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NewsBlur

NewsBlur is a sophisticated personal news reader that brings the content of your favorite websites directly to you. It emphasizes a user-friendly approach to consuming news by allowing you to read the original stories on their native sites, or within a distraction-free text view. With powerful filtering and organization tools, NewsBlur helps you cut through the noise and focus on the content that matters most to you. Developed by Samuel Clay

License: Freemium
Available for:
Online Android iPhone iPad Self-Hosted Kindle Fire

About NewsBlur

NewsBlur is a powerful and customizable news reader designed for individuals who want more control over their information flow. Instead of simply summarizing news headlines, NewsBlur encourages you to read articles in their native format, respecting the original presentation and content of the websites you follow. Alternatively, a convenient text view strips away distractions, offering a clean reading experience.

Key features that distinguish NewsBlur include:

  • Personalized News Consumption: Subscribe to RSS feeds, import your existing subscriptions from services like Google Reader or Feedly, or use the integrated content discovery features to find new sources.
  • Intelligent Filtering: Train NewsBlur to filter out stories or topics that you don't find interesting. Conversely, you can highlight posts or keywords you want to prioritize, ensuring you don't miss important updates. This creates a truly personalized news stream that learns your preferences over time.
  • Organization and Control: Group your feeds into custom categories to keep related sources together. Mark stories as read, unread, or saved for later. The intuitive interface makes it easy to manage even a large number of subscriptions.
  • Seamless Integration: NewsBlur offers integration with IFTTT, allowing you to connect your news consumption with other online services. Share interesting articles easily to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest directly from the reader.
  • Cross-Platform Access: Whether you're on your desktop, tablet, or smartphone, NewsBlur provides a consistent experience with its web-based platform and dedicated mobile applications. Offline reading is also available, allowing you to catch up on news even without an internet connection.
  • Data Analytics and Discovery: Gain insights into your reading habits with built-in analytics. Discover popular stories among other NewsBlur users or explore new feeds based on your interests.
  • Ad-Free Experience: Focus on the content without being interrupted by advertisements. NewsBlur provides an uncluttered reading environment.
  • Community Features: Interact with other NewsBlur users by sharing stories and seeing which articles are popular.

NewsBlur offers a robust solution for anyone who wants a more intentional and clutter-free approach to reading news online. Its emphasis on reading the original content, coupled with powerful filtering and organization tools, makes it a valuable tool for staying informed without feeling overwhelmed.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Powerful and personalized filtering based on learned preferences.
  • Emphasis on reading original content from source websites.
  • Excellent organization tools for managing many feeds.
  • Offline reading capability.
  • Option for self-hosting for increased control.
  • Ad-free reading experience.

Cons

  • User interface may feel somewhat dated to some users.
  • Learning curve for utilizing the full potential of filtering.

What Makes NewsBlur Stand Out

Emphasis on Original Content

NewsBlur encourages reading articles on their native websites, respecting the publisher's presentation.

Intelligent Filtering and Training

Personalize your feed by training NewsBlur to prioritize or hide stories based on your preferences.

Community Interaction

See popular stories and interact with other NewsBlur users.

Self-Hosting Option

For technical users, NewsBlur can be self-hosted for complete control over your data and service.

What can NewsBlur do?

Review

NewsBlur presents itself as a robust and user-centric news reader, aiming to cut through the overwhelming nature of online information consumption. At its core, it's a sophisticated RSS feed reader, a digital equivalent to subscribing to your favorite newspapers and magazines, but with significantly more power and flexibility.

One of the most distinctive aspects of NewsBlur is its philosophy on reading. Unlike many aggregators that display stripped-down versions of articles, NewsBlur strongly encourages users to read stories on the source website. This approach respects the original design, layout, and monetization strategies of publishers. For those who prefer a cleaner reading experience, a built-in text view is available, effectively removing distracting elements while still allowing access to the core content.

The platform excels in its filtering capabilities. This isn't just about simple keyword filtering; NewsBlur employs an intelligent system that learns from your reading habits. By marking stories as interesting or uninteresting, you train the algorithm to curate your feed over time. This personalized filtering is a powerful tool for managing information overload, allowing users to focus on topics and sources that truly matter to them while minimizing exposure to noise.

Organization is another area where NewsBlur shines. Users can group feeds into custom categories, making it easy to manage a large number of subscriptions. The interface allows for quick navigation between categories and feeds, and the visual representation of unread stories provides a clear overview of your pending reading list.

Connectivity and integration are key in a modern news reader, and NewsBlur offers solid options. The integration with IFTTT opens up possibilities for automating tasks based on your news consumption. Sharing features are also well-implemented, allowing users to easily disseminate interesting articles to various social media platforms directly from the NewsBlur interface. The inclusion of Bitchute integration is notable, catering to users who follow content on that platform.

From a technical standpoint, NewsBlur performs reliably. The web interface is generally responsive, and the dedicated mobile applications provide a solid experience on different devices. The availability of offline reading is a highly valuable feature for users on the go or with inconsistent internet access.

The self-hosting option distinguishes NewsBlur from many competitors. For users with the technical expertise and desire for complete control over their data and service, hosting NewsBlur on a private server or cloud offers a high degree of privacy and customization. This caters to a specific segment of the user base but adds a significant layer of flexibility.

While the core functionality of feed reading and filtering is excellent, the user interface, while functional, might feel slightly dated to some users compared to more modern news applications. However, the focus is clearly on powerful features and performance rather than flashy design elements.

In conclusion, NewsBlur is a highly capable news reader that prioritizes control, customization, and a respectful approach to online content. Its intelligent filtering, robust organization tools, and emphasis on reading original content make it an excellent choice for users who are serious about managing their information intake. While the interface could benefit from a refresh, the underlying features and performance make NewsBlur a compelling option for those seeking a powerful and personalized news consumption experience.

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