Anyone still using RSS feeds in 2026?

[Glenn_44]

I have seen loads of surface-level takes on this elsewhere.

Looking for honest opinions rather than the obvious answers.

Happy to share what I find out once I have tried it, if that is useful to anyone else in the same position.

Keen to hear from people who have actually done this

[Wendy5]

Been following this thread and that seems right. Appreciate the discussion

[Ann]

Not fully convinced by that part of it. The fastest fix is often just checking what is running in the background and killing half of it.

Worked for me at least

[Jade77]

RSS is still one of those tools that quietly does its job without demanding attention. That is probably why it has survived while so many flashy alternatives came and went. A good feed reader with a few carefully chosen sources can save a lot of time.

The trick is avoiding the temptation to subscribe to everything. A folder with 500 unread posts is basically just another social media feed wearing a different hat.

[Ellie22]

The background process comment made me laugh because it applies to RSS as well. Sometimes the problem is not the tool, it is the way we set it up.

A few years ago I subscribed to every interesting site I found and ended up with a digital pile of newspapers. Cutting it down to the useful feeds made it enjoyable again.

[CacheLayerSquid]

There is still a place for RSS, especially for people who like reading without algorithms deciding what appears first. It feels a bit like having your own personalised newspaper rather than being handed whatever gets the most clicks.

That said, the setup can put people off. Modern apps make it easier, but it is not quite as automatic as opening a social app and letting it do the work.

[Bear24]

Not sure it is for everyone anymore. For someone who just wants quick updates from a few creators, newsletters or apps might be simpler.

The people who stick with RSS usually seem to enjoy having more control though. It is a bit like managing your own garden instead of visiting a crowded park.

[Owl19]

The background apps comparison is actually a good one. Small changes often make a bigger difference than replacing everything. Same with RSS, sometimes cleaning up subscriptions fixes the experience completely.

Had a feed list years ago where half the entries were dead sites. Removing those made it feel like a new service.

[GlobalOliver15]

Still use RSS daily. Mostly for technology news, blogs and a couple of hobby sites that do not post constantly on social media.

The funny thing is people keep declaring RSS dead, yet it keeps quietly sitting there doing the exact job it was designed for.

[Merchant94]

A lot depends on whether you enjoy discovering things yourself. Algorithms are great when you want entertainment, but terrible when you want to remember why you followed a particular writer in the first place.

RSS puts the reader back in charge, which feels strangely old fashioned in 2026.

[Ridge]

There is definitely a learning curve. The first time someone opens a feed reader and sees hundreds of options it can feel like homework rather than a convenience.

Once it is trimmed down though, it becomes a very calm way to keep up with things. No endless scrolling, no fighting a recommendation system.