RSS readers on iOS.

Let me clarify. Reeder 4 is first and foremost an RSS reader app, while Feedly is primarily an app for a better experience and an RSS service that also offers other functions. The main goal remains the same for both apps – a clean, clutter-free reading experience without the information overload.

In this article, we will compare Reeder 4 and Feedly. The comparison will cover cross-platform availability, UI, reading experience, features, price, and more. Lets start.

Cross-Platform Availability

Reeder is exclusive to Apple platforms. So you can only use the app on iPhone and Mac. Feedly is available on iOS, Android, and the Web. Cross-platform availability allows you to enjoy the same reading experience across platforms.

Download Reeder 4 for iOS

Download Feedly for iOS

user interface

User Interface plays an important role in RSS reader applications. After all, you will spend a lot of time in these applications. So it makes sense for a tight UI/UX integration in software. Let’s start with Reeder 4.

I can describe the Reeder 4 in one word – minimal. Almost every menu, option, and even buttons are designed to keep the interface as simple as possible. The animations are more fluid than Feedly and feel like you’re scrolling through the physical pages of the book when you move from one post to the next.

I also like the theme options in the app. It’s full of options. Light, Dark, Black, Light with Dark title bar etc. You can choose from.

Feedly feels stuck between the future and the past. It has a nice bottom bar, but also uses the hamburger menu, which should be removed. I like that the app offers multiple display options like text, magazine and cards to customize the home screen.

As for animations, they are simple and certainly not as intuitive as Reeder 4.

Services and Integration

Reeder has left no stone unturned when it comes to services. You can connect a number of services like RSS, Instapaper, Pocket, Feedbin, Feedly, FeedHQ, NewsBlur, Inroreader and even self-hosted services like FreshRDD, Reader, Fever and more. Just tap the + icon and add the account to Reeder 4.

Feedly offers three main services to be integrated into the app. You can add Pocket, Instapaper, and Evernote accounts for better integration. Using Feedly Pro (more on that later), you can also use OneNote to save articles and integrate your Twitter feed.

Reading Experience

Let’s get to the main talking point. How is the reading experience? And I must say, Reeder 4 nailed the execution in this area. Let me elaborate.

When you open the Reeder app, it syncs data from added accounts and previews unread/new articles. You can touch an article and start reading in a clean environment. Tap the down arrow to switch from one post to the next.

You may have noticed some websites that use the ‘Read More’ button to expand the article. In Reeder 4 you can tap on Reading mode and it will skip the Read More button and you can read the whole article without leaving the interface. You can also tap the three-dot menu above and change the font type, size, spacing, header size, and more. Most of you won’t have a problem with the default settings, but it’s always good to see the options.

You can swipe left/right to switch between articles in Feedly. If a post has a Read More button, it will use the built-in Safari browser to load the webpage. You can use the built-in Read Later service or choose the integration of the application to save articles.

Feedly also lets you customize fonts, but options are limited compared to Reeder 4.

Features

Reeder is soft here compared to Feedly. It offers some basic features like the ability to bookmark a post for later reading and search options.

Feedly allows you to create different boards to organize saved articles. You can view it as an advanced Pocket app. Feedly also offers Google Keyword alerts, IFTTT integration, the ability to use notes and highlighter, and more. Of course it’s all part of the Feedly Pro version.

Feedly Premium presents Leo, an AI assistant that identifies topics, keywords and products relevant to you based on your reading habits and the websites you subscribe to. It also helps you avoid deduplication so you don’t have to read ‘Apple Crossed $2T market cap’ from dozens of publications.

Price

The Reeder 4 iOS app costs $5, while the Mac version costs $10. It is a one-time purchase. Feedly works as a subscription service. Feedly Pro and Pro+ plans are priced at $8 and $16 per month, respectively.

Level Up Your Reading Experience

Both Reeder 4 and Feedly are excellent RSS reader apps. As for the clear winner, I have a few observations after using both apps for a week. Reeder is designed to provide the best possible reading experience with seamless animations and multi-service integration. Feedly is pushing ahead with features like boards, Leo assistant, Twitter integration, and more. However, they all come with a monthly payment.

Which RSS reader app will you choose and why? Mute the sound in the comments section below.

Next: Looking for the best RSS readers for Windows 10? Click on the next link to find the best RSS Feed Readers for your Windows 10 PC.