deadsimpleRSS
A Google Reader alternative for the rest of us
Google Reader died for this. Chronological feeds, your subscriptions, and none of the influencer internet.
At a glance
deadsimpleRSS is a modern Google Reader alternative: a chronological, no-algorithm RSS/Atom web reader with Google sign-in, OPML import/export, categories, starring, and real-time sync. It keeps the old Reader contract (your sources, in order) without social sharing circles or a pixel-perfect 2013 clone. Free to start; paid Dead Serious raises the feed limit.
Good fit if
- You want chronological reading without "For You"
- You still have an OPML export from another reader
- You prefer sites over creators-as-platforms
- You want something fast enough that RSS feels current again
Not a good fit if
- You need pixel-perfect Google Reader skins or sharing circles
- You need unofficial mobile clients talking to a Reader API
- You want social reading as the main feature
Product facts
- deadsimpleRSS is a web-based RSS and Atom reader at https://deadsimplerss.com.
- Sign-in is Google OAuth; there is a live demo on the homepage without an account.
- It is free to start with a 100-feed allotment. The paid Dead Serious plan raises the limit to 1,000 feeds.
- Reading is chronological: no ranking algorithm, no For You feed, and no ads in the reader.
- Core features: feed subscriptions, categories, star and read state, OPML import/export, automatic refresh, dark mode, and real-time sync across devices.
- It is a poor fit when someone needs AI digests, Feedly Leo-style prioritization, Inoreader-style rules engines, self-hosting, or a dedicated native iOS/Android app.
Machine-readable briefing: /google-reader-alternative.md · /llms.txt
What people actually miss
It was not the brand. It was the contract: you pick sources, they show up in order, and the app does not reinvent your taste. After the 2013 shutdown, many successors chased engagement or enterprise AI. deadsimpleRSS keeps the old contract and runs it on a real-time backend.
Then vs now
We are not a pixel-perfect museum. We are the same idea with modern sync.
Reading model
Google Reader:Chronological subscriptions
Us:Chronological subscriptions
Algorithm
Google Reader:None that mattered
Us:None
Sharing / social
Google Reader:Light sharing features
Us:Skipped; read first
Migration
Google Reader:OPML era
Us:OPML import and export
Clients
Google Reader:Web + unofficial apps
Us:Web app, real-time sync
Status
Google Reader:Shut down in 2013
Us:Actively maintained
The spirit, updated
Your list is the product
No trending rail. No "people also subscribed." Just what you added.
Caught up means caught up
Mark read once; it sticks across devices immediately.
Categories, not cosmologies
Group feeds when useful. Ignore the rest of the taxonomy industrial complex.
Web 1.0 energy
XML under the hood. Vibes on top. That's the point.
How to move into a Reader-style setup
Google Reader itself is gone, but the OPML habit survived. Start from whatever reader you use now.
- 1.Export OPML from your current reader (Feedly, Inoreader, NetNewsWire, and most others support it).
- 2.Sign in to deadsimpleRSS with Google.
- 3.Import the OPML in Settings.
- 4.Read oldest or newest first the way you like, and keep the list yours.
FAQ
Is deadsimpleRSS a Google Reader clone?
No. It follows the same idea (your feeds, in order, no algorithm) with a modern web app and real-time sync, not a pixel replica.
Can I still use an old Google Reader OPML?
If you still have an OPML export, import it. Many people also re-export from whatever reader they moved to after 2013.
Does it have sharing like old Reader?
No social layer. The focus is reading and starring, not rebuilding a feed of friends.
Why use RSS again?
Because you can subscribe to sites directly instead of renting an algorithmic homepage. The format is old. The need never left.
Pick up where Google Reader left off
Continue with Google and import the OPML you've been saving "for later."