RSS is a web publishing format that transfers information delivery for both publishers and users. RSS has been around for some time now, and savvy users have come to rely on their RSS "feeds" as a fundamental channel for keeping up with current events and discovering new information.
RSS feeds are a spam-free, quick and efficient way to read news and weblogs. To get the most out of newsfeeds, you need a powerful aggregator, though, that lets you organize, search, categorize and use news items just like emails.
Here is an attempt to compare some of the top Desktop RSS Feed Readers:
Aggrevator
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Vendor: Private
OPML import: No, cannot load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: No, cannot save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: No, cannot find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: Yes, can search feeds on your computer.
News filters: Yes, can collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: No, cannot highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: No, cannot manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: No, cannot play audio and video feeds.
AgileRss
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Vendor: Elfs Software Ltd.
OPML import: Yes, can load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: Yes, can save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: Yes, can find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: Yes, can search feeds on your computer.
News filters: Yes, can collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: No, cannot highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: No, cannot manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: No, cannot play audio and video feeds.
AllTheNews
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Vendor: Private
OPML import: No, cannot load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: No, cannot save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: No, cannot find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: No, cannot search feeds on your computer.
News filters: No, cannot collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: No, cannot highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: No, cannot manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: No, cannot play audio and video feeds.
AmphetaDesk
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Vendor: Private
OPML import: No, cannot load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: No, cannot save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: No, cannot find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: No, cannot search feeds on your computer.
News filters: No, cannot collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: No, cannot highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: No, cannot manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Avant Browser
Platform: Windows
Vendor: Private
OPML import: No, cannot load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: No, cannot save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: No, cannot find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: No, cannot search feeds on your computer.
News filters: No, cannot collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: No, cannot highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: No, cannot manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: No, cannot play audio and video feeds.
Awasu
Platform: Windows
Vendor: Awasu Pty. Ltd.
OPML import: Yes, can load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: Yes, can save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: Yes, can find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: Yes, can search feeds on your computer.
News filters: Yes, can collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: Yes, can highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: Yes, can manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: Yes, can play audio and video feeds.
BigBlogZoo
Platform: Windows
Vendor: GenerateScape
OPML import: No, cannot load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: No, cannot save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: No, cannot find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: No, cannot search feeds on your computer.
News filters: No, cannot collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: No, cannot highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: No, cannot manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: No, cannot play audio and video feeds.
BlogBridge
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Vendor: Salas Associates, Inc.
OPML import: Yes, can load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: Yes, can save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: No, cannot find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: No, cannot search feeds on your computer.
News filters: Yes, can collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: Yes, can highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: Yes, can manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: No, cannot play audio and video feeds.
BlogMatrix Jaeger
Platform: Windows, Mac
Vendor: BlogMatrix, Inc.
OPML import: Yes, can load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: Yes, can save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: Yes, can find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: Yes, can search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: Yes, can search feeds on your computer.
News filters: Yes, can collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: Yes, can highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: Yes, can manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: Yes, can play audio and video feeds.
BottomFeeder
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Vendor: Private
OPML import: Yes, can load feed lists from other programs.
OPML export: Yes, can save feed lists for other programs.
Auto-discovery: No, cannot find feeds on Web pages.
Web feed search: No, cannot search for feeds on the Web.
Local feed search: No, cannot search feeds on your computer.
News filters: No, cannot collect news items on chosen topics.
Watch lists: No, cannot highlight items that match key words.
Synchronization: Yes, can manage subscriptions from multiple computers.
Podcasts: No, cannot play audio and video feeds.
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