The New Reeder App: A Fresh Take on Aggregating RSS, YouTube, Reddit, and More

For years, RSS readers have followed a stringent “Inbox Zero” philosophy, creating pressure to eliminate unread counts. However, Silvio Rizzi, the mastermind behind the RSS app Reeder, is challenging this paradigm. He recognizes the stress of managing numerous feeds and has redesigned Reeder to address this. The new version is optimized for compatibility with a variety of sources such as YouTube channels, Mastodon feeds, Reddit streams, podcasts, and even comic strips, marking a significant shift from its predecessor.

Rizzi’s redesign doesn’t just stop at supporting diversified content sources—it also presents a revolutionary approach to user experience. While the old app, now named Reeder Classic, included platforms like YouTube and Reddit, it didn’t offer an ideal viewing experience. With the new Reeder app, each type of content has its own specialized viewer. Whether it’s an article, photo, video, social media post, or podcast, the content is now more seamlessly integrated, making the user’s experience substantially richer and more intuitive.

Despite the conceptual similarities, the new Reeder app has been built entirely from the ground up. One of the significant improvements is the revamped iCloud sync, which now avoids the inefficiencies of the older design. Gone are the days of sluggish and unreliable syncing. By focusing on synchronizing essential items like subscriptions, timeline positions, and tagged entries, the new Reeder ensures a faster, more dependable user experience. Notably, the elimination of the unread count across devices has resulted in an appreciable boost in speed.

Moreover, Reeder’s flexibility extends to creating and sharing curated feeds with friends or on social media platforms. The app offers a layered, customizable experience where users can create up to ten feeds for free. However, for a modest subscription—$1 per month or $10 per year—users unlock advanced features such as syncing Mastodon and Bluesky timelines and generating more than ten feeds. According to Rizzi, future updates will include more swipe actions for lists, new layout options, smart feeds, and keyboard shortcuts, further expanding its utility.

Reeder isn’t alone in this innovative domain of aggregating multiple content sources. Other apps are also exploring the integration of diverse feeds. For example, Browser Company’s engineer indie app Feeeed and the Twitterrific team’s app Tapestry are following similar paths. Additionally, former Twitter engineer Joe Fabisevich’s Plinky app offers a unique take on working with various formats. However, Reeder’s new design and enhanced features significantly stand out, offering a comprehensive and user-friendly solution that redefines how we consume and share content.

In summary, the newly redesigned Reeder app is a game-changer in digital content aggregation. By removing the pressure of unread counts and introducing specialized viewers for diverse content types, it offers a rich, user-friendly experience. Built from scratch, it addresses the previous version’s shortcomings while adding new functionalities like shareable curated feeds and efficient syncing. Reeder’s ongoing evolution and the anticipation of future updates make it a compelling choice for content enthusiasts looking for an all-encompassing solution.