Feedbin Alternative: SereneReader Compared
Feedbin is one $7 plan that also handles newsletters, YouTube and podcasts. SereneReader has a free plan, Pro from $5, a Team plan, and Mac and Watch apps.
Close in spirit
Feedbin and SereneReader have a lot in common: an uncluttered reading layout, vim-style keyboard shortcuts (j and k move between articles), and OPML import and export.
They part ways on scope. Feedbin's single paid plan covers more kinds of content than RSS. SereneReader sticks to RSS and Atom feeds, and adds a free plan, a Team plan, and its own apps for Mac and Apple Watch.
At a glance
| SereneReader | Feedbin | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan, 150 feeds, no end date | 30-day trial, no card needed |
| Paid price | Pro $5/mo (web) or $6.99/mo (App Store); Team $25/mo | $7/mo or $70/yr, one plan |
| Team plan | Up to 5 people, shared feeds and folders | No |
| Newsletters | No | Yes (your own Feedbin email address) |
| YouTube, podcasts, Mastodon | Plain feeds added by URL (text only, no player) | Yes |
| Full-content extraction | No (shows what the feed provides) | Yes |
| Distraction-free view | Focus mode (f) |
Fullscreen (Shift+F) |
| Themes and typography | 7 color themes (Pro, Team) | Custom themes and typography |
| Apps | All first-party: web, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | Web, iPhone, iPad; Mac and Android through third-party apps |
| Third-party clients | No | Yes (Reeder Classic, NetNewsWire, Unread and others) |
| API | Read-only REST API (Pro, Team) | Yes, for all subscribers |
| Source code | Closed | Open source (MIT) |
What Feedbin does that SereneReader doesn't
- More than RSS. Feedbin gives you an email address for newsletters and supports YouTube channels, podcasts (with its companion app, Airshow) and Mastodon. SereneReader can't receive newsletters. It can subscribe to YouTube, Mastodon and podcast feeds, but shows them as text without a video or audio player.
- Full articles from partial feeds. When a feed carries only a summary, Feedbin can fetch the whole article. SereneReader shows what the feed provides, with a link to the original.
- A choice of apps. Feedbin syncs with third-party readers such as Reeder Classic, NetNewsWire and Unread, which is also how you'd use it as a native app on a Mac or an Android phone. SereneReader works only in its own apps and on the web.
- Typography. Feedbin lets you adjust themes and type. SereneReader offers seven color themes on Pro and Team, and no font settings.
- Open source. Feedbin's code is MIT-licensed. You can self-host it, though Feedbin doesn't officially support that. SereneReader is closed source.
What SereneReader adds
- A free plan. SereneReader Free holds 150 feeds and doesn't expire. Feedbin offers a 30-day trial instead.
- A Team plan. Up to five people can share one set of feeds and folders, with no feed limit, for $25 a month in total. Feedbin has no team plan.
- First-party Mac and Watch apps. SereneReader makes its own apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, all synced with the web app. Feedbin's own app covers iPhone and iPad. On the Watch, SereneReader lists your feeds and unread headlines and shows the opening of each article, with a button to continue on iPhone. See the apps.
Price
Feedbin has one plan at $7 a month or $70 a year. SereneReader Pro costs $5 a month on the web ($60 over a year) or $6.99 a month through the App Store, and includes 250 feeds, all seven themes and API access. SereneReader bills monthly and has no annual plan. The free plan doesn't need a credit card.
Switching from Feedbin
In Feedbin, open Settings > Import/Export and download your subscriptions as an OPML file, then import it into SereneReader. Folders come across one level deep, and a free account takes up to 150 feeds. Newsletters stay in Feedbin, since they arrive at your Feedbin email address. YouTube, Mastodon and podcast feeds can be added by their feed URL.
Pricing and features as of October 2026. Check each product's website for current details.